Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | St. Lawrence County, NY
NORTH LAWRENCE - Jane Ann Wilber, 77, of Canandaigua, NY, passed away peacefully on August 7, 2026, at Strong Memorial Hospital with her loving family at her bedside.
Jane was predeceased by her father, Lyle Wilber, her mother, Grace (Spellan) Wilber, her husband, George Esterheld, her eldest brother, John Wilber, and her best friend and cousin, Cheryl Howard. She leaves behind a family she cherished deeply: her daughter Janna Dendievel (Ryan) and her three beloved granddaughters, Saoirse, Aislinn, and Maevery, along with her loving siblings—Trudy Ballard (Monte), Joline Beardsley (Gil), Jim Wilber, Jerome Wilber, and Judy Anderson—as well as many close nieces, nephews, and the dear friends she always considered "framily."
Born and raised in North Lawrence, NY, Jane graduated in 1966 from St. Lawrence Central High School. A peripatetic soul at heart, Jane spent the following years building a life full of connection and purpose all across New York and North Carolina. Whether she was caring for residential children at the Algonquin School in Saranac Lake or nannying for the Lindsay and Schneider families in the Rochester area, Jane had a rare gift for making life-long friends wherever she went.
She met George at Paul’s Grocers in Rochester, and though it would be a few years before they would reconnect romantically, they were blessed in 1982 with their daughter, Janna, “her first miracle”. Even after separating, Jane and George remained close friends until his passing in 2023. Jane later worked at UR Medicine Dermatology until retiring in 1999. Later in life, her heart expanded even further with the arrival of her three granddaughters, (“her other three miracles”).
Outside of work, she loved hosting gatherings, reading, caring for her beloved cats, Taz & Jazz, Niko, and Shadow, traveling to visit family and friends, chatting on the phone, and above all, being Nana. Jane had a remarkable capacity to listen without judgment and love without condition. Her quiet grace, gentle humor, and welcoming heart made everyone around her feel safe and deeply valued.
A burial memorial will be held at Hill Crest Cemetery in Lawrenceville, NY, where she will be laid to rest alongside her parents and brother, on Saturday, November 7th at 11:00 AM, followed by a Celebration of Life at The Pines Tap & Table in Malone at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Keller’s Kats Rescue, www.kellerskatrescue.
