Jane Mesic Quilhot, 69, loved ones beside her, passed away Sunday morning, December 21, 2025, at home in Newport News. She was the daughter of the late Patricia (Pat) and Rufus Manly (Buster) Mesic, Jr. of Newport News.

Born in the old Riverside Hospital in Newport News on March 19, 1956, Jane, the second daughter, enjoyed telling of a carefree childhood playing in the Stuart Garden area. Life for the Mesics revolved around their family and First Baptist Church.

The family moved to the Hidenwood neighborhood when Jane was six. There she began to develop a knack for making lifelong friendships, inheriting her mother's signature humor, compassion and spunk. There were summers at the Hidenwood Pool, church, friends and bike-riding, seemingly impervious to traffic. Her parents received more than one phone call telling them of Jane's near misses as she peddled the width and breath of her realm.

Early on, Jane was recognized as a top-flight student and leader. A founder of Hidenwood Elementary's cheerleading squad, she continued her cheerleading at Ferguson High School, graduating as a member of the National Honor Society. That recognition allowed her to enjoy what she described as a near ideal college education, beginning at Meredith College, where she did not have to deal with those pesky boys in the classroom.

Jane grew in her love of school, especially English literature and classical poetry. Reading and writing also became lifelong pleasures. She transferred to Thomas Jefferson's University of Virginia for her third and fourth years where again, she never missed the Dean's List and earned her degree with honors. She wrote for the Daily Cavalier, was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and, continued building lasting friendships.

A year of teaching English in Richmond and a trip through Europe widened Jane's ambitions. She landed a staff position with Nebraska Senator Edward Zorinsky on Capitol Hill where she managed the reception desk with two rules: 1) Keep the large football-shaped bowl in the lobby full of Nebraska popcorn; and 2) keep her time on the phone short so Zorinsky's midwestern constituents wouldn't be put off by her melodic Tidewater accent. She joined the staff of the Senate Budget Committee briefly before moving to Charlottesville for a graduate degree in Speech and Rhetoric.

In 1982, her first daughter, Rebecca Scott Boswell, was born before the family moved to Indiana. Three years later a second daughter, Courtney Elizabeth Boswell, was born.

Jane's 32 years in Indiana were marked by book clubs, her young family, spirited work tenures as a freelance writer, public relations and communications work for the Indianapolis 500 Festival Associates, Parent Teacher Organizations, carpooling, Bible studies, spontaneous travel and of course the making of those characteristic lifelong friendships.  A return to teaching was in store as well.

In 2005, Charles Quilhot was encouraged by mutual friends to ask Jane for a date. The two quickly fell for one another and on February 10, 2007, they were married during a weekend of sub-zero temperatures. That weather contributed to Jane never losing a desire to return to Ole Virginia, and by 2012 she and Chuck were ready to do just that.

Moving back to Newport News was special. There were wonderful years with her parents Pat and Buster and her sister, Susan, and family and friends at the beach house at the Outer Banks — ballgames and reunions in Charlottesville, picking up her many old friendships and always making new friends. Those years sped by as Chuck and Jane began to enjoy an extended family as her daughters and his three sons married and blessed them with 12 grandchildren. Jane's devotion and love for each of them was inspired. She was "YayYay" to her daughters' children and "Grandma Q" to Chuck's grandchildren.  She leaves the dearest place in each of their hearts.

Throughout Jane's life, her church and her faith were her foundations. In 2018, Chuck and Jane joined the Poquoson (Va.) Baptist Church and in short order they were surrounded by a new, loving and praying family. Their love and prayers brought Jane great peace and courage.

Profound gratitude is owed to the medical personnel who served Jane so well during her years with cancer, particular thanks goes to Dr. Christi Prillaman and her team from Virginia Oncology Associates.

Surviving Jane are her husband, Charles S. Quilhot, daughters and husbands Rebecca Boswell and Gabe Burnstein (Remy, Moses, Juliette and Max), Courtney and Noah Sando (Rose and Oliver) and her stepsons and wives Jeffrey and Leigh Quilhot (John and Jackson), Mark and Emma Quilhot (Guy and Luke) and Charles and Alex Quilhot (Reagan and Cooper). Jane's beloved sister Susan and husband Edward "Biff" Lang also survive along with their three sons and Jane's five great nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Temple Baptist Church on 235 Harpersville Road, Newport News Virginia at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 10.  A reception will follow at the James River Country Club.

Honoring Jane, donations may be made to Poquoson Baptist Church (poquosonbaptist.org) and/or Thrive Peninsula (thrivepeninsula.org).