March 2, 1951 – June 1, 2025
Jayne Elizabeth Gould—known by many as Jayne Pellegrini—passed away peacefully on June 1, 2025, at the age of 74. A woman of quick wit, fierce love, and unapologetic creativity, Jayne lived her life with laughter, flair, and an open heart.
Born to Joyce and Clayton Gould, Jayne grew up with a love of people, conversation, and beautiful chaos. She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her beloved sister, Beverly Haave. Jayne was twice married—first to Tom McMakin, with whom she raised three daughters, and later to Doug Pellegrini, whose name she carried into her next chapter.
Jayne built her career in public service, working for both the Internal Revenue Service and the Washington State Department of Children and Families. But it was in the world of food, wine, and community where she truly came alive. She opened her own restaurant, Pellegrini’s, first in West Seattle and later on Vashon Island, bringing warmth, flavor, and the best spaghetti sauce you’ve ever tasted to everyone who walked through her doors. Her catering work and partnerships with Yakima Valley wineries allowed her to blend her love for hospitality with her passion for connection.
Jayne was endlessly social. She cherished her Bunco and Pinochle groups, found joy in good conversation, and could light up a room with her laughter — often at her own expense. She never met a stranger, and she never forgot a friend.
Above all else, Jayne adored her grandchildren. Alena, Sydney, Grace, Henry, and Pippa — and Alena’s daughter, Jayne’s great-granddaughter, Estellise — were the lights of her life. No matter her health or the day’s challenges, they could always bring a smile to her face.
In her later years, Jayne bravely faced the realities of dementia, a journey that, in its own unique way, became a time of reflection, memory, and storytelling. From high school to motherhood, restaurant openings to late-night card games, she brought her daughters — GerriAnne (McMakin) Luensmann, Elizabeth (McMakin) Dickey, and Angela McMakin — on a vivid walk through her past. Each daughter, alongside their spouses and partners (Matt Luensmann, JJ Dickey, and Todd Bishopp), carries forward a unique piece of her story.
Jayne believed in the strength of family and the unbreakable bond between sisters. She reminded her daughters often that while parents pass on, the love between siblings endures.
Jayne’s legacy is a living one, found in the recipes shared across tables, the laughter of her grandchildren, and the countless stories she told (and retold) with heart. Every person who crossed her path left a mark—and in her final year, she remembered them all.
A private celebration of life will be held by her family. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you gather your loved ones, serve something delicious, and toast to a life lived boldly, with love.
