Jane Daniels

Jane Mitas Daniels came into the world on February 5, 1938, in Springdale, Pennsylvania, the third of thirteen children born to Joseph and Irene Mitas. Her father, Joseph Mitas, was born in Pennsylvania in 1913 to parents Joseph Mitas and Helen Pavlec, representing the Eastern European immigrant heritage that characterized many industrial communities in Western Pennsylvania. Joseph had married Irene McFall in 1933 in Brooke County, West Virginia, before settling in Springdale Township in Allegheny County.

Growing up during the Great Depression and World War II years, Jane experienced what she remembered as "a happy childhood surrounded by friends and family". Springdale was a small industrial community near Pittsburgh where Catholic families like the Mitas clan formed tight-knit neighborhoods that provided support through economic hardship and wartime challenges. As one of thirteen children, Jane learned early the values of sharing, cooperation, and family loyalty that would define her character throughout her life.

Jane graduated from Springdale High School in 1955. The school, established in 1940 as part of the Allegheny Valley School District, provided a comprehensive education that prepared young people for the rapidly changing postwar world. After graduation, Jane remained in Pennsylvania for a couple of years before making the bold decision to relocate to Southern California around 1957 or 1958, joining the millions of Americans who migrated westward during the postwar boom.

In Southern California, Jane initially settled in Torrance, a rapidly growing suburban community that had expanded from approximately 9,950 residents in 1940 to over 100,000 by 1960. This dynamic city represented the new American dream of suburban living, with planned communities, modern schools, and family-oriented amenities. It was in this environment that Jane met Donald Lee Daniels, a Kentucky native who had served in the Marine Corps and was working in the brewery industry.

Jane and Don married on September 12, 1959, beginning a partnership that would last fifty-five years until his death in 2015. Their love story epitomized the optimism and family focus of the late 1950s. Just eleven months after their wedding, they welcomed their first son, followed by three more boys within the next four and a half years. Their four sons—Ron, Mark, Dave, and John—would become the center of Jane's world and the focus of her extraordinary devotion as a mother.

Managing four rambunctious boys required exceptional organizational skills and boundless energy. The family initially lived in Torrance before relocating to Newhall, a community in the Santa Clarita Valley that offered more space and a family-friendly environment. Jane became legendary among local parents for her involvement in her sons' activities. She "was always active in the boys' school activities and rarely missed a sporting, scouting, or church event". The image of Jane "standing between two baseball fields trying to watch her sons play on multiple diamonds" on spring Saturdays captured her dedication to being present for her children's achievements.

Beyond her role as a devoted mother, Jane built what was described as "a distinguished career with the Los Angeles County Office of Education". This professional achievement was particularly remarkable given the era's expectations that married women with children would focus exclusively on domestic responsibilities. Jane's success in balancing career advancement with intensive family involvement demonstrated her exceptional capabilities and forward-thinking approach to women's roles in society.

Faith formed the cornerstone of Jane's life and character. She was deeply involved at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Newhall, where she volunteered extensively alongside Don. The church, which had served the community since 1915, became a second home to the Daniels family. Jane's approach to faith was distinctive—she "didn't need to preach about God, Christianity, or right and wrong. Instead, she demonstrated all of this on a daily basis, and everyone who came in contact with her was affected by her loving and caring nature".

Jane's generosity extended beyond her immediate family through her gift for hospitality. She "found time to host large events for both extended family and friends," creating memories and maintaining connections that enriched countless lives. These gatherings reflected her belief in the importance of community and her commitment to nurturing relationships across generations and geographic distances.

As her sons grew into adulthood and started families of their own, Jane embraced her roles as grandmother and great-grandmother with the same enthusiasm she had brought to motherhood. She lived to see her family expand to include thirteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, creating a legacy that extended into the fourth generation. Her presence at family events and her continued engagement with Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, documented as late as 2017 when she was photographed at the parish's St. Patrick's Day celebration, showed her commitment to community involvement well into her later years.

Jane's final years were marked by the profound loss of her husband Don in 2015, ending their fifty-five-year partnership. She also experienced the grief of losing her parents and two of her sisters before her own death. Despite these losses, she maintained her connections to family and faith community, demonstrating the resilience that had characterized her throughout her life.

Jane Mitas Daniels passed away on February 3, 2026, just two days before her eighty-eighth birthday. Her death marked the end of a remarkable life that had spanned nearly nine decades of American history, from the Great Depression through the digital age. She left behind a legacy of faith, family devotion, professional achievement, and community service that touched countless lives. Her funeral mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church brought together the community she had served so faithfully, celebrating a life that exemplified the values of love, service, and quiet faith lived in daily action.