Jane Chastain Duren departed this world on March 22, 2023 for her eternal Heavenly home to be with the Lord and many of her family and friends, including her husband Richard S. Duren, parents and brothers Thomas and Joseph Chastain and half siblings Otto Ranz and Linda Ranz-Perez. What a wonderful reunion they are having.
On the auspicious day of September 2, 1939, Jane was born at Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, New York to parents George W. and Catherine G. Olsen-Ranz. Born, Roxanna Jane, she was adopted and renamed Jane Sophronia upon the marriage of Catherine to Thomas Chastain following the disappearance of George during the war and the new family moved to Tampa, Florida.
Jane had attended PS66 in Manhattan, NY for 1st and 2nd grade and had many memorable adventures in NYC, including climbing the Statue of Liberty into the torch and crown. Many times, she recounted the silence and evening black-outs in the city due to enemy submarines patrolling off shore. The remainder of Jane's youth was lived in Tampa, Florida, where she attended North Tampa Presbyterian Church. She made many wonderful lifelong friends, including Lois, Patty, Mary, Ginger, Shirley and later Jacque. In 9th grade Jane was the first recipient of a "Channel Letter" for academics, as she maintained honor roll and excelled at journalistic and research writing. She wrote articles for the HHS paper and one is still on display in the high school library with her USA 50 States rock collection. Jane personally wrote to each state requesting an official state rock with her research partner Mike. Throughout her life, Jane was very proud of her Class of 1957 Hillsborough High School, Go Terriers!
Not only was Jane a journalistic writer, she appeared on the front page of the Tampa Tribune when she won the first scholarship awarded by Tampa Savings and Loan Association to attend Tampa University. She also joined the Women's Credit Club of America and was their April 1960 Sweetheart Queen. Jane later joined the National Business and Professional Women's Club and was on the steering committee instrumental in starting the Girls Club (now Boys and Girls Club) in Ybor City.
Jane's early career started with Jim Walters, Inc. in Tampa, later moving to New York City for a short time where she worked and enjoyed her lunches on the steps of the Treasury Building and Trinity Church. Upon Jane's return to Tampa to assist with family, she worked at Pioneer Telephone/Gentel. In 1960 Jane went to visit her Aunt Polly in Thomasville, Georgia and met the love of her life and husband Richard S. Duren. Jane and Richard were wed in New Iberia, Louisiana in 1961 and soon started a family with daughter Regina J. Carroll and son Richard S. Duren.
Richards naval career resulted in the family moving many times along the east coast with a long stay in Virginia Beach, Virginia. While in Virginia, Jane worked as the head bookkeeper for Stewart Construction, the company responsible for building Mount Trashmore Park. Upon retiring from the Navy, Richard brought his family back to Thomasville to settle.
Jane was known for her kind heart and thoughtfulness. She always had a servant's heart and put others before herself. As a Christian, Jane always believed in the power of prayer and continually prayed for family and friends. She truly loved her family and friends, always prioritizing family first. She was a treasure of femininity, grace, and wisdom. Jane was always singing and loved music, but her smile would light up any room. She thrilled to see Elvis, not once but twice! However, even the King, did not make her light up like hearing a granddaughter tell the story of Grandma Jane singing the song track to Pocahontas with her. Believing it was important to keep the mind active, Jane loved working crossword puzzles and it was an open secret she had a talent for yodeling. Her loving, generous spirit has affected so many lives, especially her children, grand and great-grandchildren. Her beauty, intelligence and loving spirit can be seen in the legacy of her surviving family; daughter, Regina Carroll of Thomasville, son Richard and his wife Kim Duren of Shelby, NC; her grandchildren, Kristen and husband Joseph Hurdt, Jonathan and wife Kaitlyn Carroll, Kaitlin Duren, Matthew Carroll and Sgt. Kathryn Duren. She is also survived by great grandsons Jude, Kaidan, Logan as well as the much anticipated arrival of a great granddaughter.
