100 Years of Life, Love, and Faith: Grandma Jane You Are Forever In Our Hearts

“Wellll…..Ohhhhh my goooooodness….you are here.” With her eyes open wide and her

face beaming with joy this was a pretty common greeting to hear from

Grandma Jane anytime you walked into her room at Parkside. Now, after 100

years of spreading joy and a love so amazing that it can only be described

as “Jane Love," she is hearing that same greeting from God

as He welcomes her home. 

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This photo was taken the day Grandma Jane passed away. Surrounded by her family my cousins Shaina and Sheila laid on her a rosary and a scapula and just mere moments later Grandma went home. It was as if that was all she was waiting for and anyone who knew Grandma Jane wouldn't doubt that for a second. 

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Not many people can say they have lived to be 100 years old. However, I can

tell you right now that God couldn't have picked a better woman to be among

those select few. For 100 years Grandma Jane stood as matriarch of the

Makovec family being the absolute best mom, grandma, great grandma, and

now great great grandma around. She showed each one of her kids and

grandkids a deep deep love (her family was her ENTIRE world) and had a

faith as devout as a saint's. Y’all I am convinced she had a direct line to God

and if you ever had Grandma Jane praying for you I can guarantee you were set.

Her prayers were the strongest ones around by far and if anyone was ever

going to receive direct admittance right through heaven’s gates it was going

to be her. 

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Grandma Jane was born on June 14th, 1922 in tiny Pilsen, KS where she then

grew up and attended school. (This was back in the day when Pilsen was

actually a hopping little town.) In 1943 Father Kapaun and Monsignor Skelnor

married her and the love of her life my Grandpa Florian (Skeeter).

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Together they moved out to a farm near Ramona, KS where

they had and raised three phenomenal, yet ornery, boys Ron, Gail, and Allen.

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Unfortunately, in 1979 Skeeter passed away leaving Jane to continue to raise and

care for her family alone. She never remarried

and proved time and time again just how strong of a woman she was as she worked

to support herself and her boys and ALWAYS put her family first.

God, family, a million other things, and then herself were Grandma's priorities right up

to the end. She passed away on October 14th, 2022 (kind of cool she came into

the world and left it on the 14th day of a year ending in '22) which for me adds

another reason for October to be a month of sadness, but considering that October is

also the month of the rosary there wouldn't have been a more fitting month for her to

make to her final journey home as Grandma made sure to say the rosary every single day.

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Now after 100 years I'm sure it comes as no surprise that there are so many

memories. Grandma Jane touched the lives of so so many people. She was

almost like our own small town celebrity. Everyone knew Grandma Jane and

everyone loved her and so I thought it would be cool to share a few favorite memories

from her family whom she absolutely adored. So I hope you enjoy reading

more about this absolutely amazing lady.

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One of my all time favorite memories with Grandma Jane of course involves

my favorite holiday, Halloween. I never was a huge fan of trick or treating growing

up, BUT I loved going to Grandma's beforehand. It was Halloween tradition

for all of us kids to head on over to Grandma’s before going out and

trick or treating for some chicken noodle soup, chili, and the hot dogs she

always made sure to have because they were one of my favorites. I don’t know

what it was about those hot dogs at Grandma’s, but y’all I can tell you right

now I have yet to find hot dogs that taste as good. They were just like everything

else that came out of her kitchen, perfect and unmatched by anything else still

to this day. Another holiday I have to mention is Christmas. We would

hold a lot of our family Christmases at Hilltop, the community Grandma

was staying at, and we would all gather over at the center to have our

Christmas there. I remember playing the piano for Grandma and the whole

family and also having to play the plush reindeer that sang "Grandma Got Run Over

By a Reindeer" like a bajillion times. I also remember spending days at

Grandma’s apartment while mom was working watching Price is Right and

playing cards with Grandma and the other old ladies that lived at Hillside. Lemme

tell you…those ladies didn’t mess around! They took their card games very

seriously and if you ever wanted to learn how to be a card shark that is where

you should start. Definitely learned a thing or two about Hearts from them. My

final memory I am going to share is learning, (well, trying to learn lol) how

to bake her famous kolache with her and my mom. Grandma Jane’s kolache

were the best things in the whole world and you would NEVER catch me

sharing them (for real I would bite off a finger if someone so much as tried to

take them from me lol) so having the opportunity to bake such a precious

thing with Grandma and at least once that I can remember with my mom there

as well is a memory I will forever hold near and dear to my heart. Oh and by the

way, mom and Grandma Jane, now that you are both up there together, I expect

to see some of those cherry kolaches at the gates when it is my time to join y’all.

Best way to get me to sprint right on through purgatory and to you. Lol  ;) <3

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Ron (Jane’s oldest son): “One thing I always remembered was that growing up

Saturday night supper was ALWAYS hamburgers and carrot jello

(and I love carrot jello)” followed by a tv lineup of “Lawrence Welk and

then Gunsmoke. That was the Saturday night lineup.” 

