On November 12, 2022 a dear friend of mine went home to be with Jesus. Her name was Jane Rousseau and she was a second Mom to me. I did not get to know Jane until my adult years. I do remember her though when I was about 16 at Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle. In our old church building our Fellowship Hall and kitchen were downstairs. I remember seeing Jane struggling to get down the stairs from the front of the building. She took her time and because of injuries she sustained as a child she wore slippers and walked very slow. In my eyes as a teen she was always "The lady who was always in the kitchen at church." That was her ministry! When I was hired at SGT in 1991, I got to work more closely with Jane. My Mother in law Joan Jacobsen was the Director of Women's Ministries and Jane was a huge part of her team. Whenever we needed use of the cafeteria for events we always went through Jane. Jane and I built a great friendship and in reality she became a huge part of my families life. We even had her over for holidays and she was at many of my kids birthday parties. She was family! We got so close in fact that we even picked on each other constantly. She even gave me a nickname that many people still laugh about to this day and that was "Pastor Pest." I used to walk into the Fellowship Center where she worked and as soon as she saw me she would say either "Hello Pastor Pest" or "What do you want??" I even had a member of my church asked me if Jane didn't like me. I answered by saying "If Jane didn't poke fun at me it's then that I wouldn't think she liked me at all."
Jane was a tremendous help to me whenever I had a huge event like Vacation Bible School or the Fall Fun Fest. Whenever I needed food for events she was always there to support me. I would always offer to go with her to Sam's Club or Cost Co. with her but she would never let that happen. One time she did ask me to help her and I was amazed how many employees of Sam's Club knew her. They even offered to bring her items to her car! Jane was a hard worker and wanted so much to help people. She never let her handicap get in her way. I even remember seeing her drive to the church in a snowstorm in order to serve at a church event.
Jane grew up in Woodside Queens, NY and I have heard several accounts about how she was injured in the accident that I mentioned which caused her handicap status. All I know to be true is that she fell out of a window and broke several bones in her body. She has had several surgeries in her lifetime on her legs. As long as I have known her she has struggled to walk. Jane was married to Bob and raised 3 children Lisa, Karyn and Marc. In 1981 when Lisa was a student at King's College in Briarcliff Manor, NY Lisa was killed while trying to cross a busy street. She was only 18 years old. Lisa was instrumental in leading the entire family to the Lord. I never had the privilege of knowing Lisa and wish I did. Jane and her family never quit whenever they faced any opposition. I have to say one thing about her. You could never tell her "You can't" because she would do everything in her power to prove you wrong!
When I was dismissed of my duties at SGT, Jane and I remained close. In fact when I was looking to store my ministry stuff somewhere and told her I was looking to rent a storage space, she told me "Nonsense! You can store your stuff in an upstairs room in my house." Little did I know that about 4 years later that room would become my home for 5 1/2 years! Jane and I kept in touch and when I was on the road driving a limo I would at times call her to see how she was doing. I know she worried about me but I reassured her I was fine. In 2017 I was renting a beautiful apartment in Sound Beach, NY! The view was amazing! When you looked out my back window you had a great view of the Long Island Sound. I loved that apartment but it was very costly. I knew I would not be able to afford it and prayed for God to give me wisdom and if possible an affordable apartment. I will never forget the call I got from Jane in April 2017. "Listen, I know you are struggling to pay rent and I live all alone in my house. How would you like to live in the upstairs in my house?" The rent was much cheaper and I knew it was an offer I couldn't refuse. One month later I was now not only her friend but her tenant! I can definitely say let me be a part of her family. I always looked forward to when her son Marc and his family came to visit. They brought their dog Camby and that dog barked at me whenever I walked in the house or even walked into the kitchen.. I lived there for 5 1/2 years and it was a huge blessing to me! In the very beginning I got to see Jane a lot and was greeted every day by her dog, Ruegler. A few years after I moved in Jane's health began to deteriorate. Her days working at the church were decreased and she was in and out of hospitals and Rehabs. She had a lot of health issues. Whenever I went to visit Jane in a rehab or in a hospital she always would ask how I was doing. She never wanted anyone to worry about her. In fact one time she was hooked up to IV's, oxygen and all sorts of machines and she was telling me she was worried about me. That just sums up Jane!
During the fall of 2022 Jane's health got worst and she spent many days in Stony Brook Hospital. On the morning of Saturday, November 12 I was awakened at 3 a.m. by hearing her daughter Karyn on the phone downstairs. Karyn was told her Mom was getting worse and she needed to get to the hospital ASAP. On her way to the hospital, Karyn texted me what was going on and I just remember sitting on my couch praying and wondering if Jane was going home to heaven. I went to work at Chick Fil - A that morning and around 10 a.m. Karyn texted me again asking if I wanted to say goodbye to Jane before she went to heaven. I of course said yes! The other leaders understood that Jane was special to me so I quickly clocked out and headed straight for Stony Brook Hospital. Karyn met me in the lobby and the family gave me some time to say goodbye to Jane. I hated seeing her laying in her hospital bed but I knew it was important for me to tell her how much I love her and to thank her for all she has done for me. I was extremely happy the family gave me that privilege to be able to say goodbye. After I said my goodbye to Jane, Marc, his wife Kathleen, Karyn and I stood around Jane's hospital bed. We prayed and we reminisced. At around 2:45 that afternoon Jane left us here on her to her new home in Glory. Knowing Jane I'm sure the first thing she did was find someone to serve coffee to and then she probably did some running and back flips. Something she could only do as a child and teenager. Jane, we will miss you but we are happy you are now in heaven at peace for all eternity worshipping your savior.
On Saturday, March 18 there will be a Memorial service for Jane at Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle. I do not know the time yet but I do know it will be a celebration of her life. I have heard from many people who have told me Jane was a second Mom to them as well. One friend of mine, Carlos called her "Momma Jane." That very much sums up Jane!!
HAVE A BLESSED WEEKEND EVERYONE! THANKS FOR READING!!
