MacCoubrey Funeral Home
30 King St. E., Cobourg
St. Michael's Catholic Church
379 Division St., Cobourg
St. Michael's Cemetery
Burnham Street, Cobourg
This obituary is protected by copyright by MacCoubrey Funeral Home Limited. Proudly serving Northumberland County in the province of Ontario, Canada. All rights reserved.
Jane was taken to be with our Heavenly Father on Tuesday July 29th, 2025 after a long battle with interstitial lung disease. Jane was the beloved daughter of Bernard and Joan Penney. She will be sadly missed by her siblings: Katharine McMurdo (Glenn), Margaret Bevan (Ted), Hugh Penney (Michelle), Ian Penney (Tania), Mary Ellen Henderson, brother-in-law Martin Portengen, and their children and grandchildren, as well as other family and friends. Jane was predeceased by her parents and her sister, Elizabeth Portengen.
Jane attended St. Michael’s Elementary school and CDCI West before attending the University of Toronto. She graduated in 1977 with a B.Sc. in pharmacy. She had a distinguished career as a pharmacist, manager, and franchise owner of Zellers pharmacy in Cobourg. She ran a little corner drug store in the middle of a major department store and spent many years helping and running the Zellers Moon Walk. Jane was a founding member of the Pine Ridge Pharmacists’ Association. In 1989 Jane was awarded Pharmacist of the Year by the Ontario Pharmacists Association. Jane was the first woman to receive this honour. She was recognized for her integrity, strong work ethic, and her efforts to advance the level of pharmacy practice.
Jane was a life long member of St. Michael’s parish in Cobourg where she served as a lector, eucharistic minister, usher, and choir director. She was an avid volunteer having served on the board of directors of the Cobourg YMCA and assisted residents at Streamway Villa nursing home for almost 30 years.
A tenacious, proud, loyal, and deeply caring individual Jane will be missed by those she touched through her work in the parish and outside of it. Jane believed firmly in always giving, whether this be her time, prayer, or through donation.
An animal lover Jane was devoted to the care and comfort of her pets Bessie-Mae, Paulie, and Percy, Missy Mae and Emma, along with past pets and wild animals around her home.
We wish to thank the many people who made it possible for Jane to stay at home during her illness.
Jane will be deeply missed by those who she touched throughout her lifetime.
Visitation will be held at the MacCoubrey Funeral Home, 30 King St., E., Cobourg on Wednesday August 13th from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. Anyone is welcome to attend the funeral Mass that will be celebrated at St. Michael’s Church on Thursday August 14th at 10am, followed by interment at St. Michael’s Cemetery and reception at the Columbus Centre, Spencer Street Cobourg. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Michael’s church or the charity of your choice.
Sorry to hear of Jane's passing. I remember her working at Zellers as a pharmacist and then volunteering for years every Sunday and every holiday at Streamway Villa during the evening meal. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Eve and Day she would spend extra time at the Home.She was always a great help to the staff and the residents enjoyed seeing her. Always very cautious serving our diabetics. On occasion Jane would treat us to a viewing of her parrots and would bring a few into our home. An animal whisperer to all her pets and some stray animals as well . Thank you for your service. Condolences to the Penny family. RIP Jane
Jane was a special lady. I can still see her preparing the tables for my late husband's (Eric) and my 50th anniversary party at the Columbus Centre. That was 7 years ago. Your welcoming smile and greeting at the Saturday evening Mass has been missing for a while. I am happy our Lord has taken away your pain and suffering. May you rest in peace. My sincere condolences to all the Penney family and friends.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
St. Michael's Catholic Church
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
St. Michael's Catholic Church
Sorry foy your loss of Jane. A well respected and very professional pharmacist of highest integrity in our community. Jane has dispensed her last pill. Now, an empty vial. RIP
My deepest sympathies to the Penney family. I will certainly miss our visits.
Our sincere condolences to the Penney Family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Doug and Lynn Holland
To Jane’s family- Please accept my condolences at Jane’s passing. l knew her for many years and she will be missed at Saturday night church! R IP Jane !
thoughts & prayers are with the Penney family at this time..
To Katharine and all the Penney family, I’m so sorry to hear about Jane’s passing. I was just talking to Mom a few days ago about all the fun times I had at the Penney home while growing up where I started the Axe Handles tradition. May you all have nothing but good memories of Jane to hold her close to your hearts.
