Jane Elizabeth Corcoran

On the morning of July 11, 2026 Jane Rothwell Corcoran, 82, died in the Palliative Care Unit of St. Paul's Hospital in the presence of family members. She will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by her daughter Chloe, her former husband Michael and his wife Jan, Chloe's half sisters Kaelee (Devin) and Tobey (Matt), and her surviving siblings Margot, Betty (Dan), and Bruce. Kaelee and Tobey warmly referred to Jane as their "Backwards Stepmother," and to their children Wilf, Sadie, Ollie, Bernie, and Quinn, she was affectionately known as "Gma Jane." She was predeceased by her parents and by her siblings Kathy and Stewart.

Jane was born in Montreal and raised in Calgary to parents Phylis Coulter, a nurse, and Dr. William Rothwell, a physician and general surgeon. The family moved to Temiskaming, Quebec, and later to Calgary, Alberta.

Jane obtained her B.A. in Sociology at the University of Alberta, and then she moved to Montreal, where she worked at McGill University as the secretary and assistant of the renowned psychologist and neuroscientist Donald Hebb. Jane always had fond memories of her work and colleagues at McGill. 

Upon moving to Vancouver, and raising Chloe, Jane found a true calling for social justice, feminism, and advocacy. Jane was a cofounder of the Maternal Health Newsletter which advocated for women’s choices in childbirth and was an instigator and planner of the Marine Court Housing Cooperative. She also served as an administrator at the Social Planning and Research Council (“SPARC”) of British Columbia. Later Jane worked for Psychology of Vision, an international organization promoting self-help, and traveled throughout the world giving workshops. Jane was blessed with lifelong friends who meant the world to her, including Susan How, Carol Pruden, Laurie Brant, and her university friend Bonnie Rothwell, who shared special bonds with Jane throughout her life and in her final years.

After Chloe ended up in Saskatoon, Jane moved there and obtained a position in Student Services at the University of Saskatchewan, where she worked as an advisor to students with disabilities. She retired from the University after 10 years of service. Chloe and Jane shared a beautiful home where family and friends were always welcome. Jane loved to host and never left a detail undone. During these years, Jane was an avid reader, gardener, and a backyard bird feeder. They also became family to several pets, and their dog Kala was a steadfast companion for Jane.

Jane lived a rich, dynamic, and purposeful life, leaving a lasting mark through her dedicated contributions to social issues, healthcare, and education. Never one to be at a loss for words, she was always happy to share her opinions and insights. Often—and sometimes to Chloe’s gentle chagrin—a simple question to Jane would lead to a 20-minute journey through a story before the answer finally revealed itself. It was simply Jane’s way of passing along her lived wisdom, and so many friends were fortunate recipients of that knowledge.

She also possessed an extraordinary gift for physical space and a keen eye for how furniture and belongings could best fit together. Even if you couldn’t see her vision at first, Jane had a way of winning you over to let her make the changes—and without fail, you’d realize afterward that her instincts had been spot on all along.

The family is exceedingly grateful for the excellent care provided by the Palliative Care Unit, particularly Nurse Joyce, Dr. Mark Fenske, and the rest of the staff.

A celebration of Jane's life is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, consider contributing in Jane's name to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, the Canadian Cancer Society, or the University of Saskatchewan.