Jane L. Kase

Jane L. (Haggerty) Kase, 87, passed away on March 10, 2016 in the Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center surrounded by her family.

She was the wife of Raymond T. Kase, Sr., who passed awayon December 9, 2012. They were married for 61 years.

Born in Reading, she was the daughter of the late John F. Haggerty, Sr. and Elsie (Madeira) Haggerty.

Jane was a 1947 graduate of Reading High School, and then worked as a secretary at Nolde & Horst, a large Reading hosiery company.

Jane lived through the Depression, living on a farm with her family, worked as a secretary before getting married and relocating to Dallas, Texas for a short time with Ray's first job. Early in their marriage, Jane was a member and Treasurer of the Junior Catholic Women's Club. She then had the opportunity to travel internationally with Ray, meeting people from many different cultures. Suffice to say she witnessed many facets of life.

This engaging and energetic woman with a wonderful spiritand smile,was always curious and genuinely interested in what was going on with family, friends, the local community and the world. She was quick to engage strangers in conversation, and was famous for her long good byes. She shared her husband's interests and the knowledge gained in international travel and issues. They shared this interest throughout their retirement years.

Her most defining roles wereasdevoted wife, mother and grandmother, with a deep faith that she lived and shared by example, having many opportunities to teach the important values of sharing, compassion and love required in a large family. She continued this while teaching her grandchildren, sharing the hard work, patience and care required in passing on the tradition of making "fasnachts".

She is survived by her eight children: son, Raymond T. Kase, Jr., husband of J. Louise Cramp; son, Stephen A., husband of Suzanne Kase; daughter, Susanne L., wife of Fred Gerber; son, Thomas P., husband of Jacqueline L. Kase; daughter, Barbara M., wife of Dr. Frederick Ciabattoni; son, John M., husband of Victoria Kase; son, Matthew J., husband of Rosemary Kase and daughter, Patricia A., wife of Steven Trautwein. There are also twenty-one grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and numerous surviving nieces and nephews.

Janehad four siblings, John F. Haggerty, Jr., Warren H. Haggerty, Ruth Ann Haggerty, and Evelyn (Haggerty) Springer, all who predeceased her.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 14 at 10:00 a.m. in St. John Baptist de la Salle R.C. Church, 420 Holland St., Shillington. A viewing will be held on Sunday, March 13 from 4-7 p.m. in Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Avenue, West Reading. Entombment will be held in Gethsemane Mausoleum, Muhlenberg Township.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: St. John Baptist de la Salle Church, 420 Holland St., Shillington, PA 19607 and/or Berks Catholic High School, Attn: Capital Campaign, 955 E. Wyomissing Boulevard Reading, PA 19611. For online condolences, visit www.kuhnfuneralhome.com