BRUNSWICK — Jane Claudette Leighton, 66, of Brunswick, died Monday at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice house in Scarborough.

She was born May 21, 1946, in Skowhegan, the daughter of Noel and Rose Helene Bolduc. 

She was educated at Notre Dame deLourdes Elementary School and Mount Merici Academy, and graduated from Bloomfield Academy in Skowhegan in 1964. She went on to radiology technology school at Augusta General Hospital, graduating in 1967.

Leighton worked in the health care field for many years, including service at Maine General Hospital in Waterville and Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick. She retired from radiology in 2010. She also ran a tailor shop out of her house for three decades, and continue working there until January.

She married David Roger Leighton in 1967. 

She enjoyed camping, hiking, spending time with her children and seven grandchildren, and getting together with her sisters to quilt. The “M’Tantes” (the Aunts) had been gett together each week for more than 25 years – usually quilting, and in later years often playing Scrabble or dominoes.

Leighton was a communicant of All Saints Parish in Brunswick. She was also a lector, and a member of the Daughters of Isabella.

Eight years ago, she started in her parish the “Sew Blessed Ministry,” a group that knits and sews quilts, afghans, wheelchair caddies and clothes for premature babies. Sew Blessed Ministry made items for soldiers, nursing home patients, and newborn infants and anyone else in need. The ministry led to the creation of a local chapter of “Prayer Shawl Ministry.”

In 2012, she organized, with Sew Blessed Ministry, the first Prayer Shawl Retreat in Maine, which was very well attended. She viewed her work with the Sew Blessed Ministry as her life’s greatest accomplishment.

In addition to her work with Sew Blessed Ministry and the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Leighton joined members of her parish who went on a church mission to Jamaica. There, they toured an orphanage that was lacking in basic supplies. Upon her return to Brunswick, she enlisted the help of Sew Blessed Ministry to gather sheets and mattresses for the orphanage. Together, they shipped 448 sheets and 200 mattresses to Jamaica. Years later, Leighton participated in another mission to Jamaica. This time, she gathered and distributed medical supplies, including 200 toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, and 99 handmade dresses that were made or collected by members of Sew Blessed Ministry.

Leighton leaves behind three sons, Steven and his wife, Wendy, and their children, Sarah and Carly, of Webster, Mass.; John and his wife, Kate, and their children, Jacob and Amelia, of North Attleboro, Mass.; and Gregg and his wife, Lisa, and their children, Allison, Andrew and Jack, of Shrewsbury, Mass.

She also leaves behind five siblings: brothers Germain Bolduc of Salisbury, Mass., and Raymond Bolduc and his wife, Peggy, of Auburn, N.H., as well as sisters Linette Dostie of Waterville, Rita Fortin and her husband, Gerald, of Benton, and Lorainne Richardson of Palmyra. She also leaves behind an army of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her husband and brothers Reginald, Guy and Claude Bolduc, and a sister, Huguette Sullivan.

A funeral mass was held for Leighton Thursday at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Brunswick.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sew Blessed Ministry in care of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, All Saints Parish, 132 McKeen St., Brunswick, ME 04011.

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