Obituary of Jane Elizabeth Conway

Jane Walsh Conway, a native of New Britain and the daughter of the late John and Agatha Walsh, died at the Hospital of Central Connecticut at New Britain General after a short illness on Wednesday, April 23rd. Her four children were by her side. She was 84 years old. Jane was a teacher and a patron of the arts. After graduating from New Britain High School, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from St. Joseph's College, in West Hartford in 1945. She taught dance at the Mary Immaculate Academy, and then ran her own studio, the Walsh School of Dance. Jane took time off to raise her family and then went back to teaching. She spent 17 years as a Math and English teacher at the Holy Cross School in New Britain. Jane's passion was the arts and she enjoyed Broadway, dance and jazz performances well into her 80's. She spent many hours volunteering and fund raising for a variety of causes, including the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain where she was a member of their Auxiliary Council. She was the widow of Richard F. "Dick" Conway. Dick Conway worked at the New Britain Herald for 50 years, including 30 years as Managing Editor. She is survived by her sister Rosemary Ryan and predeceased by five sisters and two brothers: Gertrude Heslin, Virginia Walsh, Marion Riley, Dr. Robert Walsh, Patricia Kiniry and the Honorable John Walsh. Jane is survived by her four children, two sons-in-law and two daughters-in-law; Rosemary and Robert Beaupre of Berlin, Timothy and Kathryn Conway of Weston, MA, Marytherese and Dr. John Rodis of Farmington and Richard and Alicia Conway of Berlin. Her eleven grandchildren were her pride and joy and will carry on her legacy. They are Elizabeth, Timothy and Katherine Beaupre, Jack, Jessica and Caroline Conway, Alexandra, Katrina and Anna Rodis and Meghan and Richard Conway. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 26th at 8:30 AM at The Farrell Funeral Home, 110 Franklin Sq., New Britain. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 AM at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1755 Stanley St., New Britain. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, New Britain. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday, April 25th from 4 to 8 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Jane may be made to The Hospital for Special Care, 2150 Corbin Ave., New Britain, CT. 06053 or to the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, 12 Charter Oak Place, Hartford, CT 06106.