Jayne Annette Humbert, 80, of Syracuse, passed on to her next life on March 7, 2026 following a gritty 9 month battle with neuroendocrine carcinoma. Her death was preceded by a busy week of visits from family and friends from near and far.

Jayne leaves behind her three brothers: John, Richard, and Alan; their wives Marte, Raini, and Laurie; and her nieces and nephews Katie, Rebecca, Sean, Lindsay, Michael, and Benjamin and their families. She also leaves her cherished friends from University United Methodist Church in Syracuse, the Sri Chinmoy Meditation Centre, and the Dewitt Democratic Committee.

Jayne was born in 1945 to Hazel (Petree) and John Humbert in Auburn, NY. She spoke French before she learned English. She was raised in Throop and graduated as class valedictorian from Port Byron High School in 1963. She played first clarinet in the high school band and marched with the band at firemen’s field days all over Cayuga county. Jayne graduated from Park College in Missouri in 1967 with a degree in French and Spanish and studied French education at graduate school at the University of Wisconsin. She earned a master’s degree in school psychology from Syracuse University and later studied marriage and family counseling there.

In her younger years Jayne led wilderness canoe trips. Later, she was president of the local chapter of the American Youth Hostel and took several long distance bicycle trips with them, including all the way to Boston. She worked as the houseparent at their hostel at Tibbetts Point light house in the Thousand Islands in the summers of 1991 and 1992.

Jayne worked in various school districts as a licensed school psychologist, performing evaluations, counseling students, and advocating for services until 1993. Following her retirement she was a private tutor for many years.

Jayne was also busy with many other activities. At the University United Methodist Church, Jayne was a quiet pillar in the church community. She participated in, and often led, meditation groups, Soup and Sermon, and Spiritfilm, among other activities. For four decades, she sang soprano in the choir, where she was affectionately known as “queen of the descants.” Jayne researched the church’s historic stained glass windows, produced a brochure about them, and conducted tours describing their construction and the bible stories they depict. She helped refugees settle into their new lives in Syracuse.

Jayne was active with the Sri Chinmoy Meditation Centre community, where she participated in meditations and festivals at their headquarters in Jamaica, NY. She regularly drove to Ontario to attend the Kingston Centre’s Wednesday night meditations and to sing with other Centre members. She often brought with her 50 pounds of less expensive U.S. butter for the Centre restaurant run by her Kingston friends. Jayne traveled the world for many years with other devotees, visiting and meditating in far flung places from Bali to Madeira.

Jayne was also deeply involved in local Democratic politics and other liberal causes. She did not simply attend meetings, but was often the first to step forward and ask, "What can I do?" and she would take on any needed task, large or small. She was a fierce organizer and trained scores of other volunteers. She worked tirelessly for voter registration, setting up registration tables at the Syracuse bus depot and at health centers, and she canvassed neighborhoods for candidates. She traveled to Pennsylvania to work on the Obama campaigns and made phone calls to voters in “red” states. In May 2025, Jayne was honored with a Volunteer “Exceptional Woman of CNY” award by Assemblymember Pamela Hunter.

Jayne worked tirelessly throughout her life to make the world a better place. We know her influence will carry on and her presence will be felt forever by those who knew and loved her.

Donations in her memory and honor can be made to her favorite charities: University United Methodist Church, Sri Chinmoy Center, Planned Parenthood, the League of Women Voters, public radio and tv, or the Syracuse Orchestra (formerly Symphonia).

A memorial service will be held June 27, 2026 at University United Methodist Church.  Check back here for service time.