Manchester, NH – Jane Elizabeth Rooney, who had a long career as a social worker and psychotherapist, died on March 28, 2024, at Mount Carmel Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Manchester, NH.
Jane was born in Framingham, Massachusetts to parents Elizabeth Estelle (Burbank) Rooney and Robert Milton Rooney, the oldest of three children. In her early years, Jane grew up in bucolic Pittsfield, Vermont, where she graduated from Whitcomb High School in Bethel in 1964.
Jane married Alan Bagg in 1967, moving to the Kenosha, Wisconsin area. After teaching elementary school for a time, Jane worked in Kenosha social services until entering graduate school. Jane earned a masters degree in social work in 1979 from George Williams College of Aurora University. During these years, she was active in The National Organization of Women (NOW). After she and Bagg divorced in 1979, she moved to Chicago where she lived until 2014, which she would deeply connect with as her “place.” She worked for 30 years as a social worker at The Salvation Army Family Services Division and maintained a private psychotherapy practice. She was part of a professional consultation group throughout her career.
Having a strong fascination with people and life, Jane was a gifted therapist and had very close friends who were beneficiaries of her insight, wisdom, and robust sense of humor. She enjoyed traveling, especially regular trips to visit, share stories and sight-see with family in Texas and Vermont. Laughter and fun were her language during these road, train, and camping trips to family as well as to Montana, the Canadian Rockies, and Washington amongst others. She regularly attended the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and was a longtime participant in a women’s book group for years. She belonged to Unity Church of Chicago and stayed abreast of current events throughout her life.
Jane is survived by her brothers, Kevin Rooney of Manchester, New Hampshire and Peter (Thayne) Rooney of Fort Worth, Texas. She is also survived by her nephews, Joshua (Jessica)
Rooney and their children Maeve and Henry of Essex Junction, VT, Alex (Bogdana Kaisheva) Rooney and their children Theodore, and Arthur of Keller, Texas, and former sister-in-law, Diane Rooney of Shelburne, Vermont.
Jane’s family and friends thank many beloved caregivers at The Meetinghouse and Mount Carmel Rehab and Nursing Center of Manchester, New Hampshire, who held Jane with love and care through her final hours. httht
There will be a Celebration of Life service for Jane at Trinity Episcopal Church in Shelburne, Vermont on Sunday, June 9 at noon central standard time. Internment will Follow in the Memorial Garden at the church. Those wanting to receive a zoom link for the service should direct message their email address to Cathy Shiel-Reardon (“Cathy Marie”) on Facebook by June 1. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) at https:/cotsonline.org/donate.
Published by Valley News on Apr. 24, 2024.
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