Jane Marie Brant

    Born at Bryan Air Force Base in Bryan, Texas, in the fall of 1953, “Janie” was the oldest of what would eventually be eight children. She attended St. Joseph’s grade school in Maybee and was a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy in Monroe. With thoughts of being a math teacher, Jane was a first-generation college student before there was even a name for this kind of determination.

    She began her college career shortly after marrying in the summer of 1973, a path joyously interrupted by the arrival of her daughter the following year. Two more children, both boys, soon completed her world. When her oldest was still just a toddler, Jane found herself navigating the world, and parenting, on her own.

    Undeterred and fiercely independent, Jane was a resilient, driven, human being. Deeply in love with her children and determined to build a life for her family, she returned to school full-time when her youngest was in first grade, earning her bachelor's degree in business from the University of Toledo. For over 25 years, Edwards Brothers Inc. in Ann Arbor, MI would be lucky enough to have her in their estimating department, where she built her career until they closed their doors in 2018.

    Even with three children in three different sports and activities at the exact same time, Jane rarely missed an event. She rose long before the sun to put in a full day's work, ensuring she was always in the stands, on the sidelines, or in the audience for every meet, game, concert, or match. In her spare moments, Jane was a voracious reader, with a stack of books at the ready, whether she was home or heading to northern Michigan, Florida, Europe, or Africa.

    Of all the roles she took on, those of mother, and eventually grandmother were her most cherished. She loved her grandchildren with the same steadfast energy she had for her children, showing up to celebrate and cheer them on whenever she had the opportunity. Jane was kind, quiet, creative, and unbreakable – she will be forever missed. She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her children, Melissa of Saline, MI; Eric of South Lyon, MI; and Paul (Kristy) of Johannesburg, MI; eleven grandchildren, three great- grandchildren, and her siblings. 

   At her request, Jane’s life will be honored privately by her family.