Jane Hubbard (Smith) Christianson passed away peacefully on April 14, 2024 in Oakland, California. We remember Jane for living her life with love and generosity, for her positivity and her amazing sense of humor. 

Born on April 24, 1945 in the seaside city of Gloucester, Massachusetts, she never lost her lifelong passion for beach time. After graduating from Gloucester High School in 1963, she attended Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, graduating in 1967. 

Jane’s adopted hometown was Marshall, Minnesota, where she raised her three daughters. Once all three were in school, Jane and her friend ran a successful business creating and marketing artisan cornhusk creations at juried craft shows on the east coast. She returned to her professional roots as a teacher at Marshall Senior High School after she received her master’s degree from Southwest State University. “Mrs. Christianson” was a passionate educator who enjoyed bringing history to life for hundreds of students until her retirement in 2011.

Jane’s daughters often joked that her social life was more active than theirs. She was an avid bridge player and an active PEO sister. Jane was devoted to her church community, playing handbells for the Wesley United Methodist Church (now Cornerstone Church) with gusto and giving her time and energy to various work within the church until her move to California in 2020.

Jane was an accomplished quilter, knitter, creator of needlework and many other crafts. Everyone who has ever received a quilt or blanket from Jane treasures it as the labor of love it is. She especially celebrated the artistic and creative talents of her children and grandchildren. 

Jane rarely met a board or card game which she did not enjoy, and family vacations were never complete unless there was at least one puzzle finished. An avid reader, her love of words extended beyond pages to make her a Scrabble maven, crossword puzzle aficionado, and Words with Friends master.

Beginning with Bunty and ending with Truffles, with countless beings in between, Jane was an animal lover. It was rare for Jane not to have at least one furry friend at her side. 

Jane loved being Grammie and spent as much time with her grandchildren as she could. Summers in Germany with Iris and Erik; years of living close to Josiah and Azriela in Minnesota; and sharing a home in Oakland with Max. Each of them cherishes memories of reading together, playing games, enjoying homemade cookies, and above all, laughing.

Jane treasured time with her family even though they are spread throughout the world. She is survived by her three daughters and their spouses, Alicia Choury (Karen) of Oakland, California, Lara Christianson (Heike Gerds) of Bremen, Germany, and Leah Madsen (Mike) of Marshall, Minnesota; her five grandchildren Iris, Erik, Josiah, Max, and Azriela; her two sisters, Judith Drinkwater of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Betsey Smith of West Hartford, Connecticut, as well as her sister-in-law Nancy Smith of Essex, Massachusetts, her cousin Marjorie Spinney, of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and many nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. She was preceded in death by her beloved brother, Roland Smith III and brother-in-law Ralph Drinkwater as well as her parents Virginia and Roland Smith, Jr.

A memorial service will take place at Horvath Funeral Home in Marshall, Minnesota on June 1, 2024. Donations to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in her name are welcomed.