Muriel Janice Humbert, a six-year resident of Dutchess County, died at the Wingate at Dutchess in Fishkill on Monday, January 19, 2015, 11 days shy of her 98th birthday.
Daughter of the late James and Ethel (Schott) Cowan, she was born in Brooklyn on January 30, 1917. She attended N.Y.U., transferred to and graduated from Syracuse University, and later earned a master's degree at SUNY Oneonta.
On May 30, 1941 she married Howard H. Humbert at St. Paul's Church in Brooklyn. They lived in Boonton, NJ, Richfield Springs, and West Winfield, NY where Jan pursued her career as an educator. She taught second grade and reading at Mt. Markham Central School for 25 years. Following her retirement, they moved to Hawthorne in Leesburg, Florida, where she remained until relocating to Hopewell Junction in 2008.
She was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Fruitland Park, Florida. Her strong faith carried her through the ups and downs of life. She enjoyed many hobbies including Bible studies, travel, camping, reading, knitting, and swimming. When their children left home, Jan and Howard spent many summers traveling through Canada and drove the dirt roads in Alaska and remote places, living close to nature in their small camper. Jan was always eager to learn new things and took college courses in her 80s to master the computer.
She was predeceased by her husband in 1993.
Survivors include her daughter, Janice Humbert & her husband Paul Epstein of Hopewell Junction; her son Howie & his life partner Linda Montgomery of Casa Grande, Az.; her grandchildren, Michele Humbert, Howard Humbert & his wife Judy, Jeremy Humbert ,Dawn Prather & her husband Randy; her great-grandchildren Adam, Kadence, Serenity, and Randy, Jr.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, January 23rd at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1200 Main Street, Fishkill. A memorial service will take place at the church on Saturday at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Trinity Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 484, Fishkill, NY 12524.
Arrangements are under the direction of the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc., 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. For online condolences and memorial donations, visit Jan's Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.