Obituary of Jane M. Richey

Jane Moss Richey died peacefully on November 29 at Foxdale Village in State College. Jane was born on January 12, 1935, in Wyomissing Pennsylvania, the daughter of John Arthur and Christine Henshey Moss. Her older brother Arthur died earlier but she is survived by her younger sister Christine. Jane attended Wyomissing public schools, graduating from high school in 1954. She then entered Wellesley College and graduated in 1958 with a major in chemistry. Jane worked for two years as a chemist at the pharmaceutical company Schering and took additional chemistry courses at Columbia and Seton Hall. In 1958 she enrolled as a Graduate Student in Chemistry at Penn State. She received a Ph.D. degree in 1962 a few months after marrying Herman Richey, a beginning Assistant Professor of Chemistry. In the following years Jane had several chemistry related jobs including seven years with the Penn State Department of University Safety as a forensic chemist and later teaching courses in the Penn State Chemistry Department as a Visiting Associate Professor. Jane and Herman had the good fortune to adopt Susan, Anna, and Daniel and to have four grandchildren: Renee, Selena, Merritt (Mimi), and Emily. Her children were an important part of Jane's life. Some still remember the sourdough bread she baked every Friday when children were growing up. Jane was an enthusiastic musician. She started to learn a string instrument only after graduation from college. By much effort she became a capable violin player and later switched to the viola. She was a member of the Nittany Valley Symphony almost from its beginning and also the violist of the Nittany String Quartet. Jane greatly enjoyed playing in informal chamber music ensembles, often in her home, and attended many chamber music workshops. She later audited all of the metal working courses at Penn State, became an accomplished metal worker, and set up a metal-working shop in her home. Jane was very active in the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Centre County. Among other positions, she served as Fellowship President, Secretary, and Chair of two Ministerial Search Committees. For years she was Editor of the Fellowship's Newsletter which she greatly enlarged. Over the years she was active in many other charitable and political organizations and served on State College Boro Advisory Committees. On Herman's retirement they moved from College Heights in State College to a nearby 1820-1830 log cabin and did extensive renovations and additions. During these "retirement" years they traveled extensively - trips from arctic rafting to touring China and Thailand. In 2008 Jane and Herman moved to Foxdale Village. Only seven weeks later while walking with friends Jane had a routine fall that somehow led to a brain hemorrhage. The result was loss of use of her right arm and leg and severely limited speech. For several years she was able to participate in some activities at Foxdale. As time went on, however, her activities became more and more limited. The family is grateful for the ten years of care that Jane received in Anthony House. A celebration of Jane's life will be held in the Foxdale Village Auditorium on Saturday, January 12, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, make a memorial contribution to the Nittany Valley Symphony, http://www.nvs.org/donate/, or the Foxdale Village Training and Tuition Fund, https://www.foxdalevillage.org/home/giving/donate-online/. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.