Hollywood, California – Jane Nebel Henson, co-creator of The Muppets, has died in her Connecticut home on April 2, 2013, after a long battle with cancer. She was 78 years old. 

Henson rose to fame when she co-created The Muppets with her separated-husband, Jim Henson – founder of The Jim Henson Company and The Jim Henson Foundation. She funded and founded The Jim Henson Legacy in 1992 after her husband’s passing in 1990 to conserve, preserve and present the artistic contribution of Jim Henson.

In her time, she has also served on the board of The Jim Henson Foundation, created the Jane Henson Foundation as well as, co-founded The National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center. 

A memorial mass is currently planned for next week. A tribute page celebrating Jane and featuring images from her life can be found at http://www.henson.com/jane.html.