A Tribute to Our Jane

Jane passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on January 21, 2019. With her were her three cherished boys Augustus Peter Gavin, Edward Walter Lehmann and Henry Martin Anthony; her husband of 30 years and companion for over 40 years Peter Shafron; and a small group of some of her many, many friends.

Jane was born and grew up in Canberra, Australia. She went to Red Hill Primary, Telopea Park High School and Narrabundah College.  She graduated The Australian National University with an Arts degree then commenced a Law degree there.  She transferred to Sydney University where she completed her Bachelor of Laws, working part time during those years. In 1989 she married her high school sweetheart Peter.

Jane worked for the prestigious Sydney law firm Blake Dawson Waldron working in trade practices (antitrust),  product liability and business law. She then accepted a job as the second lawyer hired in the law department of Optus Communications - Australia's then new telecommunications company. During these years Jane earned her Master of Laws degree from Sydney University.

It was while Jane was a working Sydney lawyer that she gave birth to Augustus and Edward - sixteen pounds of babies born at 41 weeks.  She was still swimming days before. Henry followed 3 years later and the family was complete.

In 1999, the family moved to Orange County, California and Jane concentrated on the boys, school issues and education related advocacy.  She was a driving force in the expansion of the CVHS Foundation and in the remodeling and renovation of both Newhart Middle and Capistrano Valley High schools. She was a co-founder of the Wish Upon a Cure Foundation and active in many other philanthropic endeavors - always willing to help out.

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When the time came, she decided to start a business with Peter recording and preserving personal and family stories - life story documentaries - and Your Story Here LLC Video Biography was born.  She went back to school and studied film, voice over acting, and other subjects required by her new calling. (Two of her films made with Peter - 88 Years in the Closet and Growing Up Mischling - were awarded "best documentary" awards at prominent film festivals.) That original business expanded into cognate areas like tribute videos and photo restorations (PhotoFixRestore).

Jane became heavily involved with the Association of Personal Historians - serving on its Board.  She also became active with NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners). She developed a wide circle of business associates - who often became close friends.  Her NAWBO buddies morphed into the "Spice Girls" who are still meeting, sharing - and laughing. Her APH associates became PHriends. She worked with hundreds of clients - who also often became close friends.

Close friends and book club members.

Jane is also survived by her mother Marie Lehmann, her sister Ann Wynn, and Ann's family.

Jane was active in many communities. She was an attorney by training, a public school advocate, an orange county business woman, a personal historian, a film maker, a blogger, a feminist, a health maven, a volunteer, and an exercise nut. She was also a sweet, wise, and tireless friend, a tiger mother, and the best companion to Peter.

For a woman as professionally active as Jane, with a strong exercise regime, many interests,  a commitment to home cooking and this website, and a demanding family - she had an astonishingly far-reaching and deep pool of friends.  Many of those friends are helping the family cope with its terrible loss.

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In this short video clip from September 2008, the tables are turned and Jane is the subject of the interview - by her son Henry at the family home in Mission Viejo, California.

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A last letter to Jane from her mother

My darling Jane -

This will be my last letter to you and it will be my memories of a wonderful, clever and caring daughter.

You were my first born and the absolute delight of both your father and I.  You were such a good baby - the first time you cried at nite was at 9 months and you had cut your first tooth.

You were lucky to have the never failing attention of your 15 year old brother, Tony who idolised you as did you come to love him as much.  

You were a dear little girl - funny little ways - one was how you would never go straight to your own bed at nite but insisted  on going first to our bed  where you would curl up -  suck your right thumb and in your left hand hold onto your "loonie" which was a little white t-shirt  you had outgrown and was decorated with coloured balloons.  When you were finally ready you would call out "ready go my bed now" and either your father or I would carry you to your own bed.  

This loonie went everywhere with you - even to hospital when at just over 4 years of age you had your tonsils removed and we were asked to bring along any comfort thing you might have.  

Imagine our concern when we visited you and found you so distressed as you did not have your loonie.  But your father sorted that out - he insisted the hospital laundry be searched and find it - and they did!!  Your father did have a certain power of persuasion... and where you were concerned it was limitless.

You were so happy to have your baby sister arrive when you were nearly 4 and suggested we call her Ringo but we decided Ann Louise sounded so much nicer.  You loved this little person and it was such a joy to see you interact.

You loved reading and having us read to you, made friends at school easily and just loved learning.  I have such a vivid memory of you asking me to check your homework for you.  I pointed out a spelling error and was absolutely amazed to see you tear the page out and re-do the whole thing.  I mentioned this to your teacher who said that yes, you did have a high standard but that as you got older and the workload increased,  you would find that hard to keep up.  But that was something you never did - you always maintained a very high standard in whatever you did.

Your school grades were great - you went thru primary school  and high school easily, college and then graduated with your Bachelor of Arts degree from our prestigious Australian National University here in Canberra.  You and Peter both graduated from Sydney University with firstly your Bachelor of Law degree and then the icing on the cake - your Master of Law degree.  You lived and worked in Sydney - your marriage to Peter was such a lovely event - your dad was so proud as he walked you into the venue that evening.

The loss of your father and then some years later your brother Tony caused you so much pain and loss as it did to Ann and I.  You read such lovely words at your father's funeral and somehow I just took it granted that one day you would so the same for me.  But that is not to be and how cruel that instead it is me writing to you.

The purchase and renovation of your first home in Balmain in Sydney was a credit to you both but all this was outdone by the arrival of those beautiful boys, Gus and Edward.  But once again came the icing on the cake, young Henry came into my life.  

Your decision to make the move to America with Peter's work came next and how lucky was I to be able to visit as often as I did to see how you were all doing and enjoy such happy times with you all.  Your own family business evolving was very exciting and as always you set a very high standard in all that you presented.

Your visits back to Australia were always highly exciting and we all enjoyed having you back home even if only for a short while.

You were a loyal, supportive and loving wife to Peter and an outstanding mother to your 3 sons.  You were a loved and respected sister and aunt.

I know there is so much more I want to write, but my darling Jane as with all stories we have to come to the last page.  If only there could be so many more chapters of your life for me to cover.

 My heart breaks as I have to say that now you have said your last  "go my bed now" I have to say -  I still have your loonie.  Mum