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Jet (Jane’s ex-caretaker and special friend of Ron and family): She had a beautiful

soul. She was very independent, strong willed (she definitely had her own

schedule that you had better follow), and was just overall a very very strong woman. 

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Adam (Jane’s grandson): “Spending time at her apartment and all of the holiday gatherings at Hilltop.”

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Gail (Jane’s middle son): “I remember being a kid mom always had time to help

when we were starting out playing baseball. She’d always make time to

pitch so we’d learn how to bat or play catch so you’d learn how to throw. She always

had time for that. When I was in third grade I got strep throat and I was in the

hospital for 13 days and everyday allll day long she sat there with me. I remember

that. Until I finally got better. She had a lot of stuff to do at home, but she still

came and sat with me everyday. She was always going with Dad (Skeeter), you

know Dad played in the Blue Aces, and she’d go to every dance no matter where. She LOVED polka music.” 

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Marissa (Jane’s daughter-in-law): “Her teaching me how to make roliche

and kolaches. I never made those until she showed me how to do that.” 

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Simon (Jane's grandson): "I have multiple 'favorite memories' of Grandma Jane, but

I narrowed it down to two. The first of course, is spending every Halloween I

can remember with her eating soups with fresh baked cinnamon rolls and kolaches.

Then taking the traditional costume picture before venturing out Trick-or-treating

around her neighborhood. As I grew older I could tell how proud this made her to

show off all her grandchildren to her friends. The second memory I'll

forever cherish is the days I spent with her babysitting, especially during the

summer with the city pool in the backyard. She would always have my favorite

snacks along with whatever she happened to be baking that day (always hopeful

they were strawberry or cherry kolaches). I will forever cherish those long tight

hugs. Though they may have gotten a little weaker over the years, the love they contained only grew stronger.

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Dana (Jane’s granddaughter-in-law): "Grandma was always so full of joy, love and excitement and always eager to hear

all that we had going on. Too many memories to pick a favorite but I would

say that the memories of Halloween will always stand out to me. Every Halloween

we would go to her apartment to have soup and cinnamon rolls. She made sure

that we didn't leave without a couple pans of her homemade cinnamon rolls packed full of raisins and love."

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Hailey (Jane’s great-granddaughter): “My favorite memory with Grandma Jane was when me and my sister got to get jellybeans and M&M’s from her jar.” 

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Madison (Jane's great-granddaughter): "My favorite memory of Grandma Jane is her hugs."

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Shaina (Jane’s granddaughter): “I’m not sure how to pick just one…I love how she loved, me, my husband, my kids, and

I am so grateful for how long we were blessed to have her. But my fondest

memories were the sleepovers at her house as a child. We got orange push pop popsicles, chocolate swirl ice

cream cups, Sister Act movie on repeat, dress up with her heels, pearls, lipstick, and dresses and full access to the

playground and Marion pool that was literally in her backyard. And my

favorite tradition with her was Halloween. The whole family would meet at

her apartment for chicken noodle soup and chili then we would trick or treat

around her little neighborhood. We even continued the tradition when she moved

to Parkside. What a blessing she was and my heart breaks thinking of how

much she will be missed, but thank goodness our prayer warrior is being heard much closer now.”

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Cody (Jane’s grandson-in-law): “My favorite memories of her are of her coming

out to watch me harvest. Even though she couldn’t get up in the combine with

me she would have Marissa drive her to the field every year just to watch me and

every time I’d get out to tell her hi she would talk to me so long about

my crops and cattle. I will always think of her at harvest.”

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Canon (Jane’s great-grandson): “I loved how happy Great Granny was every time

she saw me. I would smile walking to her room because I knew how excited

she would be. She was so happy talking to me watching me play with Sage.

I miss her so much. I will love her forever.”

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Sage (Jane’s great-granddaughter): “Her hugs. They were the best! GG held on so tight for a long time so now I do that for her.”

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Sheila: (Jane’s granddaughter): “Where do I begin? There are so many memories

that flood back to me when I reminisce about the moments, lessons, and love

that Grandma Jane blessed me with. There's thirty-two years worth of them. My

fondest are the summers spent with her growing up. Mom worked full time

all year round, so we were fortunate to have Grandma Jane as our 'babysitter' while

school was out. I remember countless baking lessons in that small Hilltop

apartment kitchen. And really, memories all over that warm and loving

home. Watching movies, playing board/card games, playing dress up, watching

Price is Right (Grandma's favorite). Walking over to the center to put the coins

in the machines for her laundry. Sitting and chatting with the other sweet elder

women while they all quilted. It was always the little things, you know? The

small day-to-day activities that we were so happy to do with her because she

made every single thing fun and fulfilling somehow. It probably sounds so

strange, but I can still smell her apartment. I know my siblings and cousins

know exactly what I mean. It smelled sweet. And always like she just baked her

famous kolache or roliche... because she likely just did. And oh, how they

were the best. It was always such a treat to arrive every morning to see

what "goodie" she had there waiting for us. Something made with her love. Oh, and

the awesome Halloween soup parties. It was tradition, and it was never broken!