Thank you, God, for Jane a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. May she find peace and joy until we are all eternally together again, in your loving presence.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in memory of Jane to The Boys and Girls Club of Ybor City. (3515 Sarah Street, Tampa, FL 33605).
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jane C. Duren, please visit our flower store.
On the auspicious day of September 2, 1939, Jane was born at Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, New York to parents George W. and Catherine G. Olsen-Ranz. Born, Roxanna Jane, she was adopted and renamed Jane Sophronia upon the marriage of Catherine to Thomas Chastain following the disappearance of George during the war and the new family moved to Tampa, Florida.
Jane had attended PS66 in Manhattan, NY for 1st and 2nd grade and had many memorable adventures in NYC, including climbing the Statue of Liberty into the torch and crown. Many times, she recounted the silence and evening black-outs in the city due to enemy submarines patrolling off shore. The remainder of Jane's youth was lived in Tampa, Florida, where she attended North Tampa Presbyterian Church. She made many wonderful lifelong friends, including Lois, Patty, Mary, Ginger, Shirley and later Jacque. In 9th grade Jane was the first recipient of a "Channel Letter" for academics, as she maintained honor roll and excelled at journalistic and research writing. She wrote articles for the HHS paper and one is still on display in the high school library with her USA 50 States rock collection. Jane personally wrote to each state requesting an official state rock with her research partner Mike. Throughout her life, Jane was very proud of her Class of 1957 Hillsborough High School, Go Terriers!
Not only was Jane a journalistic writer, she appeared on the front page of the Tampa Tribune when she won the first scholarship awarded by Tampa Savings and Loan Association to attend Tampa University. She also joined the Women's Credit Club of America and was their April 1960 Sweetheart Queen. Jane later joined the National Business and Professional Women's Club and was on the steering committee instrumental in starting the Girls Club (now Boys and Girls Club) in Ybor City.
Jane's early career started with Jim Walters, Inc. in Tampa, later moving to New York City for a short time where she worked and enjoyed her lunches on the steps of the Treasury Building and Trinity Church. Upon Jane's return to Tampa to assist with family, she worked at Pioneer Telephone/Gentel. In 1960 Jane went to visit her Aunt Polly in Thomasville, Georgia and met the love of her life and husband Richard S. Duren. Jane and Richard were wed in New Iberia, Louisiana in 1961 and soon started a family with daughter Regina J. Carroll and son Richard S. Duren.
Richards naval career resulted in the family moving many times along the east coast with a long stay in Virginia Beach, Virginia. While in Virginia, Jane worked as the head bookkeeper for Stewart Construction, the company responsible for building Mount Trashmore Park. Upon retiring from the Navy, Richard brought his family back to Thomasville to settle.
Jane was known for her kind heart and thoughtfulness. She always had a servant's heart and put others before herself. As a Christian, Jane always believed in the power of prayer and continually prayed for family and friends. She truly loved her family and friends, always prioritizing family first. She was a treasure of femininity, grace, and wisdom. Jane was always singing and loved music, but her smile would light up any room. She thrilled to see Elvis, not once but twice! However, even the King, did not make her light up like hearing a granddaughter tell the story of Grandma Jane singing the song track to Pocahontas with her. Believing it was important to keep the mind active, Jane loved working crossword puzzles and it was an open secret she had a talent for yodeling. Her loving, generous spirit has affected so many lives, especially her children, grand and great-grandchildren. Her beauty, intelligence and loving spirit can be seen in the legacy of her surviving family; daughter, Regina Carroll of Thomasville, son Richard and his wife Kim Duren of Shelby, NC; her grandchildren, Kristen and husband Joseph Hurdt, Jonathan and wife Kaitlyn Carroll, Kaitlin Duren, Matthew Carroll and Sgt. Kathryn Duren. She is also survived by great grandsons Jude, Kaidan, Logan as well as the much anticipated arrival of a great granddaughter.
Thank you, God, for Jane a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. May she find peace and joy until we are all eternally together again, in your loving presence.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in memory of Jane to The Boys and Girls Club of Ybor City. (3515 Sarah Street, Tampa, FL 33605).
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