Jane S. Flannery, beloved teacher and coach for generations of young women at Downsville Central School, died peacefully at home with her family on Saturday, October 2, 2010. She was 78.

Born in Cooperstown, New York on August 28, 1932 to Mary Malvina Terpening and Frederick Joseph Steele, Jane the eldest of two daughters; her younger sister, Mary Elizabeth Steele Setter, was born in 1934 and predeceased her in 1984. Jane's first cousin, Kenneth Atkins, with whom she was very close, predeceased her in 1985.

Jane grew up in Richfield Springs, New York, and graduated from Richfield Springs Central School. She continued her education at the State University of New York at Cortland, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education in 1954. Later that year, Jane was hired as the physical education teacher at Downsville Central School. The principal who hired Jane at Downsville Central, Edwin Tillapaugh, had been her 8th grade English teacher at Richfield Springs.

In 1956, Jane married Thomas A. Flannery, a teacher at Downsville Central School. The Flannery's had four children; Patricia of Clinton, Massachusetts; Stephen of Hilton Head, South Carolina; Anne of Kansas City, Missouri; and Michael (daughter -in -law Caryl) of St. Louis, Missouri. Jane and Tom taught together at Downsville Central School until Tom's retirement in 1986. Jane retired from teaching and coaching in 1988. Jane and Tom were avid antique collectors as well as geneaology/ history enthusiasts in their 37 years of loving marriage. Tom predeceased her in 1994.

Jane coached girls' soccer, basketball, volleyball, and softball at Downsville Central School. Coach Flannery was a mentor and role model for girls throughout her career, when girls' athletics were just gaining a foothold because of Title IX. Jane fought hard to win equality for her teams and her teams were very successful. In soccer, for example, from 1975 to 1985, Jane's teams won 8 Delaware Mountain League titles (7 consecutive, from 1975 to 1981), 3 Section IV Championships (1977; 1979; 1981), and 2 Section IV runner-ups. Her basketball team also won 5 Delaware Mountain League titles (1977-81; 1985), 3 consecutive Section IV championships (1977-1979) and a Section IV runner-up. In 1977-1978, her soccer, volleyball, and basketball teams were undefeated (50 and 0).

Jane and daughter Anne were both inducted into the NYSPHSAA Section IV Hall of Fame in 1996. On September 11, 2010, in a moving dedication ceremony organized by Downsville Board of Education President Dale Stone, the annual Downsville Central School preseason girls' soccer tournament was permanently named in Jane's honor.

Far more important to Jane than her teams' success on the field was her insistence that the young women she taught be prepared to succeed in higher education, their communities and life. She took great pride that her student athletes went on to successful careers, including many teachers, doctors, lawyers, and nurses. Above all , students of Jane Flannery understood that success on the field was only meaningful if it was accompanied by success and endeavor in education and community service. Jane was active in Downsville and the Town of Colchester as Town Historian, Election Supervisor, and Member of the Library board which she ran.

Jane was an avid sports fan. Her greatest passion, however, was soccer. After her retirement , she followed men's and women's soccer with great fervor. She attended numerous games for the 1999 and 2003 women's World Cups, and the 1994 and 2006 men's World Cup, including a month-long stay in Frankfurt, Germany in 2006. She also took several trips to England to attend Premier League games, including her favorite, Liverpool. At the time of her death, she was looking forward to returning to Germany to attend the 2011 women's world cup.

In addition to her four children, Jane is survived by her three beloved grandchildren, Joseph, Brian, and Sean Flannery of St. Louis, Missouri; sisters-in-law; Joan Atkins, Joan Flannery, Ann Flannery, Theresa Hoffman, Regina Flannery, Karen Flannery, and Margaret McGinnis, brothers-in-law; Michael Flannery and Glen McGinnis, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Friends and relatives are invited to call on Friday, October 8, 2010, from 2PM to 4PM and 6PM to 8PM at the Courtney Funeral Home, 25 Townsend Street, Walton, New York 13856. A Mass of the Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 12 Noon at the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church in Downsville with Rev. Thomas Connery Officiating. Burial to follow at Paige Cemetery, Downsville.

In Jane Flannery's memory, donations may be made to the Downsville Alumni Association Scholarship Fund, C/O: Downsville Central School, P. O. Box J, Downsville, New York 13755 or Colchester Public Library, Friends of the Library, P. O. Box 256, Downsville, New York 13755.