Jane Ferguson West

Jane Ferguson West, 85, of Chester and Deep River —treasured wife, mother and grandmother, sweet, kind and generous soul—died on July 15, 2024, at home, surrounded by her loving family. Friends and neighbors have been incredibly supportive.

Jane was born on May 14, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, the beloved daughter of the late John Ferguson and Ethel (Combs) Ferguson. Jane loved school evidenced by earning her Bachelors of Political Science from Vassar, Masters of Political Science from URI and her teacher’s certification Masters of Education from Danbury State Teachers College. In 1964 Bill and Jane started a business in the powder metallurgy industry – National Sintered Alloys. Jane was very active in the Powder Metallurgy Parts Association, and served on the Statistics Committee. She was one of the very few women to be awarded the Outstanding Service award for the Metal Powder Industries Federation in 1997.

Jane was a faithful member of the Deep River Congregational Church and a former member of First Congregational Church in Madison. She believed strongly in serving the church and community. Jane served on a number of committees including the Finance Committee as well as being a Deacon. She was involved in American Association of University Women (President of Shoreline Chapter), Christian Community Action and Girl Scouts. She was a big supporter of women and women taking leadership roles and leading by example.

Her hobbies ran the gamut from a quiet game of bridge, to travelling and scuba diving. Always with a book nearby, Jane loved to read. Lots of reading and collecting a very large library. She always had a number of books going at once and belonged to more than a few book clubs.

Though Jane loved working and community, she was undoubtedly a true family woman. Nothing brought more happiness into her heart than the love from her dedicated husband—Bill West—and their beautiful children and grandchildren. Jane was so proud of all their accomplishments and was a source of encouragement and joy for all their successes. She led an amazing life filled with unconditional love and hearty laughter, never forgetting to help and serve her community along the way. Jane will forever be dearly loved and missed, and her memory will never be forgotten. Her legacy lives on in everyone who was fortunate enough to know her.

Jane is survived by her adored children, Steve West and his wife, Karen, Greg West, Jim West, and Sharon Calatayud and her husband, Tom; her 11 cherished grandchildren; and her niece, Rebecca Leigh West-Remmey and her husband, Greg Remmey. Jane is also survived by brothers Tom Ferguson (Mayi) and Fred Ferguson (Barbara), her sister-in-law, Joan Jephson (Bob). In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband William George West, and brother-in-law Jonathan West.

All are welcome to join Jane’s family for a memorial service at 2:00PM on Saturday, August 10, 2024, at the Deep River Congregational Church, 1 Church St., Deep River, CT 06417. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her honor to Deep River Congregational Church or a charity of choice.

Arrangements are in the care of the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home of Centerbrook. To share a memory or condolence message with Jane’s family, please visit www.rwwfh.com.