Jolly jane was born honora kelly in 18 57. She and her two sisters lived with her grandmother for a while, then the grandmother basically could not take care of them. And eventually she was given placed in a home for children who were destitute. But then she was adopted, but not formally. They never signed the formal adoption papers. It's been 20 years since diane ranny has collected whatever she can find about this nurse,. A funny, cheerful woman loved all over the state of massachusetts - later called the most notorious woman poisoner of modern times.