Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

GLENS FALLS, NY - Jean took her last antique boat ride on March 11, 2016. She was born in Lake George, NY on February 27, 1921 to Cecil and Helena Mae Webb and spent her first 70 years in and around Lake George and Glens Falls. Her family is greatly diminished by her passing yet eternally enriched with the loving legacy she left.
After graduating from Glens Falls High School, she attended Russell Sage College and Mildred Elley Business School. With her schooling behind her she worked for the First National Bank and the Glens Falls Insurance Company before enlisting in the Waves during WWII. She was stationed at Hunter College in the Bronx and then at Sampson Hospital in Utica where she was also a member of the drum and bugle corp. After her discharge she became the first woman officer of the Lake George American Legion Post. Jean was a supporter of the Waves National organization and of the Women’s Memorial in Washington D.C. In 2009 she participated in an honor flight taking WWII vets to visit WWII memorials in Washington D.C. She was proud of her military service making lifelong friends during that time.
She was an incredible mom and was always there to support, drive, cajole, correct, and guide her three children. Jean was very active in many organizations including the Coquin Swim Club, Hospital Guild, Glens Falls Country Club, Operetta Club , Glens Falls Winter Club and was an avid bridge player which she continued to do all her life. In her later years, after a move to Cleverdale, she became an EMT with the North Queensbury Emergency Squad.
After becoming the administrative assistant to the director of the Civic Center she started a love affair with hockey. Always a sports fan she knew more about hockey and football than some sports writers. She was an avid Denver Broncos fan and had a running rivalry with her son’s mother-in-law, an avid Patriots fan.
Her lifelong love of music played an important role in her life and the lives of her children. Her instrument of choice was the violin but she also played the piano and bugle. She accompanied her teenage daughter on a trip to Europe with the American Youth Symphony, comprised of youth from all over the United States that performed concerts as U S. ambassadors.
In 1974 Jean, along with her husband Ray, was instrumental in the formation of the Antique and Classic Boat Society now an international organization. She was the secretary and used her photographic skills for the early issues. One of the highlights was being on an antique boat in the Hudson River during the 1976 Bicentennial Op Sail festivities in New York City.
In 1993 she moved to Colorado with her daughter and son-in-law where they owned and operated a general store. She became a fixture in the store and made many new friends. She became active in the local AARP chapter and was involved with bridge groups in the area. Keeping with her love of music, she was membership director for the Poudre River Irregulars, a traditional jazz group, and attended monthly jam sessions in Ft. Collins, Colorado.
Her lifelong love of travel and learning led her to 49 of the 50 states and many European countries. She and a friend travelled to Alaska by car in her 70’s and she made many a cross country car trips to visit friends and family. A collector of sayings, poems, thoughts and expressions that spoke to her, she had hundreds of little pieces of paper that she saved over the years.
Jean is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Charles and Cindy Nelson, daughters and sons-in-law, Patricia and Dennis McMillan and Barbara and Robert DiDio.
She is a former member of the Presbyterian Church and the Harrisena Community Church. Cremation has taken place and no services are planned. Her ashes, along with her favorite kitty, Kathy, will be buried in her family’s plot, in Lake George, at a later time. There was always a cat or dog in all of her homes and she was a lover of all animals, especially birds. If anyone wishes to do something in her honor please donate to your local humane society.
Memories and condolences may be left for Jean’s family on her Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.