Jane Marie Cullen (née Westermeyer) passed away on February 6, 2020, after a brief struggle with cancer, at home in the care of loving family, friends, and representatives of the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. She is survived by her sons Matthew and Andrew, of Hackettstown and Parsippany, New Jersey; sister, Sarah Al-Mayahi, and niece Rachel, of Atlanta, Georgia; her beloved Hank, and many friends.
The daughter of Mildred and Charles Westermeyer, Jane was born in Baltimore, MD on January 29, 1947. With her former husband, Thomas Cullen, she had two sons, Matthew and Andrew. In her later years, she resided with Henry Shotwell at Oakhill in Hackettstown, NJ.
Jane studied History at Buffalo University. She later attended Warren County Community College and was certified as a paralegal. For many years, she was employed by the law firm of Rylak and Gianos in Clinton, NJ.
Jane was especially proud of her two “boys,” both of whom served overseas in the United States Army.
A recovered alcoholic with over 23 years sober, Jane helped many people to achieve sobriety.
She was passionate about history and travel. Her journeys began in her 20’s while employed by American Airlines. A lifelong student, she was a voracious reader and compiled a library of books and DVDs, especially “The Great Courses” lectures. Jane was particularly fond of British culture and all things BBC, from murder mystery to the “GBBO.”
Jane enjoyed a wide variety of interests and was known for her wit and style. Her musical tastes varied from Tchaikovsky to the Rolling Stones (much to Hank’s chagrin). She loved gardening, the color green, and dragonflies. Jane treasured the ballet and attending many cultural events (the Downton Abbey exhibit!) with her circle of friends and family. The exploits of the Gang of Four - Cynthia, Jane, Lee, Portia – will live on in local lore, as well as the quiet joy she took in feeding the birds who visited her year round.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2020 from 4pm – 8pm at Cochran Funeral Home in Hackettstown, NJ 07840.