Jane Theresa Leech

Jane T. Leech 70, of Keene, NH, passed away on December 15, 2024, at her home in Keene with her husband, Larry by her side, following a lifelong struggle with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Little is known about EDS, a rare genetic disease.

Her parents, Chesley Thurston and Marie (Walls) Mears, welcomed their daughter into the world on June 12, 1954, in Beverly, MA. Jane grew up in Beverly and was a 1972 graduate of Beverly High School. Jane and Larry married and were a U.S. Air Force military family and resided in Mississippi, California, Texas, England, and Washington. After Larry’s military service retirement, they moved to West Virginia, and then settled in Marlow, New Hampshire for 21 years.

Jane enjoyed supporting her community. She taught at the Marlow Elementary School and was a member of the school board before moving to Keene 4 years ago.

She had a special place in her heart for animals of all kinds including, dogs, cats, Guiney Pigs, ducks, chickens, sheep, goats and a pig named Wilber. She loved Gardening, Home Design, sewing, crocheting, baking and shopping. She also put smiles on the faces of children with Cancer, as she made fun hats for them at Dartmouth Hitchcock and St. Jude’s Hospitals.

Jane was a volunteer and loved to provide full meals for the wonderful people at the Hundred Nights Shelter in Keene. She was a longtime and very active member of the Grace Community Church in Spofford, NH, helping with church activities in every way that she could. The Love for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, shined throughout her life. Hallelujah.

Her greatest joy in life was she and her husband sharing of their home as Foster Mom and Dad to 36 children, sharing her love for over 45 years, beginning first in Englund.

Jane will be missed by so many special people in her life, especially her beloved husband of 51 years, Laurence "Larry" Leech, of Keene; her children, Christopher Leech of North Pole, Alaska, Tamra Cole and her husband, James, of Kernersville, NC, Chesley Leech and his wife, Andrea, of Renten, WA, Abigail Leech and her companion Richard Alexander of Andover, OH, Elizabeth "Beth" Gill and her husband, Robert, of Wilton, NH, Charles Leech of Keene, Thomas Leech of Keene, Timothy Leech and his wife, Arielle, of Keene; Chris Pike and his wife, Karen, of Suffolk, England, Richard Corellin of Portslade, England, Jason Bellinger of Gainesville, OH; her grandchildren, Cameron, Ethan, Kira, Louie, Jacquelyn, Jake, Akia, Michael, Rowan, Kai, and Charlotte; her brothers, Paul Mears and his wife, Cindy, of Wenham, MA, Ken Mears and his wife, Diane Perry, of Berwick, ME; a sister, Mary Roy and her husband, Andy, of Groveland, MA; her longtime friend, Cheryl Daniels, of Salem, MA; her best friend for 67 years, June Kelley of Beverly, MA; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. Jane was predeceased by a son, Joseph Leech in 2019, a granddaughter, Laurin Bellinger; and a brother, James Mears.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, December 27, 2024, at 11:00am in the Grace Community Church, 49 Old Swanzey Road, Spofford, NH. Burial in the Essex Cemetery in Essex, MA will be held privately by the family.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations may be made in Mrs. Leech’s memory to the Hundred Nights, Inc., PO Box 833, Keene, NH 03431.