Jane Crowley

Jane Louise “J’Lu” Crowley, age 73 of Bloomington, IL, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 15, 2025, in the home she loved after a long and difficult battle with cancer.

Jane was born May 15, 1952, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Jacob Randolph and Mary Jane (Picard) Pursell. She graduated from Peoria Limestone High School and attended Western Illinois University, where she met Dennis “Denny” Crowley, whom she married on June 17, 1978, in Macomb. Jane shared a marriage to be admired with her beloved husband, building a home filled with warmth, laughter, and a shared love of sports, especially when it came to cheering for their favorite Illinois teams (go Cubs go! Da Bears!).

Jane loved life, especially the life she built with her loving and devoted husband. She loved all things living and was especially proud of her three children. She loved music, especially the beautiful sounds made by her eldest son, Josh. She delighted in talking about nature with her daughter Jessie, who is working to save the world one frog at a time or one young mind at a time as a biology and environmental science teacher. She loved creating and working with her hands, and especially admired the accomplishments and craftsmanship of her son, Terry, as he tends to essential repairs and improvements that make a house feel like home. Jane was full of love and had an endless supply of smiles and hugs for everyone. A devoted homemaker, Jane found her greatest joy in being a mother and grandmother. She was, without question, her children’s and grandchildren’s number one fan—cheering for every dream and standing proudly by their sides.

Jane’s unparalleled creativity used a diverse range of media, from sewing, jewelry, embroidery, decoupage, and crocheting. Jane relished the opportunity to teach her skills to others as much as she loved putting inspiration into action. Jane spent some of her happiest times teaching others her craft with the ladies at the Sewing Studio. Her generosity extended beyond her circle, sewing blankets for local animal rescue organizations to honor her beloved rescue dog, Laya, and creating thousands of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic to help keep her community safe.

Jane’s legacy is one of love, creativity, and devotion—values she passed on to her family and all who knew her. She will be deeply missed by her husband, Dennis; three children, Josh (Kate) Crowley, Chicago, Jessie (David Maia) Crowley, Princeton, TX and Terry (Jessica) Crowley, Bloomington; two grandchildren, Abby and Alex Crowley; one brother, Jacob “Bud” (Lorrie) Pursell, Peoria; two sisters, Pam Demmin, Melbourne, IA and Karen (Tom Robinson) Pursell, Bloomington; many nieces and nephews as well as countless friends and loved ones whose lives she touched.

Her funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, August 22, 2025, at St. Patrick Catholic Church of Merna, Bloomington, with Rev. Ben Schoonmaker officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 21, 2025, at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington. The family invites you to honor her by wearing something she would have surely complemented, a favorite pattern or fabric that might have inspired one of the many quilts she loved to design.

The family also requests that donations be made to The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee in lieu of flowers. To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.