RIP Jane Russell, pro-lifer: In lieu of flowers, donate to pregnancy care center
UPDATE 3/3, 3:20a: Matthew Balan at NewBusters.com reports that while ABC News mentioned Jane Russell’s botched abortion as a teen, it failed to mention that the incident converted her into a staunch pro-lifer.
3/2, 4:44a: I had no idea Jane Russell was pro-life. How sweet. I might add that a multitude of post-abortive mothers could testify today to being rendered infertile by legal back alley abortions. From the Boston Globe, March 1:
Jane Russell, the busty brunette who shot to fame as the sexy star of Howard Hughes’ 1941 Western The Outlaw, died Monday of respiratory failure, her family said. She was 89.
Although Russell largely retired from Hollywood after her final film, 1970’s Darker Than Amber, she had remained active in her church, with charitable organizations and with a local singing group until her health began to decline just a couple weeks ago…. She died at her home in Santa Maria….
Despite her mother’s Christian preachings, young Jane had a wild side. She wrote in her 1985 autobiography, My Paths and Detours, that during high school she had a back-alley abortion, which may have rendered her unable to bear children….
She was the leader of the Hollywood Christian Group, a cluster of film people who gathered for Bible study and good works. After experiencing problems in adopting her 3 children, she founded World Adoption International Agency, which has helped facilitate adoptions of more than 40,000 children from overseas….
“Without faith, I never would have made it,” she commented a few months after her third husband’s death. “I don’t know how people can survive all the disasters in their lives if they don’t have any faith, if they don’t know the Lord loves them and cares about them and has another plan.”…
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in her name to either the Care Net Pregnancy and Resource Center of Santa Maria or the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Barbara County.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
I heard this news also this morning. Jane finished life well - prolife, with the LORD on her side.
She is kind of like Bernard Nathanson in a sense. She killed her own child, but spent the rest of her life trying to help save other children. Rest in peace.
I understand that actress Gloria Swanson also had an abortion she deeply regretted.
Actress Judy Garland was pressured to have an abortion at the age of 19 by her husband, mother, and studio head. She very much wanted the baby and would remain bitter about this the remainder of her life, which was plagued with drugs, alcohol, and personal tragedy. When she was pregnant with Liza Minelli, she snidely commented that she finally had permission to have a baby.
They just don’t make Hollywood beauties like they used to.
Mary, Judy Garland was herself almost aborted. The medical student who talked her mother out of it became a doctor and remained Judy’s friend till the end of her life.
At the time her mother was pregnant, the family had hit financial hard times, the kind of times that people like CC think are permanent. People can get past hard times.
Ninek, I read Judy’s biography and was surprised to learn her mother had wanted to abort her. Judy’s abortion led to great depression and to her alcoholism. She didn’t want the abortion and was coerced by family and the studio.
I was thinking of the reunion of Jane with her child in heaven and it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Lord for forgiving anyone who asks even though none of us deserve it.
Hi Ninek and Sydney M,
Thank you for the reminder. I recall reading that as well. I remember the doctor’s widow being interviewed on a documentary about Judy.
Sadly Judy would never be anything more than a money making commodity for her mother, the studio heads, and those who “loved” her. She was hooked on drugs as a child. She was very bitter about the abortion she did NOT want, and her treatment as some commodity that had to be “fixed” when she became pregnant.
Her life would continue to spiral downward into drugs, alcohol, depression, failed marriages, bankruptcy, and an early death. What a tragic life. I can’t really call it wasted as Judy was an incredible talent who gave so much. I still love “The Wizard of Oz” and no one will ever do “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” like Judy.
So many women hurt so badly from abortion. I wish the truth about it were acknowledged. Women do not profit from abortion, they suffer because of it.
Agreed, Brandy.
Sounds like Jane underwent an amazing transformation in her life. It’s a shame that it had to end, but on the upside, now she gets to meet her baby in heaven. :)
As for Judy Garland, where was her choice? It just goes to show that the dishonesty of the pro-aborts spreads all the way to their very name.
Adoption advocate. That’s all that was mentioned in one of the news stories I heard after Jane Russell’s death. I learned later that she was pro-life.
rest in peace, Jane