Jane Dutton

1956 - 2014

Jane Dutton, 58

Utrecht, The Netherlands - Jane Dutton, 58, of Utrecht, The Netherlands, died on Thursday, April 17, 2014 at the University Medical Center in Utrecht surrounded by her friends and family.

Born at Havre de Grace, Maryland on February 18, 1956, Jane was the daughter of Daphne Mabel Palmer and the late Arthur Nelson Dutton, and the sister of the late Karen Dutton. She graduated from Buena High School, Ventura, California in 1974, received a Bachelor's in theater arts from California State University in Long Beach in 1979, and a Master's Degree in Library Science from Simmons College, Boston in 1990.

Jane was a librarian at the Worcester Public Library before becoming children's librarian at the Gale Free Library in Holden, where she connected countless children and families with books and reading. In 1999, she was appointed Director at Gale Free, a job she held until taking an early retirement in February 2011.

Jane was also a playwright and director. Among her works are the plays Hugger Mugger, Kissing Booth and Abby. She also wrote Hand-Me-Down, a play about women's domestic violence and My Close Up, describing teenage domestic violence. Jane was awarded the 1998 Worcester Women of Consequence Award.

Jane is survived by her beloved wife, Natascha Spoelstra, her stepson Jelmer Kuijpers, and stepdaughter Maaike Kuijpers, and her mother, Daphne Dutton.

A funeral was held in Jane's adopted homeland on April 22, 2014. A stateside memorial service is planned for Friday, July 25 at 3pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, 90 Holden Street, Worcester, MA. In lieu of flowers, Jane's family requests donations in her honor be made to Abby's House, 52 High Street, Worcester, MA 01609.