The Rev Jane Alice (McCulloch) Sibley, age 77, of Sandy Hook, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 28, 2022.

She was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on August 21, 1945, to Herbert G. and Margaret (Leonard) McCulloch. She was the beloved wife of Robert F. Sibley (Bob) for 57 years.

Jane was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She graduated from Andrew Warde High School in Fairfield in 1963. In 1965 she and Bob married and raised their three sons in Easton, their home for 33 years.

A longtime member of Golden Hill United Methodist Church in Bridgeport, Jane was called to ministry and earned her Master’s of Divinity from Yale in 1995. As an ordained elder, Pastor Jane served multiple Westchester County and Fairfield County UMC congregations. Her talent for sharing God’s word through stories and songs inspired many.

Jane’s final pastoral assignment was as Pastor of Visitation for Newtown United Methodist Church. In December 2012, Pastor Jane was part of an ecumenical service with fellow Newtown faith leaders and President Obama following the tragedy at Sandy Hook School; she helped comfort a grieving community until her retirement in 2014.

Jane was happiest at her homestead surrounded by family and friends, whether sharing hot cider at the Easton tree farm in winter, enjoying backyard pool time in summer, or singing hymns around the piano on Sunday afternoons. She instilled a lifelong love of good food, great music, community service and inspired creativity in her three boys. She was so proud of her sons and forged special bonds with her daughters-in-law, who will all miss her dearly; her 7 grandchildren brought her incredible joy.

Jane is survived by her husband Bob (Sandy Hook); her sons Robert and wife Barbara (Sandy Hook), William and wife Michele (Ridgefield), and Peter and wife Anne (Carmel, CA); her sister, Peggy Ann, and brother, Robert; her grandchildren Liam, Mason, Daniel, Stephen, Brian, Leah, and Samuel; and a multitude of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents.

Calling hours will be Friday, December 16, from 4 to 7 pm, at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street in Newtown. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, December 17, at 2 pm, at Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook, followed by a reception at the church. A private interment will be held on Saturday morning.

Jane believed ordained ministry should be open to everyone, especially women and faith leaders from underrepresented communities. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Jane’s honor to the YDS Annual Fund at divinity.yale.edu/giving.