Kittery -Jane Marie McCarthy died on July 5, 2021. She was 75 years old and had suffered considerably for almost four years due to cancer and other health problems.

Jane was born at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton on January 27, 1946, the only child of Jim and Mary Quigley; and she grew up in Newton, surrounded by loving Irish relations, from whom she heard many stories of Eire and learned many Irish songs and poems. She later introduced many of her friends to the beauties and wonders of Ireland, acting as tour guide to her friends and sharing her Irish cousins with them.

After graduating from Rosary Academy in Watertown in 1963, Jane went to Fitchburg State College, graduating in 1967. She moved to York, Maine, that year to begin her teaching career at Mitchell School in Kittery Point, and she lived in Maine for the rest the of her life.

Jane had a lasting influence as both teacher and mentor to her students. Despite needing to retire in 1990 due to health problems, she remained in close contact with many of them to the end of her days. They and their parents helped her in a multitude of ways as her health worsened, and she was extremely grateful.

Jane loved animals and had many dogs and cats throughout her life, and she realized her childhood dream of owning a horse when she bought and rode " the Moose." She especially loved the Irish donkeys, contributing to the donkey sanctuary there.

She married Kevin McCarthy in 1971 and, sadly, was divorced several years later; and she subsequently devoted more time to her students and, being childless, to her friends' children. She was beloved "Auntie Jane" to many children, and she loved them and took as much pleasure in their antics and accomplishments as if they were her own.

Jane was intelligent, well-read (the possessor of thousands of books!!), generous, humorous, a music-lover, a great story-teller, and a great and faithful friend. In her thirty years of retirement, she was always ready to put the kettle on (or pour a drop of Irish whiskey) and listen to her friends and give wise advice when needed. Apart from her many close friends and cousins here, her greatest joy was being able to go to Ireland, and to go to Irish music concerts here when she was not able to go there. Her remains will go to her beloved Ireland as soon as possible, and there will be a gathering later to eat, drink (thus "improving the day"), and share Jane stories.

She is survived by her Cunningham, Smith, and Quigley cousins here and the O'Regans in Ireland.

A time of remembering Jane will take place at the tower pavilion at Fort Foster on Sunday, August 22. Care for the McCarthy family has been entrusted to the JS Pelkey & Son Funeral Home.