Jane (Esau) Mezera, formerly of Cosmopolis, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at St. Camillus Health Center in Wauwatosa, Wis., at age 96. After living in the Harbor since 1955, she moved back to Wisconsin in 2014 to be nearer to her family following an earlier illness.

Jane was born in Milwaukee on Jan. 4, 1922, to Carl and Mathilde (Hoffman) Esau. She attended the Wisconsin State Teacher’s College in Milwaukee and, after graduating, taught in the Milwaukee area for ten years. She married Frank Mezera in 1947. They moved to the Harbor in 1955 and bought their Cosmopolis home two years later. Frank and Jane divorced in 1960. Jane taught kindergarten in the Aberdeen School District for 26 years, retiring in 1981. She was an early member of the Driftwood Theatre, where she directed or appeared on stage in 27 plays and musicals during her theatrical career, and also serving as President of the group for several years. She also directed an annual Children’s Play for many years to develop an appreciation for the theatre in the local school-aged children. She was an active member of St. Mary’s Church in Aberdeen for many years, serving as a religious education teacher and Eucharistic Minister, among other roles. She helped to organize and later direct the Parish’s Feed the Hungry program for 18 years.

She was named Citizen of the Year in 1992 by the Aberdeen World in recognition of her service to the Grays Harbor community.

Jane enjoyed travelling, most often accompanied by her companion, the late Betty Jean Gretsch. Japan, Africa, and Hawaii were her favorite destinations. She visited all seven continents in her travels, with multiple excursions to Europe, Africa, India, China, and Japan. She also sailed on numerous cruises, including an around the world cruise in 2000 with her good friend and fellow Harborite the late Dorothye Logue. She also enjoyed painting, where she favored recreating scenes on canvas from her travels, playing bridge with friends, and participating in her book club.

Jane was able to live in her Cosmopolis home until 2012, when she moved into the Karr House assisted living facility. She remained there until 2014, when her family helped to move her to her native Wisconsin. She was an active nonagenarian in her assisted living facility until recently, attending daily mass, playing bingo, and participating in painting classes.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Mathilde, her brother Charles, and her close companion of many years, Betty Jean Gretsch. She is survived by her sister Nancy Koehn (John) of Menomonee Falls, Wis., her sister-in-law June Esau of Franklin, Wis., 12 nieces and nephews, 23 grandnieces and grandnephews, and seven great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.

Those who knew Jane, from students to relatives to her good friends, were inspired by her deep faith and joy of life.

Services will be held at St. Camillus in Wisconsin on Thursday, July 26. If you would care to leave a condolence message for the family or donate flowers, you can do so at www.schramkafuneralhome.com/obituaries.