Jane Louie Oman Sargent  died peacefully on March 17, 2023 at Kendal at Hanover. She was a longtime resident of Norwich, Vermont, and Wellesley, Massachusetts. To say she had had a good run is an understatement: she was 100 years and 6 months old.

Jane was born to Swedish-American parents in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 30, 1922. At age eight, she moved with her family to Seattle, WA, where her father became a partner in a dental practice. The great depression changed her father’s career, sending him to the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. His family settled in nearby Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. It was there, at age 13, Jane met her future husband, David Sargent, whose father was descended from a long line of Sargents living in Norwich. The two sets of parents were best friends, and as a teenager, Jane would vacation with her parents at the Sargent family camp in Thetford, Vermont.

A graduate of Hastings-on-Hudson High School (1939) and Smith College (1943), Jane’s parents granted her permission to marry David Sargent on June 6, 1942, with the understanding she would complete her degree in Sociology. Dave left shortly thereafter for flight school with the RAF in Arizona. After her graduation, she joined him in Alabama where he was by now a flight instructor, and where they had their first child, Karen, in 1944. In 1945, after the war, Jane and Dave moved to Wellesley Massachusetts. Five more children came along, spanning 16 years. Their years in Wellesley were filled with civic involvement. Jane worked for the Wellesley Scholarship Foundation, helping others achieve their dreams of going to college. She hosted many young people from Boston who participated in METCO, an educational program for inner city kids giving them access to the Wellesley public schools. She served on many committees and boards for her town, including the Wellesley Housing Authority, and was active in the Unitarian Church. Jane was also an enthusiastic alumna of Smith College.

A life-long learner, Jane took continuing education classes at Radcliffe College and later at Dartmouth College. She enjoyed and supported the Boston Symphony and Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, driving herself from Vermont to Boston regularly into her 90’s. Jane was a longtime member of both the Wellesley Garden Club and the Hanover Garden Club as well as the Norwich Women’s Club.

Jane and Dave’s passion for Vermont had never wavered, and in 1960, they built a small cabin in Norwich. They packed it with bunk beds and a hardworking woodstove in the winter. In summer, the kids spread out into big canvas-tented platforms, often filling them with additional friends and cousins. Jane was a very good sport as the “Chief Cook and Bottlewasher”. Over time, the house, affectionately known at “Chuckleberry”, grew outwards and upwards. In 1992, with the first addition complete, Jane and Dave left Wellesley and retired to their special place in Norwich.

Jane was an accomplished gardener, devoted tennis player, master baker, curious reader and traveler, art historian, Unitarian, loyal friend, loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Her home became not only a relaxing retreat and nature preserve, but an important gathering spot for her children and grandchildren.

Jane was predeceased by her husband David in 2001. She leaves her daughters Karen (Joel) Sirkin of Wayland, MA, Anne Walker of Newton, MA, sons Dwight Sargent (Hai) of Norwich, VT, Carl Sargent of Boston, MA, David Sargent (Ann) of Norwich, VT, and Thomas Sargent (Allison) of Wellesley, MA, ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

The Sargent family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Kendal at Hanover who consistently showed Jane respectful and thoughtful care throughout her years there. There will be a celebration of her life held at a later date.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, please consider a donation to the Upper Valley Land Trust or a conservation organization of your choice.

 

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