Jane Ellen White

Jane Ellen White, cherished grandmother, mother, aunt, and friend, age 73, of Indianapolis, Indiana, died peacefully with her children by her side on August 8, 2026, after an extended illness caused by a degenerative neurological disease. She was born at Methodist Hospital on February 5, 1953, to Roberta and Henry White.

Jane spent her childhood in Irvington, where her father was the pastor of Irvington United Methodist Church and her mother was active in the neighborhood and church community. Jane graduated from Warren Central High School in 1971. She lived with her mother in a two-bedroom apartment as she put herself through college, graduating from IUPUI in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in philosophy. She was admitted to law school but chose to begin her career rather than continue her education.

She worked for the State of Indiana in the Department of Administration as the Assistant to the Commissioner (and her dear mentor), Orville Lundy. For her work with the state planning the Statehouse renovation and the reinvention of the downtown Indianapolis canal, she was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Robert D. Orr, which was, at the time, the highest civilian honor granted in Indiana. In 1989, Jane paused her career to be home with her children.

Jane lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana; Livonia, Michigan; and finally, Indianapolis, Indiana, while raising her children, Rob and Sarah. She was part of the parent community of Washington Township Schools, where she played an active role within her children’s schools' parent-teacher organizations. In 2003, she began working for Washington Township Schools as the Registrar at North Central High School. She retired in 2019, having spent 16 years as a fixture in the school’s front office, where she made everyone feel seen and loved, including her children, who attended the school and visited her office frequently.

Jane was kindness personified. She was raised in a different age, taught to be courteous and ladylike, but had no air of pretentiousness. She was a mother to many more than her own children, providing comfort and love to neighbors and her children's friends. To them, she was not just the mom of their friend; she was their friend as well. She was like a second mom to her nieces and nephews, and became the family matriarch in 2012 when both her beloved sister and sister-in-law died.

Jane taught her children what it meant to be a graciously flawed human being—someone who was both intimately aware of their character defects and worked tirelessly to grow past them. She raised her children in an environment free of stigma, wherein they knew she loved them just as they were. She taught them not to fear their differences, not to hide in shame of mental health struggles, to talk about the important things, and that it was okay to not always be okay. She was willing to be in the mess of life.

Jane died 23 years sober. It was the greatest gift she ever gave herself and her children, and she showed them that recovery can be passed down within families. Jane adored the recovery community in which she was engaged, and her children specifically want to thank this community for decades of support.

In her final three years of life, Jane needed consistent care. She spent two years living with her son, Rob, in his home and one year living at Harrison Terrace Memory Care. In 2023, Jane became a grandmother to her namesake, Daisy Jane, whom she cherished deeply despite their too-short time together. Daisy replaced Sarah and Rob at the top of life’s joys for Jane.

Her children would like to thank the innumerable people who helped Jane, and they owe a debt of gratitude to the staff of Harrison Terrace who cared for her so well. Rob and Sarah would specifically like to thank Jenny Swim, Mae and Lacey Rood, Jordan O’Brien, Logan Hill, Erin and Jim Darling, Bethany Stewart, Steve Egan, and Christine Hudson, who supported Jane and Rob without ceasing during the time she lived with Rob.

She is survived by her children, Rob Bunner and Sarah Jane Allison (Dylan); her granddaughter, Daisy Jane Allison; half-sister, Dawn White-Rivera. She was Aunt Janie to Jennifer Hynek, Melissa Keeland (Kleat), Jonathan Gibson (Traci), Andrea Hausz, Brian White (Emily), Ric White, Tim Arnold (Alejandro), David Arnold (Alyse), and William Arnold. She was a great-aunt to Chelsea Dobbs (Steven), Madison Lumpkins (Andy), Steven Arnold, Gavin and Jada Hausz, Benson Hynek, Ella, Rollin, and Dylan White, and Makenna, Maison, Maverick, and Macie Gibson.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Roberta White; father, Henry White; brother, Rollin White; sister, Judi Gibson; brother-in-law, Jim Gibson; and sister-in-law, Rosalie Parnell.

Services will be held at Fountain Square Cremation & Funeral Services, 1420 Prospect Street, Indianapolis, IN 46203. The viewing will begin at 10:00 AM with a funeral service starting at 12:00 PM, immediately followed by a procession to Washington Park East Cemetery for burial. Jane will be buried next to her sister, brother, mother, and sister-in-law.

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