Jane Heaton Najim, 63, died Sept. 5, 2015, at her home in Newcastle surrounded by her family and her beloved Sammy and Amelia.

She was born Aug. 24, 1952 in Toronto, Canada, to William and Marjorie Heaton. She lived in Canada until the age of 11 when the family traveled to Anaheim, California, in 1963 to begin a new life. She graduated from Tustin High School and later received her associate degree from Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California.

Jane was employed at Ford Aerospace and Communications in Newport Beach as a finance analyst where she met her future husband, Ralph Najim, who also worked at Ford Aerospace. Jane and Ralph were married on Aug. 16, 1981. After their marriage, Jane chose to leave her job so that she could stay at home and raise her children. Jane was very active in her children’s school activities. She served on the school P.T.O. committee and helped with many fundraising events. They added a son, Elias J. Najim, to the family in 1986. Jane and Ralph moved the family to Newcastle in 1990.

She owned and operated Bagel Express in Edgecomb for over six years while also being involved with the family business, Coastal Carwash, which her husband opened in 1993. She later worked as secretary of the Second Congregational Church in Newcastle. She was co-chair of the Ecumenical Food Pantry. She was a member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Newcastle. She was very active in the church serving as a chalice bearer, senior warden, search committee for new rectors and as a reader. She was also very active with the Benedictine group and St. Andrews Summer Fair. In her spare time, she made many prayer shawls for the church to use in its ministry. 

She was a member of the Mid-Winter Ladies Group. She loved working in her gardens and collecting all kinds of things including figurines, sea glass, shells and various antiques. She loved finding rusty items to place in her garden, and enjoyed crafting. 

She was predeceased by her father, William Heaton, and by a brother, Thomas Heaton.

She is survived by her husband of 34 years, Ralph Najim of Newcastle; daughters, Jennifer Trask and her husband Robert of Plymouth, New Hampshire, and Jill Charbonneau and her husband Josh of Ellington, Connecticut; and son, Elias Najim of Portland. She is also survived by her dear mother, Marjorie Heaton of Tustin, California; sister, Anne Hoehne of Corona, California; brothers, James Heaton of Irvine, California, and John Heaton of Santa Ana, California; her beloved grandchildren, Amy, Ashley and Hunter Trask all of Plymouth, New Hampshire, Aubrey and Emily Charbonneau, both of Ellington, Connecticut; brothers in-law, Harvey Najim of San Antonio, Texas, and Harry Najim of Wichita, Kansas; beloved niece, Sarah Heaton; and many other nieces and nephews across the country and family throughout Canada and England.

A memorial service to celebrate Jane’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Sept. 19 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 11 Glidden Street in Newcastle. The Rev. John Ineson will officiate. A reception will follow the service at the church.

Should friends desire, contributions in Jane’s memory may be made to Ecumenical Food Pantry of Newcastle, P.O. Box 46, Newcastle, ME 04553, or American Cancer Society, One Bowdoin Mill Island, Suite 300, Topsham, ME 04086.

Hall’s of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements. To extend online condolences, light a candle for Jane, or to share a story or picture, visit their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.