Jane M. Loring (nee Griffiths), of Hilltown, Pa., passed away on Oct. 29, 2023 at the age of 86. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Daughter of the late Robert F. and Elsie M. Griffiths, Jane is survived by her daughters Vivienne and her husband Mark Philbin, and Nancy and her husband Douglas Arnold as well as her grandsons Matthew, Luke, John, Zachary and Logan.
Jane was born in 1937 in Windsor, England, and because Windsor is the home of royalty, she thought as a child that she must be a princess. Jane lived not far from London during World War II and often told stories about enduring bombings, blackouts and food rationing as a child. She and her family frequently had to go into the bomb shelter in their back garden. She collected shrapnel as a child and still had to attend school even after it was bombed. As a teenager she was part of the Weybridge Ladies Rowing Club and competed in rowing races on the Thames River. She adored rowing and made many lifelong friends at the club.
After completing school, she went to secretarial college and then worked for Standard Oil Co in London. She then moved to Tripoli, Libya, to work for Standard Oil and live as an expat. There she met and married her American husband, Lewis Loring. When their work visas were revoked by the incoming dictatorship, they were forced to leave quickly. They eventually moved to the U.S. where their children Vivienne and Nancy were born. Jane lived in Wheaton, Maryland, for 30 years and worked as a secretary. Later in life she lived in Arizona, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She loved the Arizona desert and its sunshine, hiking trails and vistas. Traveling was her passion and she had many adventures in places like the Galapagos, Russia and Japan. Always willing to try new things, she learned to scuba dive in her 50s and hiked down in to the Grand Canyon and back in her 60s. She was fiercely independent and was an avid reader. She also enjoyed line dancing and yoga. She loved sunshine and hot days and walking along the beach on Long Beach Island. She relished spending time with her grandsons and was very proud of each one. Before Alzheimer’s stole her memories she would regale her family with many stories of her youth. Jane will be remembered for her kind and helping nature and the love and warmth she brought to those around her. May she rest in eternal peace.
As Jane wished, there will be no formal services held. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Ariz., which Jane greatly enjoyed and visited often.
If you would like to contribute in her memory, please go to dbg.org/support/donations/.
Send condolences to www.varcoethomasfuneralhome.com.
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