Tribute

Jane Blanchard Shapley (née Dorothy Jane Blanchard, born April 22, 1933) passed away peacefully on March 2, 2026, at the age of 92, in her home on the Malahat summit, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Her beloved husband, Allen Elmer “Hap” Shapley (born January 27, 1932), preceded her in death on January 24, 2023, at the age of 90. Together, they built a life defined by devotion, service, faith, and enduring love.

Jane’s life was marked by quiet strength, deep compassion, an unmatched work ethic, and a joyful, curious spirit that remained with her throughout her years.

In 1949, Jane, always known simply as Jane, celebrated her 16th birthday in a way that foreshadowed the independence and courage that would define her life: she earned her pilot’s license. Having logged enough hours in a Piper Cub and demonstrated her skill by accurately dropping flour bags onto ground targets (World War II was still on everyone’s minds), she marked the occasion with her father, who took her across the road for her first Rum & Coke. It was not until her 17th birthday that she obtained her driver’s license—prudently choosing not to repeat the earlier celebration with her instructor.

She was raised in Ramsey, New Jersey, in a household that blended a whiff of Victorian propriety with a strong emphasis on education, inquiry, and independent thought. As a teenager, her table manners were as exquisite as her violin and basketball skills. She attended Syracuse University, beginning in Geology and graduating with a degree in Speech Pathology.

Jane married Allen “Hap” Shapley—always known as Hap—and supported his return to school, a journey that would lead him to a professorship at Michigan State University. In 1964, they moved to Mason, Michigan, where they made their home for 30 years and became deeply rooted in the community. During that time, Jane served on the Michigan Governor’s Council on Adoptable Children, reflecting her lifelong commitment to children and families, while Hap served two consecutive terms as mayor of Mason.

A devoted mother of seven, Jane anchored her life in family. She gave of herself fully—ensuring that each of her children was cared for, guided, and deeply loved. Managing a household of that size required extraordinary discipline, patience, and sacrifice, all of which she carried with grace. Her children were the center of her world, and she instilled in them the principles of integrity, perseverance, and compassion.

Her greatest act of love was choosing motherhood in its fullest and most expansive sense. Jane and Hap opened their home not only to their four biological children, but also to foster children and those in need—including providing shelter to unwed mothers. Over time, this commitment deepened into adoption, as they welcomed three children into their family. Together, they built an interracial family grounded in courage, dignity, and belonging. Their love was intentional, fearless, and deeply human, shaping the lives of all their children in profound and lasting ways.

Jane’s work ethic was extraordinary. She believed in showing up, doing things the right way, and giving her best without expectation of recognition. That standard became a foundation not only for her own life, but for generations that followed.

When their youngest child became independent, Jane returned to school—this time to Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Chicago—answering a call to ministry. She served as a minister in the United Methodist Church within the West Michigan Conference, including in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Her ministry reflected her deeply empathetic spirit, offering pastoral care, counseling, and guidance to many.

After their years in Grand Rapids, Jane and Hap retired and, in 1997, returned to her family’s ancestral home on Vancouver Island, where her mother Harriet Mace McCurdy had grown up. There, in the log home built by her grandfather, they built a life filled with community, faith, and hospitality. Jane remained active in ministry through pastoral care, counseling, and occasional preaching, and together they cultivated a wide circle of devoted friends while welcoming visits from family across the years.

Following Hap’s passing in January 2023, Jane remained in the home, living independently and continuing to engage actively with her church and community. She passed peacefully at home, surrounded by a circle of family and friends who would not leave her side.

Jane had a gentle, joyful, and profoundly empathetic soul. She possessed a sharp wit, an occasionally reckless sense of humor, and a strong mind that served her well throughout her life. She was also, by all accounts, unbeatable at Scrabble.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hap Shapley; her eldest son, Roy Howard Shapley; her sisters, Ann McCurdy Blanchard Bovbjerg and Margaret Blanchard Curtis; and Hap’s brother, Robert Shapley.

Jane is survived by her brother, David Wesley Blanchard, and her sister, Irene Blanchard; as well as Hap’s sisters, Sallie Pullano and Susan Neville. She is also survived by her children: Todd (Kathleen) Shapley-Quinn of Chapel Hill, NC; Dean (Carrie) Shapley of Chelmsford, MA; Marcy (Dave) of La Conner, WA; J.B. (NanaEfua) Afoh-Manin of Los Angeles, CA; Marcus Shapley of Fort Myers, FL; and Nicole Shapley of Chicago, IL. She leaves behind eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, each carrying forward her spirit, her values, and her enduring love.

To those who knew her, Jane will be remembered as steady, principled, joyful, and deeply devoted. To her family, she was everything—a source of strength, a guiding light, and a constant presence. Her life reminds us that family is not only something we are born into, but something we choose and build. And in choosing—again and again—she gave a gift that will echo for generations.

Together, Jane and Hap built a life rooted in service, faith, family, and community. Their legacy lives on in the generations they raised, the communities they strengthened, and the many lives they touched.

Mother, your work, your sacrifice, and your love shaped generations. We will honor you in how we live.

A memorial service will be held on April 25, 2026, at Sylvan United Church in Mill Bay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada  . (sylvanunited.ca)

In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for donations to Nourish Cowichan (nourishcowichan.ca)