Jane K. Way

Jane "Jae" K Way 68, Of Latham NY, left this earthly plane for the next on May 26, 2020, after succumbing to Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease.
Born on December 15, 1951, in Hudson NY to the late Richard A and Florence E (Couchman) Way of Columbiaville, NY.

Jae is survived by her loving husband Tim, sister Joyce (Frank) Shufelt, daughter Gina (Depew) Roetina, three grandchildren Wesley Kilmer, Bridget Kilmer, and Collin Wiltsie, four great grandchildren, Rose Buono, Ethan Kilmer, Raelynn Kilmer, and Greyson Stickles, and her two nieces Kim (Shufelt) Gaylord, Tammy (Shufelt) Holmes, and Two Nephews Jeffrey and Kevin Shufelt.

Jae was a 1970 graduate of Ichabod Crane High School, majoring in Business, participating in the Crane Acting Troupe, Chorale and volunteering in the Library. Jae attended Columbia-Greene Community College as a Social Science major and she received an AA in Social Science at the College of San Mateo and a BA in Humanities at John F Kennedy University in Orinda, CA. She later achieved a Level II Practitioner of Psychosynthesis after training in Amherst, MA.

Jae wore many hats over her 68 years. Her first job was a bookkeeper at Bedell's Express. Later jobs included Administrative Assistant and Chief of Staff roles at the NYS Assembly, Senate Campaign Operations Manager for the Late J.W. Hasper of Allegheny County NY, Assistant Executive Director of Communications and Operations CLaS (County Legislators and Supervisors Association of New York State), Director of Administration, Pyramid Alternatives, Pacifica CA, and Executive Director, Family Service Counseling Center, San Leandro, CA.

While in California Jae participated in several Women's Dream Quests at Grace Cathedral, in San Francisco, where she became a small group leader. She brought this experience back with her to New York and formed Oneself – a holistic life coaching business that also ran women's retreats and day programs. She was noted for one tool in particular – a traveling labyrinth she used to educate and provide a contemplative experience to others.

After Alzheimer's Disease brought an end to her business, Jae became passionate about Generations Together at Albany Medical College. This program pairs first year medical students with people who are diagnosed with dementias. Each year, Jae spoke to the entire freshman class, relating how she experienced the disease. It fulfilled a need she had to help others. Jae learned as much from her assigned "buddies" as they learned from her.

Jae was a woman full of life, laughter and love who was subject to "bursts of enthusiasm" and "Dances of Joy". Using her Psychosynthesis knowledge and aided with a great sense of humor and her infectious laugh, Jae guided many women of all ages to discover their life's joy and unconditional love of oneself.

She was a master of organization, she excelled at everything she set out to accomplish from learning classical piano as a child to running a successful holistic life coaching business. Some of Jae's passions included – cats, dragonflies, astrology, music (listening & performing). She had a veracious appetite for knowledge through reading, life-long friendships and even through several cross-country car trips. She found purpose in promoting inner peace and wellness for all people. In her final years she found her favorite place on earth -- Key West, FL, where performers and saloon owners fondly remembered her.

When faced with the challenging diagnosis of Alzheimer's, Jae relied on all her past experiences, spiritual belief system, family and life-long friends to support her on her journey. Jae faced this immense undertaking with strength, bravery, wisdom and grace. She was aware of her ever-changing status, each step of the way, right up until the very end.

Jae left us all her special gifts – echoes of her laughter, her ability to see things through other eyes and her inexhaustible will. She will be greatly missed as a Mother, Wife, Grand Mother (Gran Jae), Great Grand Mother, Sister, Aunt, and extraordinary Friend. She was "one of a kind" so many have said.

When asked how others could honor her, Jae replied "Each day offers an opportunity to perform random acts of kindness that give others hope."

A special Thank You goes out to the staff of the Blue Unit at Daughters of Sarah Nursing home who took amazing care of Jae in her final days. Thanks are also sent to the Alzheimer's Association for their many essential programs, the staff of Bright Horizons at the Beltrone Center in Colonie who gave Jae a reason to look forward and the doctors and staff of Neurology Group of Albany Medical Center who treated Jae like family.