Esther Jane Kacen

Celebrating Esther Jane Perry Kacen

On June 7, 2026, Esther Jane Kacen went to Heaven. Just days earlier she celebrated her 105th birthday with her family, fellow Residents, staff, and Sisters.

The seventh of eight children, Jane was born in Renovo, a small town in central Pennsylvania built by the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad as a midpoint along its route. Born Esther Jane Perry, she later made her way from the Pennsylvania mountains to Chicago by way of New York.

During World War II, Jane worked as a civilian metal analyst at the Amertorp Naval Ordnance Plant in Forest Park, Illinois. After the war ended in 1945, Jane attended DePaul University for two years. In 1947, she married Norbert Kaczynski, whose surname was later changed to Kacen. Together they raised six children and shared 23 years of marriage before his death in 1970.

Jane’s Catholic faith was central to her life. She was an early member of the Christian Family Movement at St. Viator Parish. All her children attended Catholic grade school, and her daughters went on to Catholic high school. She volunteered at Catholic Charities. She also served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Genevieve Parish, volunteered at the Frances Cabrini Shrine at Columbus Hospital, and belonged to a prayer group for more than 45 years.

While raising her children, Jane built a varied professional career, including research work for NORC at the University of Chicago. Her curiosity never faded; she continued exploring subjects such as early childhood development and psychology and eventually earned an associate degree from Wilbur Wright College. “My mom always helped us with our homework,” said Kathy Kacen. “She believed in and practiced lifelong learning.” That love of learning clearly influenced her children, several of whom earned advanced degrees.

Jane had 6 children, 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Through journals and scrapbooks, Jane carefully documented her life, preserving treasured family history and countless personal memories in photographs that spanned decades.

Jane was a resident of St Mary’s Home for over 14 years and enjoyed the care and hospitality of the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Family and friends will meet Friday, June 12, 2026, at Little Sisters of the Poor Chicago - St. Mary’s Home, 2325 N. Lakewood Ave., Chicago, IL 60614 for a 9:30 a.m. Visitation followed by a 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers donations to Little Sisters of the Poor Chicago - St. Mary’s Home, 2325 N. Lakewood Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, 773-935-9600, www.littlesistersofthepoorchicago.org.

For further information please call Michalik Funeral Home at 312-421-0936.