Jane B. (Brydges) Chappell

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our dear mother, Jane Brydges Chappell. She joined the angels peacefully, surrounded by family, on Sunday, April 24, 2022. She leaves to cherish her memory her children, Julie Chappell Ryan (Tim) of Medina, Ohio; Janet Chappell (Michael Ashton) of East Lansing, Michigan; Jeanine Plushnik (Tony) of Ceresco, Michigan; Jackie Stevens (Mark) of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Matthew Chappell (Jair Souza Neto) of San Francisco, California. She was pre-deceased by son Daniel Chappell (Heather), and the great love of her life, husband Daniel Edward Chappell, to whom she was married for 52 wonderful years. Her marriage and her life were exemplary, and she will not be forgotten.

Jane Brydges was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on June 26, 1933, to Mabel and Charles Brydges, the younger sister of Frederick and Glenn. She graduated from Battle Creek Central High School, and received her RN from the Mercy School of Nursing in Detroit, Michigan. Upon graduation she returned to Battle Creek and began a long and distinguished career as a nurse at the then Leila Y. Post Montgomery Hospital. She quickly rose through the ranks, working on the Maternity Ward, in the Emergency Department, and as a floor nurse, soon becoming a Night Supervisor, then Day Shift Supervisor, and finally the Assistant Director of Nursing, a position she held for many years.

She met Dan Chappell as a young nurse, and they married January 26, 1957. Children followed soon after. Our mother set a wonderful example early on for us, balancing family and work, as her family was her greatest joy and her primary focus. After retiring from Leila, she worked as a Director of Nursing at several area facilities, for many years as a hospice nurse, and finally as an educator and support staff at Senior Partners of Battle Creek. While there, she developed several programs and support groups. Jane enjoyed many successes in her career with her hard work and dedication, but she will be remembered most for the love and care that her patients received. Indeed, her door was always open to those in need.

Jane loved and adored her family and chosen career, and our mother was also a voracious reader, a master of puzzles, both crossword and jigsaw, and our biggest fan at the hundreds of sporting events that she and our father ferried us to, even making breakfast or dinner for entire teams. They were longtime members of the Gull Lake Country Club and the Kalamazoo Power Squadron. We always had a sailboat, and mom served as the chairwoman of the race committee for many years. Later, the boats became a little bigger and the sailing moved to Lake Michigan, where numerous grandchildren and friends were treated to a sail. There were also several cruises in the Great Lakes region, and in the Bahamas.

In addition to her children, our mother greatly enjoyed the grandchildren and great-grands that she was blessed with: Michael Ryan, Matthew and Andrew Ashton, Ashley Akinsanya and Rachel Belson, Christina Trahin and Michelle Leist, McKenzie Chappell Faulkner, Daniel J. Chappell, and Ian Chappell. She was "gramcracker" to Nolan Leist; Hudson, Evan, Amelia, Stella, and Luke Trahin; and "grams" to Isaiah, Adejoke, Adetokumbo, Oyindamola, and Grace Akinsanya, and Everett Faulkner. A niece, Robin Brydges Anthony, also remains.

Her faith was very important to her, and Jane was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Battle Creek. The last few years of her life were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where she continued her devotion as a member of Our Lady of Good Hope. The family wishes to thank our sister Jackie for her loving care of our mother, and to the staff at The Cedars in Leo, Indiana and to Heartland Hospice of Fort Wayne for their expert care.

Donations in Jane Chappell's memory may be made to Heartland Hospice in Fort Wayne, IN, or to, KCC Foundation Nursing Scholarship Fund, 450 North Avenue, Battle Creek, MI, 49017 or at www.kellogg.edu/donate to continue her life's work.

We will all carry a wee bit of Jane with us as we go forth. From an Irish poem by Annette Dunlea:
And for all the friendship that e'er we had
I ask you to remember me;
And when you sit and stories tell,
I'll be with you and help recall;
So fill me to the parting glass,
God bless and joy be with you all.

Friends will be received 4:00-6:00 p.m. Thursday, April 28, 2022 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, where the Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. Thursday. Visitation will also be held 9:00-9:50 a.m. Friday at the church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Christopher Ankley 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 29, 2022 at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 61 N. 23rd Street, Battle Creek, MI 49015.
Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.