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Remembering
Jeanette
Shafts of sunlight began to play upon the ripples of
water in the Ohio River.
The sun’s rays reached all the way to Finneytown, just outside of
Cincinnati. There Andrew and May awoke
on that pretty June day not knowing that a visitor, whom they
had been expecting for some time, would finally arrive that evening. The
visitor came at 8:18 PM and forever changed their lives. She was a beautiful
baby girl that they named Jeanette! In addition to her mother and father,
two other siblings were present to greet the newest member of their family
on that
summer in 1937.
Not
long after that joyous event Andrew and May would welcome another child
into the world. Jeanette, her two sisters, and brother grew up among the
lush green trees of Finneytown. It was a pleasant place for children to
grow and play. During Jeanette’s youth, her mother, May, instilled
in her daughter a deep love for God and the Bible. May also engendered
in her a real love of people, animals, and music.
In
the summer of 1952 Jeanette graduated 8th grade and began attending Mt.
Healthy High
School in the fall. She developed interests in track and field, music,
and sewing. Although she never learned how to play the saxophone –
her favorite instrument – she enjoyed
jazz music for many years. She had a remarkable gift at sewing.
Throughout
her life she
made beautiful clothes for herself and others. Her generous work was a
labor of love in showing
others just how much she cared for them.
It
was during high school that she met Julius. He was born in Hannersdorf,
Austria and
immigrated to the United States with his mother. Not long after high school
Jeanette and Julius married. Julius followed the footsteps of his mother
and joined the Navy. In the course of time Jeanette and Julius became
parents to a daughter and two sons. After completing his service in the
Navy, Julius became an engineer for the worldwide construction company
Bechtel.
His work required the family to move every 1-2 years as he received assignments
on projects throughout the country and eventually the globe. During the
growing years of her children, Jeanette showed herself to be a loving
and attentive mother, unselfish and ever so giving. In the future she
would become a grandmother and great grandmother.
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During
the following decades Jeanette developed a keen mind for business.
She worked in a real estate o ice in Bellingham, Washington; managed apartment
complexes in Tucson and Mesa, Arizona; owned and operated a truck stop
in Avondale, Arizona; was a therapist
in an ophthalmologist’s office in Phoenix, Arizona; and was an
administrative
assistant for a company in downtown Phoenix. During all this time her
true passion began to grow, a love for purebred dogs. In the mid 1980’s
she began her career as a professional dog breeder. She started breeding
German Shepherds at first and eventually found her true love in Australian
Shepherds. For many years she was a highly awarded and very well-known
breeder and judge, as well as a mentor for others desiring to take up
that honorable profession. Along this engaging journey Jeanette would
develop many personal and professional friendships. Her love of people
was strong and true, and this was evident in her many friends and colleagues.
Never was a critical word found on her lips toward the large-hearted,
kind, and genuine people who shared her passion for dogs and love of animals.
She continued breeding, showing dogs, and judging until 2018.
In
the early 1980’s Jeanette’s love of the Bible reawakened and
began to blossom. She studied the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses
for some time and eventually made the decision to be baptized. She loved
what she learned from the Bible and shared it with anyone who was interested
in hearing. Her revitalized faith affected her way of life and view of
the future. She came to believe that present-day su ering is only temporary
and that soon God will do “astonishing things on the earth…Bringing
an end to wars throughout the earth.” (Isaiah 46:8, 9) And at that
time “the righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever
on it.” (Psalm 37:29) Based on Jesus’ promise: “Truly I
tell you today, you will be with me in Paradise,” she believed that
the earth will be restored to the beautiful garden it was at the beginning.
(Luke 23:43) Jeanette’s study of the Bible also affected her view
of death. She believed what Jesus said that those who have died have “fallen
asleep;” they are neither conscious of the world around them nor
are they suffering– they are ‘sleeping.’ (John 11:11-14;
Ecclesiastes 9:5) While it is impossible for humans to awaken the dead
from such deep sleep her faith was that it is possible with God –
in fact it is inevitable! Jeanette knew and believed Jesus words that
“the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will
hear his [God’s] voice and come out,” they will be resurrected
to a paradise earth. (Psalm 37:29; John 5:29) Those will be resurrected,
not to a world of su ering, but one where “He [God] will wipe out
every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning
nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”
(Revelation Remembering Jeanette 21:4) Jeanette cherished these beliefs
and the hope they brought to her and others. It was her heart’s desire
that her friends and all whom she loved would share the Bible’s hope
too.
Jeanette
carried her love of people and her love of friends and colleagues with
her until her final day on December 1, 2024. At age 87, she left behind
a daughter, two sons, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, a grandson-in-law,
and two great grandchildren. She fell asleep gently and in peace.
A
unique phenomenon often happens with people shortly before they pass away,
they rally! They have a day or some hours where they feel reasonably well.
This happened with Jeanette. Three days before she passed, she rallied
and was in full command cognitively. While she was unable to verbalize,
her eyes spoke volumes. Through her loving gaze she said, “It’s
time to say goodbye for now, but it’s alright. I am happy, I feel
loved, and I love you.” While I, Peter, was the only one there I
know that she was saying “I love you” to more than just me.
She was saying “I love you” to YOU dear reader! Please take
her final expression of love to heart, it was addressed to YOU personally.
My
wife, Jeanine, and I want to thank all of you who loved our mother. You
enriched her life. You shared joys and sorrows with her. You helped her
when she needed help, and she tried to be there for you. You believed
the very best in her. And most of all you loved her. Thank you for remembering
our dear mother, Jeanette.
Warmest
of love and best wishes,
Peter
and Jeanine
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