Most of us wake up every day thinking about ourselves and the day we have ahead of us; Jane Belisle woke up every day thinking about others. Whose birthday is it today? Who has a big event and could use my help or encouragement? It was really unbelievable.
Jane transitioned into the next phase of life (“for life is continuous”) on Sunday, August 2, surrounded by the warm love of all those souls her vibrant and enthusiastic life touched; Five were present, hundreds more were sending love from a distance. There can be no doubt that – if there is a path to the next level of consciousness – Jane’s path was brightly lit by all of your heartfelt prayers.
Jane Lee Rettmer was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on March 8, 1964 to Con and Sandi Rettmer (both now deceased) and she grew up with them and her three beloved siblings – Stacy (Doug now in Mpls), Sara (deceased, Chad now in New Ulm, MN), and Matt (Heidi now in Castle Rock, CO) in the charming Rockwellian prairie town of Tracy. Jane graduated at the top of her class from Tracy High School and went on to get her BA in Psychology and Communications from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, plus one year at the University of Minnesota in 1986.
Jane met her future husband Patrick (Pat) Belisle just weeks after graduating college when they were both Admissions Counselors for their respective alma maters: Gustavus and St. John’s University/College of St. Benedict. Seeing each other setting up social opportunities for their fellow admissions colleagues while on the road, they decided to join forces and combine their considerable social skills and joy of life into creating community for those around them. Pat and Jane married on June 10, 1989 and continued to create meaningful relationships with everyone around them throughout their long marriage.
After moving from their native Minnesota out to Olympia, WA for a few years, Jane and Pat traveled around the world for one year (1993-94) looking for the meaning of life which they realized is LOVE. After becoming addicted to “following Spirit” for that one year, they decided to wander North America, stopping to work every few months when they ran out of money… which they did for almost three years (’95-’97) looking for their ideal place to settle down. That place turned out to be Charlottesville, VA where they have lived since January of 1998. With Jane’s warmth, contagious positivity, and outgoing nature, Pat and Jane created the most beautiful, loving community imaginable. Many of their deepest friendships came from the A.R.E. (Edgar Cayce) Camp community over many decades. A big part of that community was also created and sustained by their unique RendezVous parties – an open-door potluck dinner and music fest they hosted at their home on the 2nd Saturday of every month… for over 11 years. Leading up to her death this summer, Jane’s entire community of family and friends came out in droves to love on their remarkable friend.
Jane lamented that she never had a career per se, but instead called herself “a Jane of all trades” having held a dizzying array of jobs, from running the Senior Center’s volunteer program to leading hospitals around the U.S. in mapping their intake processes using their new 3M software; from working in restaurants and office temping to doing logistics for TEDx Cville and leading international tours for the Center at Belvedere and Edgar Cayce’s A.R.E. Her first job in Charlottesville – which led to many of her deepest long-term friendships – was working for infamous “dot-bomb” startup ValueAmerica in the late 1990s. Her last venture was working as a Cville Clutter Coach, helping people declutter and create sustainable systems of organization in their homes. Jane was also an artist – spending many happy hours in her studio making vibrant collages, paintings, and cards featuring uplifting images and heartfelt messages. No matter how she was spending her life energy, Jane got the most fulfilment when she used her many talents in service to others. When she was at her best, everyone around her fell in love.
Jane was an emotional genius who loved people as a whole. But her tribute obituary would not be complete without shining a light specifically on her love of all the young people in her life. Certainly her 12 (official) godchildren and 18 nieces and nephews filled her heart to the brim; cheering them on at every milestone, inviting them to make art with her, sending them her own handmade art and birthday cards. Jane also loved on every “little one” that came into her path: neighbors’ kids, students and athletes… even strangers’ babies at the grocery store. Jane loved them all. And they loved her.
Jane died as she lived, surrounded by vibrant color, music and miracles, and abounding love. Even though her health journey included warding off breast cancer the past 9 years (the past 2 very intensively with chemo sessions at least once each month), many people in her life had no idea; Jane had recently come through what she called her “Epic 60th Year” where she and Pat did something “epic” every month for about a year-and-a-half. They were even squeezing in some international trips between treatments because Jane wasn’t going to identify with the disease… and she certainly wasn’t going to let it dictate how she lived her life. She lived every day to the fullest.
JaneFest – a celebration of Jane’s spectacular life – is being planned for some time in mid-October and will be held at Panorama Natural Burial where her body will be interred.
It is no exaggeration to say that in seeing the outpouring of love these past few weeks as Jane has been on hospice (special thanks to the saints working for Hospice of the Piedmont and Just a Little Help)… and the beautiful miracles we’ve seen at every turn… have restored our faith in humanity and given us all hope for our collective future. Thank you for that massive final gift, Jane Belisle. We love you. Godspeed.
