Jane Ellen Opra

Jane Ellen Opra, 56, of Decatur, Michigan, passed away in her home on October 8, 2024, surrounded by her family. 

Jane was born to Judy (Hollenbeck) Elam and John Elam on April 1, 1968. She attended Decatur Public Schools where she was an athlete playing softball and basketball and served as class president. 

After graduation, Jane attended South Seminole Community College in Longwood, Florida and, following in her mother’s footsteps, became a registered nurse. She began her nursing career at Borgess Medical Center in 1992, where she worked for over 30 years. Jane started in the neuro pulmonary unit but spent the last 18 years of her career working in neurocritical care (NCU), which was her passion. She was also an active member of the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) and, toward the end of her career, served as a union delegate.

Jane's love of nursing was obvious to all who had the privilege of working with or being cared for by her. In 2022, she was honored with The DAISY Award, which celebrates "extraordinary nurses." These accolades came as no surprise to those who knew her, as she made it a point to recognize the dignity of all in her care. She would often go out of her way to engage with a patient's loved ones too — whether that was through answering their questions or making small talk about their lives and interests. Jane was a people person. 

In addition to being highly regarded by her patients, Jane was appreciated by her colleagues. She was known for her generosity; bringing in delicious food to potlucks, gifts for special occasions, and, at Christmas, giving goodies like ornaments, Chex Mix, and thumbprint cookies. Even during her most recent surgery, she special-ordered raspberry Godiva bars for the staff. While she joked it was a "bribe for good care," it was another example of her giving nature. If she loved you, you often had a gift or treat to prove it.

Her time at Borgess introduced her to her husband, Steven Opra of Kalamazoo. Steve was immediately drawn to Jane's charisma, and thanks to some good luck (and the arrival of a baby they wanted to adopt), they married on May 18, 1996. They adopted that baby, Marilla, that November, and just over a year later, they adopted their son, Daniel, to complete their family.

Jane was known for many hobbies. She had a notorious green thumb; her home had over 100 plants at any given time. She was always gifting bulbs (most notably, Amaryllis) and cuttings to anyone who took interest. She had a yard filled with flowers — especially her favorite, daffodils. Her backyard oasis also had a pond and several bird baths and feeders. Her love of flowers and birds, while obvious in the summer, was equally represented at Christmastime through her extensive ornament collection. She added to this collection annually; the habit encouraged during her trips to Bronner's with coworkers. 

Jane was also an avid reader. Even after a long shift, you'd find her curled up on the couch with a book. She was incredibly sharp-witted and great at trivia. She enjoyed Jeopardy, Scrabble, Euchre, and diligently completing the daily Wordle. She was a fan of the Food Network, too. She and Steve referenced several shows while cooking, such as "Chopped", and would joke whether dinner that night was "good enough to make it to the next round." It often was; Jane was a phenomenal cook.

Additionally, Jane was a live music fan. She saw dozens of rock bands in concert, some multiple times. One of her favorite concerts was fourth-row seats to see Tom Petty. While she wouldn't describe herself as a singer, she would frequently serenade her family and pets with ad-libbed versions of popular songs. Her kids didn’t know the correct words to several classics, as her versions were catchier. 

Jane was an animal lover and had many pets over the years, from cats and dogs to chickens and peacocks. She joked about having her own petting zoo on the 10 acres on which she lived. Though a bit more reluctant to add to their pack, her co-zookeeper Steve helped her maintain the "Opra Zoo." 

Though Jane lived a vibrant life, it was far too short, and she will be dearly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents, Judy and John, her brother, Joe, her niece, Holly, and her beloved Westie, Sophie. She is survived by her husband of nearly 30 years, Steve Opra; daughter, Marilla (Thomas) Widerquist; son, Daniel (Heather Stolpe) Opra; her siblings, Jill (Todd) Hemenway, Julie (Andy) Babcock, Ryan Conway, Amy (Dan) Foster, and John Elam; her nieces and nephews, and many, many good friends whom she loved very much. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial and Cremation Services, 3926 S 9th St Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Friends and family may gather from noon until the time of the service. A reception will immediately follow. All are invited to partake in Jane’s favorites—pizza and beer.

Jane wanted a joke that there is no "in lieu of flowers" because if you knew anything about her, you'd know that flowers are appreciated. For those not of a floral inclination, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan.

To share a memory or leave a condolence for the family visit https://www.langelands.com.