A life well-lived!
February 20, 2021
by Brian Haney
After an incredible journey of 92 years, Jane McCutcheon Twigger Haney, born December 1, 1928, passed away on February 17, 2021. Although Jane's final days were in State College, PA, she returned to her beloved Pittsburgh for her final rest. Born on Homehurst Ave. in Pittsburgh, a graduate of Carrick High School, Jane spent most of her life in the borough of Brentwood and lived in Pleasant Hills prior to moving to State College in 2013.
Jane is survived by her devoted children, Janet Haney, Patti DiSanto (Dale), Brian Haney (Charlie Buscemi), and her beloved daughter-in-law, Andrea Haney (wife of her late son, Bruce).
Those lucky enough to have called her "Gram" include Ryan DiSanto, Sara Haney Stroud (Kelvin), Kelli Lotter (Justin), Kevin DiSanto, and Mackenzie Haney. Jane enjoyed the privilege of time spent with her precious great-grandchildren, Mathis, Ashton, Beckham, and Millie, and was blessed to have been loved by many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. Jane was predeceased by her husband Edward; her parents; her brother, William Twigger; her sister, Mabel Speicher; and son, Bruce.
Over the 92 years that Jane Haney has been on her quest, she has accomplished many things great and small – and all with a sense of humility and selflessness. Jane led a remarkable life dedicated to the service of others and was the epitome of grace and kindness. She was honored as “Person-of-the-Year” in Pittsburgh’s South Hills in 1997. From the neighbors who depended on Jane to prepare their income taxes, to the countless volunteer hours spent on numerous activities, her life was reflective of her passion for serving others. Her volunteer service included: Brentwood School Board (22 years, serving as president for many of those years), Brentwood Library board (Treasurer), Brentwood Boosters Organization, Girl Scouts leadership (40 years), softball team coaching, PTA, Goodwill Industries, Southeastern Area Special Schools Venture (President), Brentwood Borough Historical Society, and more. A room at the Brentwood Library was named in Jane's honor on November 18, 2011.
With all of the time spent trying to make her/our community and world a better place, Jane still found time for a full-time job – in order to provide support for her children’s education and their activities. Jane worked at Carnegie Museum as a bookkeeper and spent the largest portion of her employment years at South Hills Country Club as Office Manager. Upon retirement from South Hills, Jane was honored with a club membership, which is reflective of the esteem in which she was held. With all of the time spent on volunteering and work, and “managing her household,” Jane managed to find time for the special things for family and friends: the “cookie press cookies”, the hand-made dresses and Halloween costumes, picnics and birthday parties, home-cooked meals, and clothes that were ironed, the typing of term papers, and celebrations of all kinds. Her home, albeit tiny and small, was large with life!
Jane loved all things Pittsburgh and all things Brentwood. Jane was a great sports enthusiast and the most ardent of Pirates fans. From her time as a young girl, she followed the Pirates. In her last ten years or so living in Pittsburgh, Jane had season tickets to Pirates games, attending them with either her husband Edward, or her "best friend" Janet. In addition to Pittsburgh and Brentwood sports, Jane attended sporting events for her grandchildren, cultural events, concerts, exhibits, and plays extensively and whenever possible. Jane was a dedicated and active member of the church she grew up in (Fairhaven United Methodist Church) and the church she joined as a young parent and attended for decades (Baldwin Community Methodist Church).
From her travels to far places or exploration of things near, Jane exhibited an extraordinary thirst for knowledge and adventure. Eleanor Roosevelt said: “We must do the things we think we cannot do,” and Jane was truly fearless, living her life by the Nike slogan: “Just do it!”
A private family service, due to this time of COVID, will be held at the JOHN F. SLATER FUNERAL HOME, 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood, PA 15227, on Sunday morning, February 21, 2021. A private burial service and interment will be in Allegheny County Memorial Cemetery, Allison Park, PA.
