Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

ROCKLAND - W. Jane Sternberg, 79, died Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at Pen Bay Medical Center in Rockport following a brief illness.

Born in Orono March 17, 1937, she was the daughter of Enoch and Cecilia Lounsbury. Jane attended parochial schools there and graduated from Orono High School, Class of 1955. That fall she began studies at Washington State Teachers College in Machias.

Jane married William Sternberg in Orono on August 24, 1957. They made their first home at Deer Isle, where they resided until moving to Rockland in 1960. Jane devoted herself to being a mother, and throughout her entire life her greatest joy was her family. She later returned to school, working at the Region 8 Vocational School and St. George Elementary School as a teacher’s aide while earning her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Maine in Orono. She graduated in 1985. She then worked for several years as a Special Education teacher at Thomaston Grammar School, retiring July 1, 2001 after nearly twenty years in education.

Jane still kept busy in retirement - she loved sewing and cooking, and had a special appreciation for linens. She also enjoyed antiquing, and owned and operated Parsonage Antiques. She was very active in the Knox County Retired Teachers Association, and volunteered much of her time tutoring. She also was a member of the Daughters of St. Bernard, and served faithfully in St. Bernard’s soup kitchen.

She will be sadly missed by all who loved her.

Predeceased by her loving husband William in October of 2009, Jane is survived by her sons, David Sternberg of Thomaston, Daniel Sternberg and his wife Emily of Highland, Michigan, and Timothy Sternberg and his wife Miranda of Owls Head; her daughters, Sue Guptill of Damariscotta, Mary Bassick and her husband Paul of Forestdale, Massachusetts, Beth “BJ” Foster and her husband Scott of Gambrills, Maryland, and Ann Estabrook and her husband Michael of Waldoboro; two brothers, Merle Lounsbury and his wife Anne of Rangely and Joseph Lounsbury of Hampden; fifteen grandchildren, John, Amy, Stacey, Jessica, Michael, Rebecca, Amanda, Benjamin, Katie, Eliza, Andrew, Emily, James, Billy, and Danny; six great-grandchildren, Joseph, Mya Percy, Jack, Samuel, and Abigail; several nieces and nephews; and all the other lives she has touched.

Family and friends are invited to visit at Tuesday, August 2, 2016, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10am, Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 150 Broadway, Rockland. The Reverend Dominic Azagbor will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Special Olympics Maine, 125 John Roberts Rd #5, S Portland ME 04106, or to the Pope Memorial Animal Shelter at P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, Maine 04841.