Jane Beardsley Lemeland

NORTHAMPTON, MA — Jane Beardsley Lemeland, age 86, of Concord, NH, passed away peacefully on December 5th surrounded by her daughters. She was born on January 2, 1938 in Los Angeles, CA. “Janie” was the cherished daughter of Charles E. Beardsley and Marian Gower Beardsley. Jane grew up in southern California, attending South Pasadena High and Stanford University for two years. She later moved to the east coast finishing college at Barnard University in New York. It was in New York that she met the love of her life, Charles A. Lemeland of Normandy and Paris. Charles and Jane met during Jane’s senior year at the Columbia Foreign Students’ Club when Charles was a graduate student at Columbia. Jane was studying French and after graduation from Barnard, she completed a Masters in French in Paris under Middlebury’s auspices. Jane and Charles were married in 1961 in San Marino, California, Jane’s hometown. They lived in Aurora, NY; Brookline, MA; Cohasset, MA; and then settled in Concord, NH for 47 years, living at St. Paul’s School, where Charles taught French for 24 years and where they formed many lasting friendships.

Jane started her career as a high school French teacher but later, with further degrees, moved into helping children. She served as a learning disabilities specialist on the south shore of MA, a reading specialist at Rundlett Junior High in Concord, NH, and later an elementary school counselor at Beaver Meadow Elementary School in Concord, NH. Counseling was her love. She felt that the special relationship with the children and their families was what made it all so worthwhile.

However, her lifetime career was helping others, whether it was helping a displaced refuge family from a Tibetan village matriculate into American society in Concord, fighting for peace through Peace Action, fighting for gay marriage for others, canvasing for the political candidate whom she felt would do the most good for peace and humanity, or caring for her treasured grandchildren.

Jane was the sweetest and most caring person. She radiated happiness to all around her and everyone who met her loved her. When Jane was in memory care, all were drawn to her, including other residents and staff. She always greeted them or thanked them with a smile. Although her short-term memory was diminished, she maintained her wonderful personality and sweetness, never complaining or raising her voice.

Jane was an incredible mother, wife, and grandmother. Her family was her ultimate pride and joy whom she devoted herself to, with her kind words, attentiveness, interested ear, and her wonderful cooking. One of her greatest joys was being with her grandchildren. Words cannot describe how much she will be missed. She made the world a better place. She leaves behind her daughter, Laure Lemeland Nawrocki, of Needham, MA and her husband Peter, and their children, Cole and Britt; her daughter, Lise Lemeland, of Williamsburg, MA, and her children, Mateo, Santiago, and Elis. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Charles.

We want to thank Linda Manor Assisted Living, Avita of Needham, and the Cooley-Dickinson hospice team for their wonderful care. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Unicef, or any organization that helps children.

A memorial service will be held on December 21, 2024 at 1:00 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Concord, NH.