Jane (Peer) Rawlings passed away on November 19, 2025, after a brief illness. At 90 years old, she was the longest-lived member of her family. For the past five years, she lived in New Gloucester, Maine; previously she lived most of her adult life in Rhode Island.

Jane was born October 7, 1935, in Merchantville, NJ, to Phillip and Emma (Pataki) Peer. Before being joined by a baby brother in 1941, she and her parents lived in an apartment connected to her grandparents’ house. Young Jane loved being surrounded by her Hungarian grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

In high school, she won a Best Posture contest. This led to modeling work, which she fit  around her studies, playing on the basketball team, and serving as a Rainbow Girl. 

Jane cared about helping others. She worked as a nurse in the 1950s and ‘60s, first in New Jersey and later in Rhode Island. In the mid-1960s, she became a full-time mother of two and used her little spare time in church and community volunteering. Once the nest was nearly empty, she went back to health care as a Unit Secretary in the Intensive Care Unit of Hasbro Children’s, the pediatric division of Rhode Island Hospital. She worked the night shift in Hasbro Children’s until retiring in her 70s.

She also invested heavily in her growing children: as a chauffeur to and from after-school activities and music, art, and swim lessons as well as a volunteer in support of her kids’ groups.  Each year she had fun playing the fortune-teller “Madam Halloweenee” for trick-or-treaters.

Jane loved music and passed this love to both children. At age 4, she sang “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know” as part of the public debut of television at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.  She enjoyed the piano, and played regularly for the children of her Methodist church.

She also loved corresponding. She had many “pen pals,” especially in her 80s when she moved from Rhode Island to Maine to live with her daughter and son-in-law.

Jane was predeceased by her son Jim, her first husband John Rawlings, and her brother Ron.

She is survived by her daughter Joanne and son-in-law Michael Rawlings-Sekunda of New Gloucester. She is also survived by her ex-husband Joseph Turchetta of Naples, FL, with whom she maintained a friendship.

Per Jane’s wishes, there will be no service.  In honor of Jane’s long dedication as a weekly food pantry volunteer, Joanne and Michael request that donations be made to Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine (https://www.gsfb.org/) or to Preble Street in Portland, ME (https://www.preblestreet.org/) in lieu of flowers.

The family is deeply appreciative of the staff at Andwell Hospice House for taking excellent care of Jane in her final week.  Memories and condoleces may be shared on her tribute wall.