Rev. Jane Catherine Heisner Waddington

Rev. Jane Waddington completed this earthly life peacefully on October 28, 2025 with her usual humor and humility and with a new sense of surrender.

Jane was a devoted daughter, sister of Shy and Judy, Mother of JoMary, Jonathan, Jennifer, Grandmother of Samantha, Matisse, Remi, Alexis, sister, friend, Unity minister, student of Sathya Sai Baba, counselor, traveler, visual artist, educator and so much more. We are deeply thankful for this adventurous,  full and completed  life, lived with love given generously, faith made real, and the hope of community united in Spirit.

Jane was born in Chester Pennsylvania on May 1, 1937. She answered the call to ministry while working in Unity of Oak Park,  Illinois and was ordained from Unity seminary in 1977. Jane has had a major impact on humanity, the  Unity movement and global, spiritual education through a faithful following of her vocation  of spiritual service and teaching:

* Serving  congregations in Illinois, Nebraska, Georgia, Missouri, New Mexico, Washington, and more
* Serving as the head of the counseling department for Unity Village international headquarters, and as the Chair of  Counseling at Unity Seminary, inspiring thousands of ministers, employees, retreatants,  students, licensed teachers
*  Working in the larger community of each place she served to advocate for inclusive and transformative practices, interfaith respect and cooperation.
*Serving as a U.S. embassy liaison in southern India as a student, and member of the ashram of Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi, India

Jane lived and taught the human values taught by Unity and these taught by her teacher Sai Baba.

1. Truth (Sathya) – Living with honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
2. Right Conduct (Dharma) – Acting ethically and responsibly in all areas of life.
3. Peace (Shanti) – Cultivating inner calm and mental discipline through meditation and self-control.
4. Love (Prema) – Expressing unconditional love toward all beings.
5. Nonviolence (Ahimsa) – Living with compassion, avoiding harm in thought, word,

Sai Baba emphasized that all faiths are paths to the same God:

“There is only one religion—the religion of love.
There is only one language—the language of the heart.
There is only one God—omnipresent.”

Selfless Service (Seva) 

The summary of this teaching is:

Love all.   Serve all.  Help ever.  Hurt never

It has been a wild ride over many continents, diverse people, varied living environments , influenced by Catholicism, Quakers, American Friends Service Committee and social action, Ottawa University, Christianity, metaphysical Christianity, Great Camp Sagamore, Unity Village, Unity Worldwide Ministries, Sai Baba Ashram in Puttaparthi India, living in Lee’s Summit Missouri.

Jane has left us a lasting legacy of compassionate leadership, humor, humility, calm wisdom in pastoral care, success and failure, empowering others to lead lives of Truth and courage.

She is an exemplar of the principles of love, service, and spiritual awakening.

May Jane’s  life be an inspiration for us to live our callings  with purpose, compassion, open hearts.

A service for Jane will be held on Sunday, November 9th -1:00pm central time at Fillmore Chapel, Unity Village, Lee’s Summit, Mo. In lieu of flowers please commit to doing acts of love, compassion and kindness.

“At the center of All Love we stand, and nothing can disturb us.  We go forth from this place and this knowing to love and to serve.”