Obituary of Jane Rudko

Jane Rudko passed away Friday morning, 5 August 2011. Born 5 February 1921 in Nyack, New York, she moved to New York City with her family and spent the depression and war years on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Jane attended Washington Irving High School and Hunter College; modeled and purveyed women's apparel in the City; then was legal assistant to several New York law firms before becoming executive secretary for the FDR estate. In 1948, Jane and Michael Rudko married. In 1959, the family drove across the states to reside in Santa Barbara until the present day. Heavily involved with the local Republican Committee, Jane valued time spent with then Governor Ronald Reagan. Enjoying all card games, she was equally adept at the bridge and blackjack tables. Jane loved to read, especially thick juicy suspense novels. Her passion for reading was shared with her daughter Carole, son Matthew and granddaughter Alexis. All would consume the same book discussing plot twists, quirky characters and familiar locales. Until the end of her life, Jane remained sharp as a tack, finishing the daily crossword, codeword and jumble before breakfast. Another lifelong joy was worldwide travel. From the back streets of Paris and beer halls of Munich to the hills of San Francisco and casinos of Las Vegas, Jane savored foreign culture and stateside environs alike. All cuisine was relished with many an exotic dish eventually prepared and served at her dinner table. Jane lived a rich and fulfilling 90 years. Preceding her into the hereafter were her brother Carl, and husband Michael of 55 years. Surviving are daughter Carole, son Matthew and granddaughter Alexis. We greatly appreciate the assistance provided by Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care personnel who ensured a comfortable transition during Jane's final days. Good-bye Mom. We love you.