Jane Bruss

Jane A. Bruss was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 7, 1941, to Richard W. Norton and Grace (Hemsteger) Norton. She was an honor student at Mother of Mercy High School and graduated cum laude from the University of Cincinnati with a B.A. in English. After graduation, she married Howard George Bruss Jr. They moved to Toledo where she taught English at the University of Toledo while working towards a Master's degree. Jane and Howard raised three children - Karen Bruss Carle, Neil Robert Bruss, and Howard Charles Bruss, in a family life focused on personal values and fun with a home setting that was active and welcoming. Family celebrations, holidays, summer gatherings at the lake, parties with lifelong friends, and time spent with their nine grandchildren filled their years and set the stage for generations to come. Jane was a happy loving mother, caring sister and sister-in-law, and proud grandmother, and she was known for her kindness, genuine interest in others, and her ability to make everyone feel valued. She enjoyed entertaining, cooking, gardening, the arts, playing golf and tennis, and was a role model for her children and grandchildren. Jane was always guided by optimism, creativity, and a desire to leave things better than she found them. Jane was active in the field of communications and established a career later in life with the Toledo Public Schools System as Communications Director for several years. Throughout her career she was known for crafting, directing, and producing communications to convey the intended message with clarity and substance. Jane was active in community service and organizations, including the Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services, the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, and the Advertising Club of Toledo. She was a founding volunteer for the LPGA Jamie Farr Toledo Classic golf tournament. In every role, Jane gave freely of her time, creativity, and heart, especially in support of charitable and community causes. Jane is survived by her beloved husband, Howard; her children; her nine grandchildren; her brothers, Charles Norton (Kathy) and Michael Norton (Patti); her brothers-in-law, Michael Bruss and Mark Bruss; her sisters-in-law, Jane Bruss Gulotte and Kitsie Bruss (James) Valiton; and her many nieces and nephews. She peacefully passed away April 14th from complications from Alzheimer's surrounded by her family. Friends may visit at Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., Toledo, OH 43614 on Monday, April 20 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with a Scripture Service at 6:30 p.m. Additional visitation will begin be held at Gesu Catholic Church, 2049 Parkside Blvd., Toledo, OH 43607 on Tuesday, April 21 from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Tributes

Jane Bruss

January 7, 1941 - April 14, 2026