Obituary for Jane Eleanor (Maxfield) Scarlett Hennings
Jane Eleanor (Maxfield) Scarlett Hennings, 102, died September 9, 2019, at the Homestead in Owls Head. Jane was born February 21, 1917, in Passaic, New Jersey, to William Maxfield and Edna (Hawkins) Maxfield. She grew up in Philadelphia, and graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1935.
She attended Emily Kreider Norris School of Dramatic Arts and Upton Favorite School of Dramatic Arts, both in Philadelphia.
She married Robert Scarlett on December 24, 1936, in Drexel Hill, PA. Eventually, they moved to York, PA. She was a stay-at-home mother who accompanied her husband in his travels as an international business executive with 3M Company. They lived three years in Australia, five years in Canada and six-years in post-World War Two Germany where she was instrumental in founding the American Women’s Club in Düsseldorf. She said the club, still in existence, was formed to help American business wives become educated about the German language and customs.
After her children left home for college and marriage, she sold Avon products in Grant Township, MN, where she also served on the planning commission. Her hobby of raising and showing Burmese cats became a business. Her cattery was named Nee-Ja and was registered in three national cat organizations.
In 1982, she initiated divorce proceedings and moved to Maine. She had visited Maine regularly since childhood and, she said, had always wanted to live in Maine. Her divorce from Mr. Scarlett was finalized in 1985.
She met and married Carl C.C. Hennings, Jr. in 1985, and the couple lived on Spruce Head Island. She was an active member of the Down East Jazz Society, and she and her husband enjoyed dancing and traveling to jazz festivals. Mr. Hennings died in 1992.
Following her husband’s death, Mrs. Hennings moved to Rockland, ME, for five years before moving to South Thomaston in 1998. She continued her involvement with the Down East Jazz Society and continued to enjoy dancing. She became active with the Philanthropic Educational Organization, a sisterhood of about 200,000 women who help young women continue their education. She was a frequent writer of letters to the editor at the Courier-Gazette. She enjoyed regular trips on five different area windjammers, including 21 sails on the schooner Mary Day. She volunteered many years at the Rockland-Thomaston Area Chamber of Commerce and joined the Rockland Chapter of the Red Hat Society.
She is survived by four children, Linda Jenks of Rome, GA, Robert Hunter Scarlett and his wife Sibylle, of Lino Lakes, MN, Donald Dearborn Scarlett and his wife, Elizabeth, of Kaslo, BC, Canada, and Gail Lindsley Scarlett and her husband Carmine (Nick) Petriccione, of Coronado, CA; three grandchildren, Dale Jenks of Atlanta, GA, Donald Owen Scarlett and his wife Janice Bogdan and step-daughter Claire Heitsenrether of Baltimore, Maryland; and Michael Hawkins Scarlett and his wife Ellen Craig of Bettendorf, IA; two great-grandchildren Brendan Craig Scarlett and Audrey Craig Scarlett. She was predeceased by her three older sisters, Dorothy Stump, Florence Bulmer and Lucille Greenwood.
Various celebrations of Mrs. Hennings’ life will be held during the ensuing months. There will be no visitation or internment. It was Mrs. Hennings wish to have her ashes scattered on the waters of Penobscot Bay.
Memorial donations may be made to the Pope Memorial Humane Society, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841; or the Down East Jazz Society Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 202, Rockland, ME 04841.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall’s of Thomaston, 78 Main Street, Thomaston, ME. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.hallfuneralhomes.com
She attended Emily Kreider Norris School of Dramatic Arts and Upton Favorite School of Dramatic Arts, both in Philadelphia.
She married Robert Scarlett on December 24, 1936, in Drexel Hill, PA. Eventually, they moved to York, PA. She was a stay-at-home mother who accompanied her husband in his travels as an international business executive with 3M Company. They lived three years in Australia, five years in Canada and six-years in post-World War Two Germany where she was instrumental in founding the American Women’s Club in Düsseldorf. She said the club, still in existence, was formed to help American business wives become educated about the German language and customs.
After her children left home for college and marriage, she sold Avon products in Grant Township, MN, where she also served on the planning commission. Her hobby of raising and showing Burmese cats became a business. Her cattery was named Nee-Ja and was registered in three national cat organizations.
In 1982, she initiated divorce proceedings and moved to Maine. She had visited Maine regularly since childhood and, she said, had always wanted to live in Maine. Her divorce from Mr. Scarlett was finalized in 1985.
She met and married Carl C.C. Hennings, Jr. in 1985, and the couple lived on Spruce Head Island. She was an active member of the Down East Jazz Society, and she and her husband enjoyed dancing and traveling to jazz festivals. Mr. Hennings died in 1992.
Following her husband’s death, Mrs. Hennings moved to Rockland, ME, for five years before moving to South Thomaston in 1998. She continued her involvement with the Down East Jazz Society and continued to enjoy dancing. She became active with the Philanthropic Educational Organization, a sisterhood of about 200,000 women who help young women continue their education. She was a frequent writer of letters to the editor at the Courier-Gazette. She enjoyed regular trips on five different area windjammers, including 21 sails on the schooner Mary Day. She volunteered many years at the Rockland-Thomaston Area Chamber of Commerce and joined the Rockland Chapter of the Red Hat Society.
She is survived by four children, Linda Jenks of Rome, GA, Robert Hunter Scarlett and his wife Sibylle, of Lino Lakes, MN, Donald Dearborn Scarlett and his wife, Elizabeth, of Kaslo, BC, Canada, and Gail Lindsley Scarlett and her husband Carmine (Nick) Petriccione, of Coronado, CA; three grandchildren, Dale Jenks of Atlanta, GA, Donald Owen Scarlett and his wife Janice Bogdan and step-daughter Claire Heitsenrether of Baltimore, Maryland; and Michael Hawkins Scarlett and his wife Ellen Craig of Bettendorf, IA; two great-grandchildren Brendan Craig Scarlett and Audrey Craig Scarlett. She was predeceased by her three older sisters, Dorothy Stump, Florence Bulmer and Lucille Greenwood.
Various celebrations of Mrs. Hennings’ life will be held during the ensuing months. There will be no visitation or internment. It was Mrs. Hennings wish to have her ashes scattered on the waters of Penobscot Bay.
Memorial donations may be made to the Pope Memorial Humane Society, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, ME 04841; or the Down East Jazz Society Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 202, Rockland, ME 04841.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall’s of Thomaston, 78 Main Street, Thomaston, ME. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.hallfuneralhomes.com