Jane was born in Ottawa September 1, 1875 and was the daughter of Elizabeth Pennell and James McNamara. Jane was a hairdresser. She died May 5, 1961 in Haileybury, Ontario.
Jane married William John Keech, son of Edwin James Keech and Elizabeth Forsey, all of England, on April 22, 1896, in Ewen, Michigan. William was a Butcher. The Keech’s arrived in Quebec City July 1, 1883. The Captain (Molson) had a farm at Sherbrooke and hired William, who stayed with the Molson family for two years. Then he moved to the U.S., meeting up with his brothers, George and Henry. William worked on river drives and lumber camps before finally opening his own business.
I have a lot of detail on Jane because her daughter was Myrtle Connolly who was an avid genealogist and family historian.
Jane was great friends with my grandmother, Alice Pennell (Smith). Even though my grandmother was Jane’s aunt, they were close to the same age.
Jane and William had 11 children:
| NAME | BORN | DIED | OCC | NOTES |
| Lester William (Sgt.) | 1897 (MI) | 1957 (ON) | Railroad Engineer | Served in WWI in 228th Reg., m. Eva McChesney, died from blood clot from prior car accident, had one son Willian Albert Keech, M.D.** (see photo below) |
| Edwin James | 1899 (WI) | 1975 (ON) | Machin./Farmer | m. May Shortt |
| Foster George | 1901 (WI) | 1901 | ||
| William John | 1902 (WI) | 1925 (ON) | Fireman ONR | 6′ 2″ – car went through ice on Lake Nipissing |
| Forsey Pennell | 1904 (WI) | 1905 (WI) | ||
| Gordon Forester | 1906 (ON) | m. Glenna Smith | ||
| Henry Albert | 1908 (ON) | m. & div. Edna Gibson, had one dau. Ilene Keech | ||
| Myrtle Elizabeth | 1911 (ON) | Hairdresser | Twin, weighed 2lb. 8oz., m. Cecil Connolly, Children: Mary, William, Ronald & Shirley; of note, Shirley had triplets in 1967 | |
| Ivy Jane | 1911 (ON) | 1912 (ON) | Twin – weighed 2 lbs 4 oz | |
| George Stewart | 1913 (ON) | 1981 (ON) | Auto Parts Mgr. | d. of Cancer, m. Mabel Watson, Children: Howard, John (Major), Barbara, Constance. |
| Mabel Evelyn | 1914 (ON) | Hairdresser | m. Clarence Connolly |
There is a lot of information in my postings about the Pennells and the Crews where I give credit to Myrtle Connolly. Myrtle is Elizabeth Pennell’s granddaughter and Jane McNamara’s daughter.
