Mary "Jane" Hale Farber

September 7, 1935 - May 16, 2024

   Mary “Jane” Farber was born on September 7, 1935, to Harold Hale and Margaret Elizabeth Englebright Doolittle Hale on a farm in the Blackbird Community between Decatur and Lyons. She passed away on May 16, 2024, at the age of 88 years, 8 months, and 9 days at Bryan West Hospital in Lincoln, NE.  Jane lived on the family farm and attended country school until she moved to Decatur with her parents at the age of 12. From there, she attended and graduated from Decatur Public School in May 1953.  Jane was joined in matrimony to David “Dave” R. Farber on April 25th, 1953, at the courthouse in Omaha, NE. Dave and Jane welcomed a daughter, Patti, later that year. In 1956, they were blessed with a son, Mike.

   Jane held many jobs throughout her lifetime. She was a wonderful stay-at-home mom and grandma. Her love language was feeding others. If you ever visited, you never left hungry. She always had cookies, cakes, and coffee ready. Her favorite moments were spent around holidays and summer get-togethers when she could feed the masses of family, friends, and friends that she considered family. She was proud of feeding the kids school lunch, as she worked for Decatur Public Schools in the school kitchen for 23 years.

    Jane was a strong woman who endured a lot of loss but never lost her faith or love for others. After the loss of their son in 1980, Dave and Jane focused on welcoming grandkids and supporting them in their various activities and adventures. Together, the couple hosted and entertained family and friends continuously.  After 70 years of living in Decatur and after the loss of her husband and daughter, Jane sought a new adventure and moved to Lincoln with her granddaughter Kiley and her family. In 2017, Jane moved to The Legacy Terrace, where she gained more friends who became close family. She enjoyed her small apartment, which looked over the garden area and small ponds with baby ducks in the spring. Jane was a regular at the multitude of activities offered, such as bingo, crafts, and stitchery. She was able to watch her great-granddaughter grow and attended several concerts, programs, plays, and tagged along on several escapades.   She absolutely cherished her family, as she would say, “I love you so much it hurts.” She never met a stranger and had a countless number of friends. One of her favorite sayings was, “If you see a stranger on the street without a smile, give them yours.” She will be remembered for her joyful, loving, ornery personality and the best grandma hugs ever given.

    Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Dave; two children, Patti and Mike; daughter-in-law, Colleen; and her parents.  Jane is survived by her grandchildren: Kiley Shaw (Andy) Taylor of Lincoln; Michael Farber of San Antonio, TX; David Shaw (Kate Flores) of Maple Grove, MN; Megan (Matt) Hansen of Hampton, NE; and great-grandkids: Beyna Taylor of Eaton, CO; Luke; Logan, Grace, and Simon Farber of San Antonio, TX; Caleb and Evan Flores of Maple Grove, MN; Scarlett and Violet Hansen of Hampton, NE; and son-in-law, Lester Shaw of Decatur. 

    Mary Jane Farber, 88 years old of Lincoln, Nebraska, formerly of Decatur, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Bryan Medical Center West in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

    Visitation Monday May 20, 2024 from 5:00-7:00 pm Pelan Funeral Home, Tekamah.  Funeral Decatur Methodist Church, Tuesday May 21, 2024 2:00 pm. 

 Information taken from May 25, 2003 Decatur Alumni Banquet Booklet.

Spouse:  Dave Farber

Children:  Patricia and Michael

Grandchildren:  Kiley and David, Michael David, Megan (adopted Granddaughter).

Seems like I've been cooking for the last 50 years.  This year I will retire from 25 years of it a the Decatur School.  Our daughter, Pat, is an L.P.N. and has been working at the Garred Clinic for quite some time.  Our son, Mike, was a State Trooper and was killed in the line of duty August 1980 at the age of 24.   Our granddaughter, Kiley works for Experian Corp. in Lincoln and just got her degree from Bellevue University.  Our grandson, David, is in his 3rd year at U.N.O. in aviation.  Our other grandson, Mike, is in his Sr. Year at Texas A&M.  He is a Cadet and plays for the A & M band.