Martha Jane Hancock was born in Waverly, Ky., on June 14, 1927, to her parents Robert Irvin Hancock Sr. and Jane Catherine Payne Hancock. She was baptized on July 3, 1927, and confirmed on June 4, 1935 by Bishop John Floersch. Her brothers and sisters were Irvin Hancock Jr., Mary Catherine Hancock Veatch, Father Walter Hancock, Rita Emma Hancock (Sister Jane Miriam), Ann Hancock Collins, Ben Hite Hancock, Margaret Louise Hancock Coshan and Mary Gertrude Hancock Martin.
Martha Jane attended St. Peter School in Waverly for grade school and in Waverly she received her high school instruction. When not in school, she often worked on the family farm. When she was 16 she decided to raise a feeder pig. An article about her read, “A little while back, Miss Hancock had the best kind of evidence of the success . . . her hog was judged the outstanding one at the 12th Annual Tri-State 4-H Calf and Hog Show and Sale at Evansville Union Stockyards. . . . her grand champion barrow was sold for 42 cents a pound.” She loved animals and birds.
Sister Jane Irvin entered the Mount Saint Joseph Ursuline community on September 8, 1947. She entered with Sisters Luisa, Clarita, Coletta, Mary Afra, Mary Sheila, Eileen, Ann Miriam, Rose Theresa, Jamesetta, Mary Louise, Mariam Therese, Mary Renee and John Mary.
Sister Jane Irvin received the habit on August 14, 1948, made first vows on August 15, 1950, and made final vows on August 15 1953. That same year Sister went on her first mission to St. Martin in Rome, Ky. Other schools where she taught in Kentucky include Sts. Joseph and Paul and St. Pius X in Owensboro, and St. Leonard School in Louisville. Most of her teaching career was with grades 1 and 2.
During the summer of 1965, Sister Jane Irvin received her bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Brescia College.
In 1975, Sister Jane Irvin was asked to come to Mount Saint Joseph Academy to become the Dean of Boarding Students. Many of the girls referred to her as their “dorm mother.” Michelle Welsh wrote an article about Sister Jane Irvin in “The Mount”, the school newspaper. “Sister Jane is the room inspector, job critic, shirt and sock cleaner. She is the lunch preparer on special Sundays, and she helps everyone feel better when they are sick. . . . She is a second mother and the girls love her dearly.”
When the Academy closed in 1983, Sister Jane Irvin stayed at the Mount to be the Facility Organizer. She helped greet guests, clean rooms, serve meals and anything else that needed to be done. She had a very outgoing personality.
In 1989, Sister was asked to go to Bishop David Apartments for the Clergy in Louisville, which she did graciously. Father Ed Scherzer wrote that she “gauged her care for us according to how she would want her brother, Father Walter, to be treated.”
In 2003, after 26 years of caregiving, she retired to the Motherhouse where she shared her sense of humor with the Sisters and sorted and trimmed stamps to sell. She also helped in the chapel.
Regardless of Sister Jane Irvin’s title, she received the highest praise from co-workers, friends and bosses. Archbishop Kelly named a star in the vaulted ceiling of the Cathedral of the Assumption in Louisville in her honor. In a letter to her he said, “It hurt my conscience to think that you are gone from us without my making a speech of public thanks to you for all you did at Bishop David. . . . You have taught us all what it means to love the Lord and see Him in one another and to take up the Cross with a cheery smile. We can never thank you enough. . . .When we get to name our heroes, you’ll always be at the top of my list. Ever Grateful, Thomas C. Kelly, O.P., Archbishop of Louisville.
Sister Jane Irvin died March 8, 2017. The funeral Mass was Monday, March 13, 2017, at 10:30 a.m.