Jane Ellen Collora

Collora, Jane Ellen

Jane Ellen Collora (nee Ransel) of Indianapolis, Indiana; and a long time resident of Anderson County, South Carolina,died March 14, 2016 at the age of 103. Janewas born in 1912 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to John A. Ransel and Anna M.Ransel (nee Hite). The Ransel familymoved to Gary, Indiana in 1915 where John Ransel worked in the steel mills. Janehad seven brothers and sisters and lived in Gary for almost 25 years. For themost part, her siblings and their families continued to live in the mid-west. Jane graduated from Emerson High School inGary and later worked for Cities Service Oil Company in East Chicago, Illinois. As a young woman, she traveled to Europe onher own, which was very unusual in those days.

In 1940, Jane married Nicholas (“Nick”) A. Collora, agraduate of the University of Illinois school of engineering, in Gary, Indiana,and they lived in various locations over the years following Nick’s job as amechanical engineer including: New York City; Monroe, Louisiana; Terre Haute,Indiana; Baltimore, Maryland; Morgantown, West Virginia; Lewiston, New York,and Wallingford, Pennsylvania. Jane and Nick raised four sons: James, Michael, Philip andNicholas. Jane was a very traditionalmother and, while she was always there to provide comfort and guidance to hersons, she was not overly protective. BothJane and Nick allowed their sons to set their own paths in life and gainindependence their own way. While theirpaths were not always direct, they each learned the importance of hard work andeducation and acquired a number of advanced degrees. Having grown up during the Great Depression,Jane taught her sons the benefits of frugality and patience in all things. Patienceserved Jane well with multiple moves around the country, at times to housessight unseen, and with the chaos of having four boys and a multitude of pets,constantly in motion. Jane and Nick retired to Anderson, South Carolina in 1971where they maintained a small fruit and vegetable farm, including several beehives, for many years. With a display of her great flexibility, Janeimmersed herself in their new southern environs learning to enjoy countryliving and becoming quite adept at gardening and food preservation. In 1999, after the death of her husband, Janemoved to the Marquette Manor retirement home in Indianapolis, Indiana, on therecommendation of her brother, J. Edward Ransel, who then lived there with hiswife, Marion. Jane was an avid reader and bridge player andworked in various volunteer positions over the years. She is remembered mostfor her positive attitude toward life, her dry sense of humor and her kindnesstoward everyone. Jane was preceded in death by her husband, her son Nicholasand all seven of her brothers and sisters: Mary Ester Sayles, Joseph A. Ransel,J. Edward Ransel, Rita R. Kitchen, AnneTodd, J. Paul Ransel and Doris Hoffman. Survivors include three of her four sons, nine grandchildren, fourgreat-grandchildren and many nephews and nieces. Jane’s ashes will be interred alongside herlate husband and near her late son Nicholas in Forest Lawn Memorial Park,Anderson, South Carolina. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made toBelmont Abbey College, 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Rd, Belmont, NC 28012. The founding Abbot of Belmont Abbey, BishopLeo Haid of the Benedictine Order, was Jane’s great uncle.