Margaret "Jane" Fortun

Margaret “Jane” (Fleming) Fortun, 84, of Lawrence, KS, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2026, surrounded by her loving family at LMH.

Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Patrick and Frances (Bergeron) Fleming. She raised her three children in Norton, MA and then later moved to Lawrence, KS in 1992 to be near her daughter and grandchildren.

“Jane” was an active member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Lawrence, KS.

She was a life-long horse lover, riding since the age of 8 and bought her first horse at the age of 16 from ironing clothes, cleaning horse stalls and babysitting for neighbors. Plein-air painting was her other passion. She won regional awards over the years and worked in private and corporate collections across the country. Her one joy was attending the Valley Lane Life Drawing class. Many days were spent outdoors enjoying nature and taking long walks by her rural home. You could spot her outside placing bowls of water for frogs on hot summer days or sheltering stray cats.

Jane attended Butera School of Art in Boston, MA, took classes at RISD in Providence, RI, and took workshops throughout the country. She worked as a Free-lance artist in multiple businesses - was an Interior Designer/Sales Representative at Roitman and Son, Inc. in Providence, RI - was a floor salesperson at Bud Jennings Carpet One in Lawrence, KS and retired working part-time at Chico’s clothing store in Lawrence, KS.

She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Jane is survived by her daughter Stephanie Ghioni and husband David of MA, her son Christopher Fortun and wife Karen of OH, grandchildren; Zachary Schulz, Valerie Schulz, and Noah Lister, Catherine Fortun Johnson, Matthew Fortun; great-grandmother of Savannah Johnson and Avery Johnson. Jane was the loving mother of her late son Mark Fortun of NC. She was a sister to the late Phyllis Magee, Dick Fleming and Paul Fleming of MA.

The echo of her joyful spirit will stay in our hearts forever.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 20th at 11:00 AM at

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1234 Kentucky Street, Lawrence, KS –

Lunch will be provided following mass in the basement.