Mary Jean Kane Profile Photo

Mary Jean Kane

February 13, 1942 — January 3, 2025

Port St Lucie

Mary Jean Kane

Mary Jean Kane (Jean or Jeannie to all who knew her) passed away peacefully at Life Care Center of Port St. Lucie, Florida in the early morning of January 3, 2025, at the age of 82. She was born on February 13, 1942, in Arlington, MA, the only child to the late William S. Kerr and Mary A. (Barter) Kerr. She is survived by her daughter, Amanda Kane, and son-in-law, Jeremy Duke as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 56 years, Robert W. Kane who recently passed away November 28, 2024. 

Jean attended Arlington High School and graduated at the top of her class in 1959. During high school and college, she worked part-time at The Coop Gift Shop in Cambridge, MA. After high school, she attended Tufts Bouve’ University (School of Physical Therapy and Physical Education) in Medford, MA for physical therapy and graduated top of her class in 1963; then embarked on a 50+ year career in the field of physical therapy. Her first held position was at Liberty Mutual in Boston, where she met her late husband, Robert. The two of them were married in October of 1968 and their honeymoon consisted of a road trip across the country, which landed the two of them in Las Cruces, NM. For approximately a year she worked at a large hospital in El Paso, Texas. 

Jean and Robert returned to Loudon, NH where her parents owned a small farmhouse, which they lived at before building the house she would call home for nearly 40 years. Jean and Robert loved living in the country, where at this small farmhouse they had many farm animals that included cows, horses, chickens, ducks, bunnies, dogs, and cats. During this timeframe, Jean dedicated her life to both the small farm as well as her career as a physical therapist at Concord Hospital in Concord, NH from June of 1969 to February of 2014. She partook in many roles including rehab manager, in-patient acute care, out-patient, as well as cardiac & pulmonary rehab. Jean proudly earned the nickname “Mean Jean” or “Pain with Kane” but her tough exterior only masked the deep care she had for the patients she cared for over the years. She dedicated her life to improving others by delivering physical therapy; positively impacting the lives of her patients. 

Jean had a generous heart and over the 40+ years spent living in NH, both Jean and Bob took in many friends, family, and foreign exchange students that needed a place to stay, as well as opening their doors during the holidays. Not only did Bob and Jean gracefully allow people to live with them, the couple also had countless cats, as well as bunnies, hamsters, fish, and in 2002 Jean adopted her first retired racing Greyhound to which the family named “Pupper” & this started a newfound love for Jean, caring for and adopting countless greyhounds in need of loving homes. 

Jean had the quality of lighting up every room she entered, simply with her smile, and her infectious laugh. She brought joy and comfort to so many lives, both human and animal alike. Jean had a love for many things life had to offer, including her houseplants, spending countless afternoons caring for them, as well as an extraordinary love for reading. Jean always had a book she was reading (sometimes 2) which paired well with her love for cooking, and baking, (usually with a book in hand while doing so). Jean passed down many recipes to friends and family, who enjoy her comfort foods today. She and Robert had a shared love for vacations with family and friends alongside dining out and exploring tourist spots here in the US. 

Jean and Robert retired to Port St. Lucie in the Fall of 2014 where they enjoyed the constant sunshine and easy-living of Florida. During her retirement, she enjoyed the company of her beloved retired racing Greyhounds, many rescued cats, visits with friends and family, enjoying the Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens as well as shopping for her absolute favorite keepsake, Flamingo decor. 

In lieu of flowers, Jean’s wishes were for donations to be made to Greyhounds in Motion, https://greyhoundsinmotion.com/ or The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast, https://hstc1.org/Donate or Fast Friends Greyhound Adoption https://www.helpinggreyhounds.org/give 

A Celebration of Life for Jean and Bob will be held in NH as well as a ceremony at the NH State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, NH at a later date. 

To send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Jean Kane, please visit our flower store.

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