In addition to the private family service, a celebration of life service is expected to occur on a future date when the many who knew and loved “Janey Haney” can gather to honor and remember a great soul, a remarkable woman, and a life well-lived.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either: Brentwood Library (3501 Brownsville Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15227 | https://BrentwoodPublicLibrary.org) – or – Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania (Robert S. Foltz Building, 118 52nd Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 | https://www.goodwillswpa.org/donate-money).
Jane is survived by her devoted children, Janet Haney, Patti DiSanto (Dale), Brian Haney (Charlie Buscemi), and her beloved daughter-in-law, Andrea Haney (wife of her late son, Bruce).
Those lucky enough to have called her "Gram" include Ryan DiSanto, Sara Haney Stroud (Kelvin), Kelli Lotter (Justin), Kevin DiSanto, and Mackenzie Haney. Jane enjoyed the privilege of time spent with her precious great-grandchildren, Mathis, Ashton, Beckham, and Millie, and was blessed to have been loved by many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. Jane was predeceased by her husband Edward; her parents; her brother, William Twigger; her sister, Mabel Speicher; and son, Bruce.
Over the 92 years that Jane Haney has been on her quest, she has accomplished many things great and small – and all with a sense of humility and selflessness. Jane led a remarkable life dedicated to the service of others and was the epitome of grace and kindness. She was honored as “Person-of-the-Year” in Pittsburgh’s South Hills in 1997. From the neighbors who depended on Jane to prepare their income taxes, to the countless volunteer hours spent on numerous activities, her life was reflective of her passion for serving others. Her volunteer service included: Brentwood School Board (22 years, serving as president for many of those years), Brentwood Library board (Treasurer), Brentwood Boosters Organization, Girl Scouts leadership (40 years), softball team coaching, PTA, Goodwill Industries, Southeastern Area Special Schools Venture (President), Brentwood Borough Historical Society, and more. A room at the Brentwood Library was named in Jane's honor on November 18, 2011.
With all of the time spent trying to make her/our community and world a better place, Jane still found time for a full-time job – in order to provide support for her children’s education and their activities. Jane worked at Carnegie Museum as a bookkeeper and spent the largest portion of her employment years at South Hills Country Club as Office Manager. Upon retirement from South Hills, Jane was honored with a club membership, which is reflective of the esteem in which she was held. With all of the time spent on volunteering and work, and “managing her household,” Jane managed to find time for the special things for family and friends: the “cookie press cookies”, the hand-made dresses and Halloween costumes, picnics and birthday parties, home-cooked meals, and clothes that were ironed, the typing of term papers, and celebrations of all kinds. Her home, albeit tiny and small, was large with life!
Jane loved all things Pittsburgh and all things Brentwood. Jane was a great sports enthusiast and the most ardent of Pirates fans. From her time as a young girl, she followed the Pirates. In her last ten years or so living in Pittsburgh, Jane had season tickets to Pirates games, attending them with either her husband Edward, or her "best friend" Janet. In addition to Pittsburgh and Brentwood sports, Jane attended sporting events for her grandchildren, cultural events, concerts, exhibits, and plays extensively and whenever possible. Jane was a dedicated and active member of the church she grew up in (Fairhaven United Methodist Church) and the church she joined as a young parent and attended for decades (Baldwin Community Methodist Church).
From her travels to far places or exploration of things near, Jane exhibited an extraordinary thirst for knowledge and adventure. Eleanor Roosevelt said: “We must do the things we think we cannot do,” and Jane was truly fearless, living her life by the Nike slogan: “Just do it!”
A private family service, due to this time of COVID, will be held at the JOHN F. SLATER FUNERAL HOME, 4201 Brownsville Road, Brentwood, PA 15227, on Sunday morning, February 21, 2021. A private burial service and interment will be in Allegheny County Memorial Cemetery, Allison Park, PA.
In addition to the private family service, a celebration of life service is expected to occur on a future date when the many who knew and loved “Janey Haney” can gather to honor and remember a great soul, a remarkable woman, and a life well-lived.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either: Brentwood Library (3501 Brownsville Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15227 | https://BrentwoodPublicLibrary.org) – or – Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania (Robert S. Foltz Building, 118 52nd Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 | https://www.goodwillswpa.org/donate-money).