My beautiful friend, Jane Spigarelli passed away on Thursday after battling cancer for nearly three years. She was 45. She is survived by her husband, Chris Monte and their five-year-old son, Jimmy. I met Jane in the MFA programme at U.C. Irvine in 1988. Chris and Jane met in a little thing called Passion, Poison and Petrifaction, by George Bernard Shaw that I directed in L.A. after Jane and I graduated from UCI. I am so sad for Jane, for all the things she will not get to see, like her son growing up. I am heartbroken for her husband and her parents. I found this video clip of Jane on Google. I’m not sure when it was made, but it’s how I remember her when she was goofing around. Her natural singing voice was gorgeous.
Jane Ann Spigarelli b. 2 March 1966 d. 29 September 2011
Thank you for the opportunity to see and appreciate a third cousin I will never meet. I learned about Jane tracing my Monahan family history and had no idea she was here in California for so many years until I found her obituary earlier this year. The only thing I can say is there are some things we will never understand in this lifetime and the death of Jane, a vibrant loving young mother is one of them.
Kris Cerone, Oceanside, CA
Kris,
A close friend of Jane’s who was a fellow classmate at U.C. Irvine is compiling a digital album of photographs of Jane, focusing on shows she was in. If you would like a copy of the album, I will make sure you receive one when it is ready.
I think about Jane often. She was truly someone who did the very best she could with the talent she had been given.
Shelley,
I apologize for just now finding your reply about the digital album. Yes, I would enjoy a copy if it was made or if it is still in the making. My e-mail address is: Kriscerone@aol.com
This made me cry. 🙁
Hi, Shelley.
Just had a look a this. Her second cousin Phil who took this video had this up on youtube for a while. I’m the guy in the background with Jane, Chris. Do you remember me? I remember you! We met two or three times, and I always enjoyed your company.
I was with Jane and her family vacationing in Grand Cayman when this spontaneous and precious footage was taken. CLASSIC JANE!!! Oh, the shenanigans! I hope you are well! Coming up on the anniversary of her passing is tough, even after 5 years. But I had a wonderful dream last night where she and I were snorkeling in gorgeous clear Caribbean waters amongst beautiful tropical fish and sea horses of all things. I think Jane is/was making rounds to the mortal world and wants us to smile. Miss her terribly! We’ll be together again! Stay well!
I do remember you, Chris! I thought the guy in the background was her brother. But now I realize this was you, when you visited Jane in Irvine and not Mark. Hints of Jane’s stories about the two of you and the things you got up to in Raytown are beginning to filter through my memory, but more like dust motes than actual recollections…her obsession with the Rocky Horror Show comes to mind; was that with you?
I miss her terribly, too. This year, particularly. I was thinking the same thing–five years…I can’t believe it and at the same time, too many years she hasn’t been with us.
Thank you for letting me know the origin of the video. It was just as you say: CLASSIC JANE!!! And what a great dream! Also, Classic Jane.
I need to write to Jim and Nora again. They are often on my mind.