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
St. Michael's Catholic Church
Sending deepest condolences to the family of Jane. Had the occasion of living on Buck Street many years ago and new the Penney family RIP
My deepest condolences the entire Penney family. I only met her a handful of times, but her love and care for her pets was touching. Her compassion for her fellow man also shone bright.
It is with deep sadness to hear of Jane’s passing .our heartfelt condolences to her family .sincerely Bob and Irene and family
My condolences to all the cousins and extended family. Jane was someone I respected and valued meeting on the all too rare occasions it was possible. I remember also that she was extremely helpful arranging communications and logistics between myself here in Japan and my family when my Mother passed away many years ago in the pre internet age when that wasn’t so easy. I’ve always been grateful to her for that. I wish I’d told her.
My condolences to all the Penney Family on the loss of Jane. She was a wonderful person and a big part of the St. Michael’s Church community. Thinking of all Jane’s family in this time of sadness.
My condolences to the family. Jane was a pharmacist classmate of mine at UofT 1977. Thoughts and Prayers to all of you. Sincerely, Sally Milian Tierney
Our condolences to all of Jane’s family. We have missed seeing Jane at No Frills, she was the sweetest, kindest woman and will remain one of our favourite customers. This is not because she brought us a huge tin of cookies at Christmas of course but that is an example of her generous giving spirit. My coworkers join me in sending our prayers and thanksgiving for her life shared with us all.
I worked at Zellers when Jane ran the Pharmacy she was a lovely person and very helpful. Sorry to hear of her passing she will be missed
I’m sending my condolences to Jane’s family and friends she was at Streamway and was very caring when my husband was there RIP Jane
I have many memories of my connection with Jane through the various ministries we shared together at St. Michael's Church. Prayers to all who loved Jane. Jane.. May our Lord receive you into his heavenly kingdom. Adriana Hayden
I am very sorry to hear that Jane has passed away. My thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time.
Jane was a great lady to know. She never changed, the same girl we attended high school with. We all knew Jane would do Great things! God Bless the family at this time RIP. Marcia Atkinson
RIP.Jane you where a great courier director and a good co worker .Jane use to come into the Zellers restaurant and get her coffee.and would sometime come in the back to asked me to get her lunch for her as she was running behind some her things things.witch I would do for her.god bless you Jane you will be missed
Condolences to Jane's family on your loss. I knew Jane as a fellow pharmacist - she was widely acknowledged to know the finer parts of pharmacy jurisprudence better than anyone else working in the area, and was always willing to share that knowledge. She was delightful to talk to - our town is richer for her life.
Our sincere condolences to all of Jane's family who I have known for many years. Jane's professional approach to her profession earned her great respect and much appreciation from her customers over the years. May She Rest In Peace. Allan and Debbie Elder
You’ll be missed.
Jane was a very strong woman and accomplished alot in her lifetime . Our daughter Rachel worked for Jane in her Zellers pharmacy during her entire high-school years . Jane was instrumental in leading Rachel to a career in Pharmacy for which I will be forever thankful. Our thoughts and prayers are with her entire family
I’m very sorry to hear of Jane’s passing. I worked with Jane at the Zellers pharmacy from 1988-1993. She was a wonderful boss and really cared for her patients. She was a big influence to me in pursuing my pharmacy career that I have enjoyed for 32 years. I remember her parents and her sisters popping in to see her there. Such a lovely family. She always spoke of her volunteering at the nursing home and her dear cat Jeffrey. She will be remembered fondly. My sincere condolences, Rachel Woods-Hannivan
Our condolences to the Penny family. May Jane rest in peace. Lois-Anne and Lois Simpson
Katharine and family We were sorry to read of Jane’s illness and passing. Know that our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Treasure the memories Sharon & Bill
I’am so sorry to read about Jane’s passing, she was an amazing person. Thanks to her help with a woman she told to she her Doctor really soon saved her life from cancer. A year later we met and she is now my wife of 25 years together. I also knew the Penny family back in 1970 ‘s very well, my condolences to you all from my family.
R.I.P. Miss Penny.
My sincere condolences to Jane’s family. May your fond memories and love surround your family.
My Condolences to you and your family Janis Coyle
So sorry for your loss. Jane and I attended pharmacy school together. We were roommates in fourth year. She was always a very good friend to me.Over the years we kept in touch, through her newsy Christmas letters which I looked forward to receiving. I last spoke to Jane on her birthday in May. She seemed in good spirits. Her deep Christian faith sustained her to the end.
Condolences to the extended Penney family. I was a classmate of Jane's at CDCI West for 5 years. She was smart, level-headed and had a kind heart. Thanks Jane for all the good things you did.
