It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Jane Aline Gonzalez, born on July 11, 1943, in Berkeley, California, to Kary Kirby Taylor and Lois Lilly Taylor. Jane, aged 81, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2025.
Jane’s early years were marked by her spirited and adventurous nature. A self-proclaimed tomboy, she graduated from Berkeley High School in 1960, a semester ahead of her peers, fueled by her desire for independence. In her early adulthood, Jane experienced love and loss, marrying first to Shelly and later, in December 1967, to Santiago Acosta Gonzalez III. Together, they had three children: Constance, Mercedez, and Santiago IV.
While living in San Francisco, the Gonzalez family was displaced by urban development, prompting their move to Pleasant Hill, California, where they purchased their first home in 1973. In 1976, tragedy struck when Jane became a widow after the sudden death of her beloved Santiago.
As a single mother, Jane was fiercely determined to provide for and support her children. She sold the family’s Pleasant Hill home and relocated to Walnut Creek in 1980, where she proudly purchased a home in the San Miguel development. Alongside her family responsibilities, Jane was a resolute professional, working for the City of Concord, Cigna, and UC Berkeley’s Office of the President. During these years, she also earned her bachelor’s degree from Holy Names College, further demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning.
In later years, after her children had grown, Jane moved to El Sobrante and embraced her role as a grandmother. She became a proud grandmother in 1999 to Speranza Gonzalez and Allen "AJ" Goodlow, and she cherished her time spent with them. Jane maintained an active social lifestyle, enjoying traveling, attending concerts, and specially making memories at the Monterey Jazz Festival each year.
Jane is survived by her younger brother, Dr. Kary K. Taylor (Chiara Taylor), her nephews Perren and Flynn, her daughters Constance Gonzalez-Hall (Sean Hall) and Mercedez Gonzalez, and her cherished grandchildren: Speranza Gonzalez, Allen Goodlow Jr., Santiago Gonzalez V, Brianna Gonzalez, Samir Hall, and Consetta Gonzalez.
Jane's love, resilience, and zest for life will forever be remembered by all who knew her. She leaves behind a lasting legacy of strength, love, and the pursuit of new challenges.
A memorial service for Jane will be held on Friday February 28, 2025, at McCune Garden Chapel, Vacaville CA beginning at 5:00-8:00pm. Interment will be at Rolling Hills Cemetery in Richmond, CA in the weeks to follow.
