Jane Rathbun Schulze

Jane Rathbun Schulze followed her beloved husband of 75 years by passing away quietly at her home on November 30th, 2024, just 8 days after Harry. Jane was born Jane MacCartney Rathbun on August 21st, 1923, the daughter of Bruce and Florence Mann Rathbun of Wyalusing, PA. Her mother was the first female bank teller at Peoples State Bank in Wyalusing, and her dad was a civil engineer who had come to town to assist with the first concrete highway in the area. The family, with her older brother, Bruce Rathbun Jr., and a younger brother, Edward Alan Rathbun, lived first on a farm in Browntown and later in houses in the town of Wyalusing. Jane attended the schools in Wyalusing, and met Harry Otto Schulze on the first day of 9th grade, which was also her 14th birthday. They were a couple from then on, and graduated with the class of 1941 at Wyalusing High School. 

Jane learned to play music on her grandmother’s pump organ, and her talent was obvious to everyone. As a teenager, she would wait on tables at the Wyalusing Hotel, and play the piano in the dining hall on Sundays for the patrons. She was graced with both natural ability and great teachers. Jane attended Mansfield State College during the years of World War II. She became a music teacher in Montrose, PA for four years before marrying Harry and moving to Philadelphia for a few years, where she continued studying piano with some of the best teachers in the region. As much as Jane was an incredible classically trained pianist, what she most loved was teaching private lessons to her pupils and accompanying other musicians. She quietly practiced a couple hours each day even well into her 90’s and her family and close friends were the main beneficiary of her performances. Jane would walk down to the Wyalusing Care Home next to their farm in Browntown and play for Sunday church services, long after she was older than most of the residents. Until the past few months, Jane and Harry would take a half an hour most afternoons and he would sing mostly 1940’s love songs, accompanied by Jane. 

Besides music, Jane loved nature, walking, good stories, and good movies. Jane and Harry ate out of their garden for 50 years, and she loved walking the Browntown farm from the Susquehanna River to the moss forest under the sugar maples up on the side hill. In later years, Harry and Jane were regular walkers at the Wyalusing Valley High School track where even in the middle of the winter they’d be bundled up as if they climbing Mt. Everest. Her children grew up with yearly trips to Philadelphia, the Adirondacks, Stone Harbor, NJ, and to concerts that they didn’t understand. Jane was known for her quiet kindness, especially to children and older people, although there finally were very few older people. Friends sought her gentle and calm talks, and Harry and Jane had an old-fashioned sense of visiting, where everything else was put aside for company. She loved people and in her last couple years she worked hard at keeping everyone she had known in her thoughts.

Jane is survived by her children, Laurie Schulze of Austin, TX, Rosemary Schulze of Arlington, MA, and Jon Schulze of Towanda, PA; her beloved grandchildren Lindsay Schulze of Towanda, PA, and Elesha Schulze with her fiancé Cory McCarthey of Bellingham, WA; as well as sister-in-law Marcia Rathbun of Atlanta, GA; 4 nieces, Julie (Ernie) Vilar of FL, Jan (Greg) Clement, Utah, Susan (Richard) Kern, SC, Beth (William) Miner, Meshoppen, PA; a nephew, Jay (Rochelle) Rathbun, TN; and a former daughter in law Beth Schulze, Sayre, PA. 

In addition to her devoted husband just 8 days before, Jane was predeceased by her father and mother, Bruce and Florence Mann Rathbun of Towanda, PA; her brothers Bruce Rathbun, Jr. (Ann) and Edward Alan Rathbun, and her son-in-law, Robert Fredieu of Arlington, MA, as well as many cousins and friends.

The family is extremely grateful for the in home care that Jane got over the last few months from the Guthrie Hospice team. 

There will be no services at this time, but there will be a celebration of the lives of Jane and Harry for family and friends at some point in the future, at the convenience of the family with burial in the Wyalusing Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Homer Funeral Home, 83 Grovedale Lane, Wyalusing, PA.

To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to www.homerfuneralhome.com.