ANDOVER – Rev. Jane C. Rich, 81, died Tuesday March 12, 2024, at Market Square Nursing Home in South Paris. She was a resident of Andover.

Born in Camden, N.J. on June 12, 1942, she was a daughter of James Costa and Ruth Stokes. She was a graduate of Haddon Heights High School, class of 1960. She attended Glassboro State College and completed Bachelor’s Degree at University of New Hampshire with a Batchelor of Professional Studies degree in 1992. She graduated from Bangor Theological Seminary in 1999 with a Master’s Degree of Theological Studies.

Rev. Rich was ordained April 9, 2000, by the Oxford Union Association of the Maine Conference United Church of Christ at the First Congregational Church in Andover, where she served as Pastor from 1991 until December of 2014. She assisted members of the Upton Union Church in re-opening the church for summer worship in 2010. She served in a part-time capacity at West Parish Congregational Church in Bethel, First Church in Bridgton and West Bethel Union Church and provided supply preaching for many churches in Western Maine in the 1980’s.

She was elected as Register of deeds Oxford County Eastern District in November 1990 and served in that capacity from 1991-2010. She served on the Andover Board of selectman from 1978 to 1987 and 2015 to 2018. She gave the Invocation at the State House of representatives on several occasions. She served as Vice-President of the Andover educational Fund for 27 years and was founder of Andover Olde Home Days in 1980 and served as chair until 1990. She served on the Tri-County Mental Health Board of Directors and then as a Corporator for several years.

Survivors include her nieces Natalie Dalessandro and husband Ron and Daria Dougherty and husband Kevin; brother-in-law Nicholas Fanelli of Bellmawr, N.J.; and several great great-great nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; and a sister Catherine Fanelli.

Friends and family are invited to share memories of Jane with the family at http://www.meaderandson.com.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. on June 1, 2024 at the Andover Congregational Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Meader & Son Funeral Home 3 Franklin St Rumford, ME

Those who desire may contribute to:

Andover Congregational Church

PO Box 249

Andover, ME 04216

in her memory

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