I’ll always fondly remember the day Barbara introduced me to her mother Jean in her kitchen just after Christmas in ‘71, 45 years ago.  Jean welcomed me with her always happy smile and genuinely open arms.  Over the years as Barbara and I became exceptionally dear friends, we also considered each other like sisters and I considered Jean like a second mom.  After graduating from Duke in ‘75 and moving to the Woodland Park apartments at the end of the Riverside line not far from Jean, Barbara, Jean, Brian and I spent countless wonderful times together until I moved to the Rochester, NY area in ’86. Barbara and I maintained our close, though long distance friendship, talking every few weeks and visiting as often as possible.

I’ve always looked forward to returning to Wellesley to visit Barbara, Jean, Brian and their families.  Jean always asked me to bring recent family pictures to share with her on my visits east, as she felt very close to my family and my now adult children Brandon and Candace, who both also have expressed their sincere sympathies and will miss Jean a lot.  I remember a few years ago a funny story about Jean and pictures.  Jean has always been a diehard dog lover, as you know. Of course so have I, so she especially appreciated it when our family dog joined us, as Jean enjoyed their company very much.  Since moving to Kingston Ontario Canada in 2004, Don and I have also had cats in our lives…and for me for the first time.  Now I remembered that Jean wasn’t a cat lover, so whenever a picture of our cats appeared, I knew to move past those quickly.  We laughed about that and I’ll treasure that memory.

About 15 years ago Barbara and Jean stayed with me at my Hilton Head timeshare for a fabulous fun week of relaxation in the hot tubs, swims in the pools, long beach walks, bike rides, delicious meals together and lots of great conversations.  What a incredible time we had and one I’ll always fondly remember.

During my most recent visit to Wellesley this past late April, I decided to bring some pictures of Barbara’s most recent March 2015 Hilton Head visit, as I thought it would bring back nice memories for Jean.  She really liked seeing pictures of Barbara and me and of course Hilton Head. 

Of all the people I’ve known over the years, from my perspective, Jean was THE most active, physically fit / healthy, vivacious, beautiful (inside and out) and social person I’ve ever had the pleasure to know and call my dear friend / second mother.  As the Town of Wellesley’s school crossing guard for more than 50 years Jean showed her heartfelt dedication and commitment to the thousands of children she safely crossed over those five decades every school day, no matter the weather….snow, sleet, freezing rain, hail, high winds…as I recall Jean never missed a single day of work either.  That is genuine dedication at its finest and love too.   

We all have treasured memories of times enjoyed with our dear Jean.  Jean was always there for her children, her grandchildren, and all her family, her long time friends and even those who were only acquaintances, always offering her support, her guidance, her encouragement / faith and of course her love.  I will miss Jean SO very much. We can be thankful that Jean enjoyed a blessed, happy, long, and for the most part until about one year ago, healthy life full of love, laughter, faith, activities, compassion, family and dear friends.  I look forward to celebrating Jeans amazing and truly wonderful life this Friday / Saturday with her family and friends..  Jean will now join her dearly departed husband Jimmy and they will rest in peace together. God bless you dear Jean.  With love, Zoe