I remember driving back for them in college. Everyone was too grown to dress

up for years, but we still honored that special family time together. Crammed

in that tiny apartment, happy. Those summer days, she would let us sneak

away to the city pool in the afternoon conveniently located right in her backyard.

That was, like, the coolest perk ever to a kid. Not to mention the countless

walks or drives down to the park. She adored going on the nature walk

along the creek and I still hold fondness for it now. She would let us bring home

a cool rock, pinecone, or leaf that we found. Always letting us explore. Never

rushing us or getting on to us. She loved to watch us play, learn, and grow. Much

like she did with her great grandkids in the last stage of her life. I love that my

own child got to experience a little of that resounding "Jane Love" that she was

so famous for. I'm so happy that I got to have her for all my years thus far. For

all the hugs, kisses, and "back tickles" to get me to sleep the nights we had

slumber parties with her. I'm thankful for the wisdom and faith she imparted

onto me when I was older. And most of all, I'm grateful that God blessed me with

such an amazing role model...teaching me the way that life should be lived; with

joy in your heart and a smile on your face! I will miss seeing that beautiful smile.

But the memories will live on forever in my heart. Love you, Grandma <3”

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Allen (Jane’s youngest son): “There are just soooooo many times she gave and

gave. It was who she was. Her family first…herself always second. However

my immediate thought of a favorite memory was her unwavering faith in

God. My favorite memory of her strength of faith was in the Drs. office. She was about

90 years young and hadn’t been feeling good. I took her to the Dr. that morning

and when he came back into the room with test results it was not good. He sat down

and said, ‘Jane, you have a very large tumor on your kidney and I’m going to tell

you there is nothing I can do.’ My heart fell. Her response…’well okay, it’s God’s will.’

She was absolutely unwavered by the news. No change of expression. NO

fear, NO tears. Just the truly obvious strength of faith in her God. We

all know that God did answer with a life saving surgery and another decade

of memories for her family. I hope to have that strength at my time so, my

favorite memory of her is the faith she gave to everyone she touched.” 

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Louise (Jane’s daughter-in-law): “Her love of faith and family.”

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Jandi (Jane’s granddaughter): “My favorite memory of Grandma Jane. There’s just

so many I don’t even know where to start. My favorite memory is the way

that she would call and leave me messages. When she would send me her world

famous cinnamon rolls in the mail and her frosting is the best I’ll ever taste

in the whole world nobody will ever compare to her frosting and she

would always make them with raisins for me and without because I liked

them both ways and sometimes I wouldn’t want raisins in them. She would always

call and let me know they were on the way so I knew to be watching for them.

Every conversation she ended was ended with she’s praying for me, she loves

me, she prays for me everyday and I KNOW for a fact that she didn’t just say that, but

that she always did pray. I remember when I was a kid we would go across the

street to do laundry and she always saved her quarters for wash day (every

Wednesday was wash day) and we would go over and start on laundry and she

would wash it and then go back and move it over to the dryer with the quarters.

And I had a bike at Grandma’s, a pink bike, and I would visit her lady friends that

lived around Hilltop and sometimes she would go looking for me and she

couldn’t find me and I would be in the ladies house having cookies or juice

and just visiting with all her elderly lady friends. I spent hours and hours quilting

up at Hilltop with the ladies. I can remember SOO many Saturday nights

going to church with Grandma while she led the rosary and just listening to her

voice throughout that entire rosary while she said the rosary...it just brings back so

many memories...just like we had the rosary for her I feel like I can just hear her

saying it. There’s just so many memories, but I think if I had to name just one

favorite it’s I always knew that I could count on her and her faith. Her faith

was never shaken and when she tells you that she’s praying for you you better

know that she’s praying for you and she has that full armor on cause she’s moving mountains with her faith.”

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Lawton (Jane’s grandson): “No one made better Czechoslovakian baked goods

that has ever lived or will ever live. My wife, whom I love very much, has made

some very good baked goods, but there is nothing that she has ever made in

the history of ever or could make that would ever hold a candle to Grandma

Jane’s Czechslovakian baked goods of any kind.”

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Rhett: (Jane’s grandson): Her kolaches.

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So that is going to do it for memories, but I can tell you right now that all of

those just scratch the surface. Trying to sum up 100 years in a few words is just

impossible, but we are all so thankful to have that "problem." Grandma's memory

was better than mine by far, but the memory of her is not one that will ever

be forgotten. Grandma Jane, we love you, we miss you, and we cannot wait to see you again.

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