Jane DeBoom

Helen Jane “Jane” DeBoom, age 82, died on September 27, 2023. As she ran to the embrace of Jesus, the healing we all wanted for her happened, and she was made whole. 

 

Jane was born January 18, 1941, in Marshall, MN. Following high school, she left home to find new adventures and attend college. While at college, she met Adrian DeBoom; he swept her off her feet on their first date and they spent the next 60 years together. Jane and Ade moved to LeSueur and the couple raised their family of four boys. She was a “hockey mom” to all four, and eventually a hockey grandma when those young men had children of their own!

 

Friendships of a lifetime began in LeSueur (ie: the Ding Dongs) and continued through Jane and Ade’s move to the Twin Cities. It was during these years that Jane ventured into new areas as she taught piano privately for many years and returned to college as an “older student” to study music. Eventually she taught piano to a number of her own grandchildren. She also used her natural gift of communication in her role as a receptionist at Cedar Valley Church for many years in both part- and full-time capacities. At the heart of her service were the many friendships she developed and cultivated. Like a gardener, she lovingly and gently cared for each and every person in her world.

 

As her children grew and began families of their own, Jane’s role shifted to “spoiler in chief” as she spent time caring for the little ones as they grew, attending school events and games, celebrating  graduations, and weddings; then cheering on and encouraging their career adventures. Being a “gram” was one of Jane’s favorite things and the pride she had in each of her grands was apparent.  She poured love and compassion into each one and helped them develop their own dreams and gifts.

 

As the daughter of an English teacher, she developed a love of words at an early age. She enjoyed writing and enjoyed the sounds of words, the more interesting it sounded the more she enjoyed it! The boys recall her constant “encouragement” to use proper grammar as they were growing up -not always “cool” for a hockey player- and always insisted they use the appropriate and correct words!

 

Jane enjoyed good music, theatre, reading, good food (taco night!), singing in choir, Twins games, and the Vikings among other things. Most important however, were relationships!  She enjoyed nights out or in with the girls, sitting on the couch sharing dreams and thoughts, long drives in the country, and often, could be found exploring a route to a location she had read about, for her the fun was in the adventure. Somehow, Jane was always under the illusion that she was a “Plain Jane” a comment that could hardly be further from the truth.  She was spirited, opinionated, well-read and filled with passion and an authentic joy.

 

A natural with everyone she met, Jane made everyone feel important, remembered details and events few others would, and found true joy in making everyone feel valued. She had an insatiable curiosity about everyone she met, asked tough questions, and wore her heart on her sleeve. Her relationship with Jesus informed every interaction. Everyone considered Jane “their own” such was the nature of her connections-she was and always will be “our Jane.”

 

Jane is survived by the love of her life Ade; sons: Terry, Tom (Sandi), Burke (Suzette) and Jason (Sandy); grandchildren who she adored: Nichole (August), Zackary, Kelly (Chase), Mallory, Nickolas, Grace, Joseph, Anna, Davis, Katherine, Karli (Mason), and Austin and wonderful new great granddaughter Willow June. She is further survived by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends as well as kitties Dakota and Dino. There are also countless DEAR friends-you know who you are-who will miss Jane’s light and laugh. 

 

She is preceded in passing by her infant son, her parents Charley and Carol (McEwen) Henderson, her brother John, Ade’s parents and other family and friends. Certainly, there were many loved ones awaiting her arrival in Heaven standing side by side with Jesus to give her the tour.

 

Jane’s wish was to donate her body to science, through her gift her legacy of learning and teaching carries forward. As such, interment will take place at a later date. 

 

Special thanks to the staff of the Neurology floor at Methodist Hospital for the compassionate and gentle care provided to Jane and her family in these last difficult and sacred days. 

 

A memorial service to celebrate her life will take place at 11:00am on Thursday October 12, 2023, at Cedar Valley Church, 8600 Bloomington Ave S, Bloomington, MN. Friends and family may gather at the church from 10:00am until the start of the celebration service.

 

Our hearts are heavy in the wake of our earthly loss. Our grief is deep but our hope and trust in Jesus remain strong. 

“I look around at the world and I see all the beauty that God made. I see the forest and the trees and all the things. It says in the Bible that he made them in six days. And I don't know if they’re a literal six days or not; scientists would say no, some theologians would say yes. But I know that Jesus has been preparing a home for me and for some of you, for two thousand years. And if this world took six days, and that home took two thousand years…this is like living in a garbage can compared to what's going on up there.” -Keith Green