WILLIAMSBURG - Jane R. VanAken, 76, wife of John VanAken and mother of John III, David and Andy VanAken, died on October 22, 2016. She was born in Washington, PA on February 17, 1940, the daughter of Dr. Paul and Evelyn Riggle. She graduated Goucher College in Towson, MD where she received a BA in Biology. She then worked at the Pepper Laboratory at the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania. She married John on September 22, 1962 and they spent their first two years of marriage at Fort Lewis, WA where their oldest son was born on their second wedding anniversary. In 1965 Jane and John moved to Holden, MA where their sons David and Andy were born. While in Holden she raised her family and worked in the Holden Public School System teaching special needs children. While working as a teacher, she attended Assumption College where she received a Masters in Education. After raising their family in Holden, MA they moved to San Carlos, CA in 1989 and lived in the San Francisco Bay area for eleven years. She graduated from the International Tour Management Institute in San Francisco and became a local tour guide. In 2000 they did a nationwide search for the "perfect" place to retire and found it here in Williamsburg. They lived in Governor's Land for fifteen years and recently moved to the Williamsburg Landing. She is survived by her husband, son John currently in Kabul, Afghanistan, David and Kathleen, Charlotte, NC, Andy and Annalisa of Sherman Oaks CA, and sister Susan and Lloyd Raupp of Charlottesville, VA and seven grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, 215 Richmond Rd., on Monday October 31, 2016 at 11:00 AM. In her memory, donations can be made to organizations important to the donor. Online condolences may be offered at www.nelsencares.com.