HERKIMER - Jane C. Gilbert, 79, of Gray Street, passed away Tuesday, April 3, 2001, in Faxton Hospital, Utica, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born June 16, 1921, in Herkimer, daughter of the late Eugene and Mary Hamilton Cress. A lifelong Herkimer resident, she was first educated in St. Francis de Sales School, then went on to Herkimer High School, where she graduated with the "Class of 1939." On July 6, 1946, she married George E. Gilbert Jr. in St. Francis de Sales Church, Herkimer by the Rev. Thomas DiPace. During World War II, Jane worked as a secretary for the Remington Arms Co., Ilion. Later she became the registrar of vital statistics for the village of Herkimer and was last employed as the law library clerk in the Herkimer County Surrogate's Office, retiring in 1986. She was a member of St. Francis de Sales Church, Herkimer, the Crowley-Barnum American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 25, Mohawk, a life member of the Association of Law Libraries of Upstate New York, the Herkimer County Women's Republican Club and for more than 30 years served as an election inspector. Surviving are her husband of 54 years, George; four daughters, Cynthia Lynch of Geneva, Karen Gilbert of Livermore, Calif., Mary Ellyn and her husband Steven Levy of Woodridge and Mary Ann Gilbert of Herkimer; four grandchildren, Karen, Brian and Douglas Lynch and Michael Jon Levy; two sisters-in-law, B.J. Cross of Deltona, Fla. and Valerie Gilbert of Cicero; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Cress Jr. and brother-in-law, Donald Gilbert. Funeral from Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court St., Herkimer, will be on Saturday at 10 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. in St. Francis de Sales Church, Herkimer. The Rev. Mark Cunningham, pastor, will officiate. Interment will be on Monday at 1 p.m. in Oak Hill Cemetery. The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Friday from 4 until 8 p.m. Members of the Crowley-Barnum American Legion Post 25 Ladies Auxiliary are asked to meet at the funeral home at 6:45 p.m. Friday for services at 7 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.