So sorry to hear of Jane's passing. Condolences to the family. May she rest in peace.
Dear Katherine, Glenn and family. Dave and I are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Sending love; Gloria and Dave
So sorry for the loss of your dear sister, Katherine & Glenn. Sincere condolences to the whole Penny family.
Sending our most deepest sympathy to all of the Penney Family on the loss of Jane.
Our condolences to all Jane’s family. She will be greatly missed by all those who loved her.
Katherine & Penney Family: Condolences on Jane's passing. Having known Jane for years she was always very friendly and always there to help in any way she could, we will miss her. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
I wanted to offer my sympathies to all the family. Sincerely - David Ashcroft.
So sorry to hear of Janes passing. My condolences to all her family
Jane was a wonderful person and will be missed RIP
My sincere condolences to the family. I remember Jane as a wonderful lad y. She will be missed
To Katherine and the Penny family. We were sorry to hear of Jane Passing. She was a special person one of a kind. Cherish all the good memories. Wendy and Rick
My sincere condolences on Jane’s passing. I have many memories especially when she worked with my husband who was the organist at St.Michaels. When John was dying she brought the choir to our home to sing Christmas carols for him and each said their farewell to him. He died about two weeks later. Farewell Jane, be at a peaceful rest.
I'm saddened to hear of Jane's passing. She could always be counted on to keep the Doctors on their toes when it came to their prescribing. My condolences to all the family.
Dear Katharine, Glenn and family I am sorry to hear of your sister Jane's death. My condolences. Anita
Dear Marg, Ted and Family. With our deepest sympathy on the loss of your sister. Although we had never met her personally, she sounds as if she was a lovely, loving person and will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Our thoughts are with you. Brenda and Ted
I will miss my time with Jane and our wonderful chats together! I was privileged to be able to serve Jane as my client and going to her home during the past year as she was unable to go out much near the last part of her journey! I was blessed to meet her beautiful babies that she loved so dearly!! Rest in peace my dear friend Jane!! I will miss you xo
For Marg and all the Penny family - our deepest condolences on the loss of your sister. Thinking of you
Dear Katharine and family, I am so sorry to hear of Jane's passing. My condolences.
My sincere condolences to Jane’s family at this difficult time. I went to CDCI West with Jane. I remember her being a very kind gentle and caring lady. I’m sure she will be sadly missed. My prayers are with you all.
Dear Penny Family. So sorry for your loss. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
So sorry to hear of the loss of such a caring person. As a pharmacist she went above and beyond and after she retired, always asked about my family. Jane, you definitely will be missed.
Our community has lost a special woman. Years ago her father started donating toys to The Giving Tree for children at Christmas. After his death in 1999, the tradition was carried on by Jane and others. Every year in the late fall, we would collect all the toys she had amassed that always filled our SUV. She started collecting on Boxing Day and even ensured that we received her donation this past May, knowing her health was poor. We send our condolences and know that many children received gifts at Christmas because of her generosity.
Sincere condolences to the Penney family on Janes passing.
So sorry for your loss. R.I.P. Jane
To the Penny family I am so sorry for your loss. Deepest condolences to everyone.
R.I.P. JANE.
I worked as Jane’s “Girl Friday” from 2010-2016. Jane was an extremely generous and caring person. I’m so sorry to see that she passed. She will be missed.
Our condolences to the Penny family knew her as a pharmacist and through our daughter A wonderful lady RIP Jane
My condolence's with the entire family, Aunt Jane will be missed. I will miss the birthday wishes from her and the birds most of all.
Jane and I swam together for years at the Y ! You have my sorrows.
Sending my condolences to Jane’s extended family at this sad time .Remembering her from her many years as the Pharmacist in Zellers ,RIP Jane
Our condolences to the Penney family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I remember Jane from both high school, and her time running Zellers Pharmacy, when I worked there. My mother always told everyone she was the best pharmacist in town and that she knew her stuff. She was always patient answering clients questions. I'm sure she will be dearly missed. Especially by her feathered and furry friends.
My condolences to all family members. My sisters and and mom lived around corner from her and parents when we all were younger known them all for years.
My condolences to the Penney Family on Jane's passing.I was very shocked to hear this.My family lived around the corner from the Penney Family when they lived on Buck Street we lived on George St. In the house oh the corner of George and Buck.My thoughts and prayers to all the Penney Family.R.I.P Jane.🙏
A Memorial Donation has been made to the following charity:
St. Michael's Catholic Church