Jane V.Z. Summers

Jane Van Zandt grew up in Pearl River, NY. She married Tom Summers and moved to New Freedom in 1955. Jane lived in New Freedom the rest of her life and she and Tom raised four sons. She died at home on Monday, December 26, 2016, surrounded by family. Jane is survived by her husband of 61 years, Tom Summers; by her four sons and their wives, Stran and Sandy Summers, Bruce and Mary Summers, Tim and Grace Summers, and Mike and Jackie Summers; and by her eight grandchildren, Berta (Jane), Erik, Bryce, Madison, Katey, Chase, Timmy, and Bitsy. She grew up swimming, boating and fishing – though she always asked someone else to bait her hook and take the fish off the line. Her first job was teaching swimming at summer camp. Later she taught her children and grandchildren to swim. She enjoyed taking her sons to the pool, then the YMCA, and later enjoyed her backyard pool. While she enjoyed the outdoors, she was not a camper. When her sons and husband went to Scout Camp, she would escape to the beach. Jane was a good student and graduated early from high school at age 16. During college she met Tom on a blind date in Baltimore, MD. Their love story continued during his time serving in the Army overseas in Korea. They married after his return. She enjoyed life in New Freedom and become active in the Jaycettes and the New Freedom Women's Club and later served as President of each organization. She became well-known to many of the youth of New Freedom while serving as a Cub Scout Den-mother for ten years. She encouraged and cheered on her sons and proudly was Eagle mother/grandmother to the six Eagle Scouts in her family. She was also very active in her church, Grace United Methodist, in the PTA, and the American Field Service (AFS). Jane, her mother Margaret Van Zandt, and mother-in-law Caroline Summers were instrumental in establishing the New Freedom Library. Each were active volunteers for many years. She transported her boys to and from countless sports practices and watched her children and grandchildren compete in games, tournaments and competitions. As her fourth son headed to college, Jane went back to work serving as clerk at the New Freedom Post Office. Though she claimed to be shy, she was also a people person and really enjoyed greeting and interacting with her neighbors throughout New Freedom. Tom and Jane loved dancing. In later years, they enjoyed traveling and going on cruises around the world. Best of all, they enjoyed having their family visit. They hosted family reunions at their home in the backyard and later built an in-ground pool and a gazebo to host friends and family. The grandchildren loved visiting in the summer for "Grammy Camp". Jane and Tom enjoyed hosting their extended family at Sea Colony in Bethany Beach as well as Thanksgivings spent in Williamsburg, VA. Most of all, they loved having family at their home for Christmas. Jane was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, loving aunt and good friend. She was well-loved and will be greatly missed. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at the J.J. Hartenstein Mortuary, Inc., 24 N. Second St., New Freedom. A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 31 at Grace Church Shrewsbury, 473 Plank Road, New Freedom. Interment will be private in New Freedom Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jane's name to The New Freedom Youth Center (checks can be mailed to 6 McCurley Drive, New Freedom, PA 17349); or to the Paul Smith Library of Southern York County, 80 Constitution Ave., Shrewsbury, PA 17361; or to the Southern York County School District Foundation Scholarship Fund (mark for Warrior Sports Leadership Scholarship), PO Box 128, Glen Rock, PA 17327.