Norma Jane Gilbert

Surrounded by nieces and nephews, Norma Jane Gilbert gently drifted off to heaven on Friday, December 22, 2023 at The Altenheim Community, where she had lived the past 26 months. She was born in Petersburg, Indiana on March 15, 1932. Her family relocated to Indianapolis in the mid-30’s for her father’s new dental practice. Jane is survived by sister-in-law Carol Casciari, brother-in-law Jack Bachtel, twenty-one nephews & nieces (Mike & Jeannie Maher, Tim & Debbie Maher, Cindy & John Wilhite, Kathy Tudor, Pat & Jennifer Maher, Bob & Suzy Maher, Shelley & John Brennan, Sharon & Jeff Pacione, Colleen & Tom Ward, Steve & Jill Coon, Julie & Jim Walker, and Janie & Bill Shumaker) plus thirty-five great and great-great nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her parents Dr. Charles A. & Bernadette (Lundergan) Seal, sister Betty and brother-in-law Bud Maher, brother C. Robert Seal, sister JoAnn (Coon) Bachtel and Fritz Coon, brother-in-law Ray Casciari, nephew David Coon, niece Lori (Coon) Cox, and great nephew Gabriel Pacione.

Jane was an adventurer from the start, leaving Indianapolis with her best friend at age 20 for parts west. Denver & Aspen were their first homes away from home, where they spent several years, before moving on to San Francisco in the mid-50’s. Attractive, personable, witty, and fun, she was welcomed into the growing glitterati scene there. Her life was sunny and exciting but eventually her love of family started tugging at her heartstrings and brought her back to her roots.

She settled in Columbus, Ohio near her sister, JoAnn, who, in addition to raising five children, was providing artwork for The Columbus Dispatch fashion ads, which would later lead to a business partnership between the two fashion-savvy sisters. In the meantime, Jane went to work for Jones New York as a buyer and other top brands and she thrived in the job. Later, Jane & JoAnn collaborated on a new venture designing and managing fashion boutiques for store owners in Columbus and eventually Florida.

It was in Columbus that Jane met Ray Gilbert, an insurance executive, and the two were married in 1968. Jane had always wanted children and the two had agreed to adopt but that didn’t happen, and the marriage dissolved in 1976.

Subsequently, Jane relocated to Boca Raton in the mid-80’s to complete their last boutique project and soon after settled in Deerfield Beach. She loved life there and made many wonderful friends over the next 36 years. When her health began to decline in 2021, she made the decision to return to Indianapolis to be closer to family members. Following in the footsteps of her mother and her sister Betty and husband Bud, she moved into The Altenheim Community. Despite the huge adjustment in lifestyle because of her declining health, Jane maintained a positive attitude and lived out her remaining two plus years with her beloved cat, Zoe.

Jane’s life was a fun-filled adventure with hundreds of wonderful friends from grade school, through her west coast days, Columbus, Deerfield Beach, and finally back to Indy. Her friends meant the world to her and, just like her prolific letter-writing mother, she remained in contact with all of them, everywhere, throughout her life.

Notwithstanding the importance of her friendships, Jane saved a special place in her heart for her family. She adored her father, revered her loving mother, who was the strength and steel of the family, and loved each of her siblings with all her heart. Jane’s love for family stretched to nieces & nephews and beyond for two more generations, some of whom dubbed her Fancy Jane for her beauty and style. Throughout her apartment she had photos of family and friends everywhere. Most were framed but many were just taped willy-nilly on the walls, refrigerator, mirrors, etc. so that wherever she looked she saw a loved one. Love of family & friends was truly an integral part of Jane’s life.

Finally, Jane was religious and very spiritual. For years she attended Mass daily. Her prayer list was miles long and included each beneficiary by name. Her faith was unwavering and in her final days she kept assuring us that she was ready to go and unafraid.

Thank you all for being so good to Jane over the years. We will certainly miss having her in our lives, but we can be assured that Jane will be constantly lobbying God on our behalf, throughout eternity if necessary.

The family would like to thank the administration and residents of The Altenheim for their care and friendships during the last years of her life there. We’d particularly like to recognize Robin Davis and Margaret Lindley for their kindness and assistance to the family. We’d also like to thank Cindy Wilhite, who selflessly dedicated a significant portion of her life over the last two plus years to administer to Jane’s needs. You were and are a godsend, Cindy!

A Celebration of Jane’s Life is being planned for the Spring and we will post the details once arranged.

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