Jane J. Hiltebrant

Jane Isele Hiltebrant, formerly of Old Forge, NY, entered into eternal rest on May 29, 2025, in Fairfield, CT with her family by her side. She was 85 years old.

Jane was born in Utica, NY on April 9, 1940 to Josephine Kwiatkowski Zima and Stanley W. Zima. She grew up in Yorkville, attending St. Mary’s School in New York Mills, St. Francis DeSales High School in Utica and Nazareth College in Rochester, NY, from which she graduated in 1962 with a BA in English. After college, she immediately began teaching elementary school in the Utica area and at Barneveld Elementary School, before finally retiring from Holland Patent Elementary School, where she taught 3rd grade. A lifelong educator with a career that spanned more than 30 years, Jane got great joy out of teaching reading and language skills to countless children. In addition to her passion for teaching, Jane loved writing poetry and children’s books, enjoyed the peacefulness of the Adirondack Mountains and the serenity of the ocean and Long Island Sound. Jane was also a communicant of St. Pius X Church in Fairfield.

In 2002, Jane moved to Connecticut, where she lived until her passing. She is predeceased by her parents and her only brother, Stanley E. Zima. The joy of her life were her four grandsons, Nicholas Isele of Old Forge, NY, Joseph Etsen of Utica, NY, and William and Charles Mitola of Fairfield, CT, whom she constantly doted on and adored. She is also survived by her two daughters, Michele Mitola (John) of Fairfield, CT, and Kristen Isele Johnson (Chad) of Port Leyden, NY, as well as her niece, Joelle Rotay (Michael), of Collegeville, PA. Jane’s family is grateful to the staff at the Carolton Chronic Convalescent Hospital for their loving care of our beloved mother and grandmother.

Family and friends are invited to calling hours, from 9-10 AM on Wednesday, June 4, at Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield, followed by an 11 AM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Pius X Church, 834 Brookside Drive, Fairfield. Interment will be Friday, June 6, at 1 PM at St. Stanislaus & St. Casmir Cemetery, 80 Woods Road, in Whitesboro, NY, where Deacon Tim Foley will offer prayers and all family and friends are invited to join. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to St. Pius X Church (https://www.st-pius.org/) or to Foundations in Education (https://www.foundationsineducation.org/), in support of scholarships for children to attend Catholic schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT.