Jane Aylor Fretz, 84, of Allentown, died May 27, 2024, peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of Glenn E. Fretz for 48 years. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late James L. and Ruth (Stever) Aylor.

She grew up in Huntington, W.Va. and graduated from Huntington High School and Marshall University. She completed her master’s degree in fine arts through Cedar Crest College’s Pan-European MFA program in creative writing. She wrote a memoir titled “The Story of Bug; A Memoir of Resilience.”

She and her family moved to Emmaus in 1967 and she became involved in the community and the schools her children attended. In 1982, she led the formation of Support Teens of East Penn, a parent’s support group that raised awareness about the use of drugs and alcohol by young people. STEP was the first parent organization to establish the all-night after-ball party for graduating high school seniors in the Lehigh Valley. In 1993 she was elected to the East Penn School Board, serving two four-year terms. During her tenure, she was awarded the School Service Award for her work on the Lehigh County Vocational Technical School. In 1985, she received the Community Service Award from the Lehigh Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa and was presented the PA Citizenship Award by the Sertoma Club of Easton in 1990. In 1991 she accepted a position with Lutheran Brotherhood, later Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, as a regional fraternal trainer and marketing specialist. She retired in 2003.

In 2004, she accepted a volunteer position as a court appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children placed in foster care. She served on the board of The Wellness Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley, which later became The Cancer Support Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

She had a passion for social justice, was a community activist and her love of animals was well-known, her dogs being especially dear to her.

She and her husband served on the pastoral care team of The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, Emmaus. She was a member of the Allentown Art Museum Society of the Arts since 1968; recently she served on the board of The Wildlands Conservancy.

Her husband, who called her Lady Jane, remembers the depth of her courage; her generosity and caring; her beautiful smile and infectious laugh.

She is survived by her husband; sons, James Scandola, of Houston, Texas; John Scandola and his wife, Cassidy, of Seattle, Wash.; daughters, JoAnn (Joni) Scandola, of Silver Spring, Md., Julie Scandola and her husband, Douglas Proctor, of Stuarts Draft, Va., Meredith Merino and her husband, Stephen, of Media; stepdaughter, Gwen Reed and her husband, Calvin, of Buckeye, Ariz.; 19 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; former husband, Vernon Scandola; nieces and nephews.

Contributions may be made to Peaceable Kingdom or The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, 3461 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., Emmaus. Arrangements were made by the Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, Emmaus.