Jane I. Vecchio, 92, Enjoyed Music, Singing and Especially the Opera

Born Jane Irene Peets on October 16, 1918 . A descendant of Lorain pioneer, Captain Julian Porter, who was a great lakes ships' captain, Jane was extremely proud of her heritage. The Porter family property was at Oberlin Avenue and West Erie Avenue, where the Lorain Health Department is located today. She lived in the Charleston Village area all her life, until moving to Avon Oaks in 2000. She had many fond memories of her childhood, living and playing near Lake Erie. Her father who taught her how to fish and cook, owned Lorain Dry Cleaning Company and her mother was a housewife. When asked her name, she sometimes replied with a rhyme from her childhood: "Well I'm Jane Irene, the village queen!"

She was always very close to her three sisters, Libby, Mary Margaret and Judy. She had a beautiful voice, studied voice in Oberlin and sang with St. Mary's Choir in Lorain for many years. She also sang with the Avon Oaks Singin Folks with whom she soloed in the 2007 Christmas concert. She was an Opera buff and when younger, she would sing along with most any opera. Because she loved music and culture, she attended the Metropolitan Opera when it came to Cleveland every year, always sitting in the dress circle. She vacationed in Florida every year, but one of her favorite trips was to The Metropolitan Opera in New York to see Tosca with her cousin Dick Reidy and family.

Jane was a member of Saint Mary Church, Lorain. She graduated from St. Mary's Academy, Lorain and attended Oberlin Business College. At age 26, she married Raymond Vecchio. Unfortunately, he was killed in an accident at the National Tube Company only six weeks after the wedding. Jane never remarried though she had many beaus over the years. She enjoyed being an independent woman.

Jane was an accomplished bookkeeper and business woman. She was employed at the Reidy-Scanlan Furniture Store for a short time, then worked for many years at The Owl Stamp Company, which she eventually bought and owned. After closing Owl Stamp, she enjoyed a second career as the Business Manager/Treasurer of Lorain Catholic High School. She retired in 1991 after nearly 25 years of service.

Jane had always enjoyed the company of children. Her niece, Mary Jane, who grew up in Washington, DC, spent many happy summers in Lorain with her grandparents and Aunt Janey. She loved animals especially cats. She was known to take care of her own "inside cats" as well as the "outside cats" that would find their way to her house for food and milk. Jane also loved to plant flowers and spend time with her family. She lived with and cared for her parents who both lived into their late 80s.

Jane's family recalls that she loved to be fit and exercise. She never drove, but walked or rode a bike almost everywhere she went. In her younger days, this was many miles as she sold Owl Trading Stamps to the many businesses in Lorain during its heyday of the 1950's and 60's. As a businesswoman, Jane was always very fashionable and "put together."

She leaves behind her niece Mary Jane Barile of Euclid, great niece and nephew Jennifer and Thomas Barile both of Euclid, cousin, Ann Ginnane, of Lorain, other cousins from the Brown and Reidy families, descendants of Captain Porter; and many close friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Thomas A. and Juliet F. "Frank" (nee Porter) Peets, sisters Elizabeth "Libby" Peets who died in 2009, Mary Margaret Michaud in 2008 and Juliet F. Peets in 2006.

Her family will receive friends Tuesday, from 10 a.m. until the time of mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Mary Mother of God Catholic Church, 310 8th St., Lorain. The Reverend Daniel O. Divis, Pastor, will be the Celebrant. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.

Memorial contributions to the Saint Mary's Choice Food Pantry, 309 West 7th Street, Lorain, OH 44052 or to Avon Oaks Porter Pavilion Activity Fund, 37800 French Creek Road, Avon, Ohio 44011.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Richard J. Reidy Funeral Home, 1783 East 31st Street, South Lorain, (440) 277-8164.