I only knew Jean for a few years - we attended the same Weight Watcher's meeting. It's amazing how close you feel to people who struggle with your same issues - they become like an extended family. Jean almost always arrived at the meeting before I did. I would weigh in and then peek around the corner to see who was in the meeting. When I saw Jean, I'd go straight to the seat beside her - when she saw me coming she'd make sure it was clear and give the chair a welcoming pat.

We shared an irreverant and yet faithful attitude towards WW. We both knew that it worked but we also knew that losing weight and keeping it off was really hard and mostly sucked. No pollyanna's were we! When Jean spoke to the group, which wasn't often, she got a respectful ear from all of us. She also laughed the hardest at all of my outspoken antics.

The day before I left for my son's wedding - after putting my WW group through months of agonizing decisions on hair, outfit, how long to stay, you name it I obsessed about it and shared it (and I am so grateful for all their patience) - I miraculously made it back down to my lifetime weight. As I ran out the door to leave town, I shouted back "Make sure you tell Jean I made it!".

The entire group is important to me but she and I sitting side by side for 30 minutes a week, had shared so many little things as w omen, mothers, weight watchers, democrats, that we had became real friends. I miss her very much. Every time I sit at my WW meeting, I will have jean in my heart - as I crack jokes about the absurdities of life and weight watching, I'll always feel her sitting beside me laughing and whispering something even more outrageous.

I'm so sorry she's gone and I hope that her family is able to take solace in knowing that Jean was appreciated, respected and well loved by many of us, in many ways and for many reasons. (I didn't even know she was famous until I read the beautiful letters in the Press Citizen!). Hers was definitely a life well lived.

My thoughts and heart are with Jean's family and friends as we are all effected by her passing. All of my memories of Jean are of her selfless work; loading boxes at New Pi, helping at WRAC events, working at community festivals, dropping of supplies at the animal shelter. I am inspired by her commitment to our community.

Jean was a great woman who battled in the trenches to help women fulfill their dreams. She was always in the forefront on women's issues at the university, in the union, and wherever else she felt women needed a hand. She was a true friend and I will remember her always. My thoughts are with you too, Mary.

I would like to convey how much Jean meant to me has a friend.

I am one off those women that Jean helped along the way.I took over her first job at Motor Pool when she moved to an inside job.

It was there she encouraged me to follow my dreams and become a women "in the trades". and I went on to that dream.

Her encouragement and support were priceless and I know so many benefited from her mission of helping others succeed and I feel truly blessed to have had her as a friend.

Blessings to her family.

Joyce Bender

Mary, I will miss your mom so much. She was so important to my Larry and Labor. Loved her at the Labor Day picnics, they will not be the same without her. She always had a big smile when I first met her at the Lark and then Ming Gardens. Later in the years I got to know her better through all of the work she did with the Labor Union. We will be thinkig of you often.

The senior exercise folks at both Senior Center and Mercer Aquatic Center Arthritis Water Exercise group will greatly miss Jean's upbeat and enthusiastic presence! She was kind enough to take time to show me how to use the equipment in the SeniorCenter weightroom, thus getting me started on a regime which has helped me to a healthier lifestyle. How many other people out there have had their lives improved by Jean? What a legacy!

Mary and family,

it must have been cloudy when Jean died because i'm sure i would have noticed the sun dimming in the sky at that moment as the world has lost some of it's brightness with her passing.

as the first woman hired as a Facilities Mechanic by Residence Services at the U.of I....finding Jean at the motor pool was the high point of my first year. she became an anchor and an inspiration and from that time on, no matter if months passed before we saw each other, she was always there with a smile and a hug. Whether she was getting me drunk with her "try this one" line at the Lark or rubbing shoulders at Pre-Voc helping share our experiences as "flagships" at the U. with other women wanting to get into the trades, Jean was a solid, supportive person who you knew you cold always lean on when you needed a mental boost.

we may not have spent a lot of personal time together over the years, but she was always in my heart as the heart knows a like spirit. there is one less bright flame on earth, but a beautiful soul out there in the stars.

Mary, please call me if you need the support of another person you know loves you and has shared in the laughter and fun whenever you and your

mom and i happened to find each other in the same spot in the universe.

Be well.

Mary and Greer, I am saddened to learn of your mother's death. She was a great person to learn things from and I cherish those days when I got to meet her when we helped out at Willowwind. She rests now from her labors and leaves us a great challenge to carry on her work. May we find comfort in knowing that she is cheering us on even now!