Obituary of Jane Blakeley Pokorny

Jane Blakeley Pokorny passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on February 14, 2026, in Somers, New York, where she had resided for more than twenty-five years. She was formerly a long-time resident of Scarsdale, New York.

Jane was born on April 28, 1937, in Oakland, California, and raised in Floral Park, New York. She attended Sewanhaka High School before continuing her education at Pratt Institute, where she graduated with an industrial design degree.  Her career shifted toward architectural interior planning and design with an emphasis on project management and implementation.

Jane was known for her incredible attention to detail and her boundless creativity. She had a remarkable gift for designing spaces that were both functional and beautiful, creating appealing environments in offices and homes alike. Her work reflected not only technical skill but also an artist’s eye and a deep understanding of how people live and work.

While at Pratt Institute, Jane first crossed paths with her future husband, Joseph. After their graduation, they would later re-connect at Belleayre Ski Mountain and were married on May 23, 1965. It was when they moved into their first home together in Scarsdale, she discovered what would become a lifelong passion: woodworking.

Jane shared this passion generously with others. At Breezemont Day Camp in Armonk, New York, she instructed countless campers in woodworking, guiding them in building their own projects and instilling in them the pride and excitement that comes from creating something by hand. Her patience, encouragement, and enthusiasm left a lasting impression on many young lives.

Blending her love of woodworking with her entrepreneurial spirit, Jane founded The Brown Bag Workshop, a business through which she sold pre-cut woodworking projects for children to assemble themselves. Through this venture, she empowered young builders to discover creativity, confidence, and craftsmanship.

Her greatest joy, however, was supporting her family from the sport sidelines. She proudly cheered on her sons, where she was known as their most loyal and enthusiastic fan. In later years, she carried that same spirit forward, devoting herself to attending and cheering at her grandchildren’s games whenever she could, celebrating every moment alongside them.

Jane is survived by her devoted husband, Joseph, of Somers, New York; her sons, Jason (Pamela) and John (Keri), both of Darien, Connecticut; and her six grandchildren, Hudson, Steven, Griffin, Sean, Brady, and Cameron; along with her beloved dog, Rhett.

Jane instilled in her sons a guiding belief: “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.” That belief remains a lasting part of her legacy, guiding her family and inspiring generations that follow. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

A memorial service will be held at Clark Associates Funeral Home, 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah, New York,

on Wednesday, February 25 from 3:00–6:00 p.m. 

NOTE: DATE OF MEMORIAL VISITATION HAS CHANGED DUE TO WINTER STORM.

In lieu of flowers, Jane's family requests that donations be made to the Connecticut Humane Society using the following link:  https://cthumane.org/about-chs/?form=chswebsite.