Jean Georges Jacobson, age 84, of Naperville, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 24.
Jean is survived by her three children: James Jacobson (Gaile) of Riverside, Illinois; Perry Jacobson of Naperville, Illinois; and Lisa (Spiro) Garbis of Plainfield, Illinois. She was also the proud grandmother of Jake and Jeremy Garbis of Plainfield, Illinois.
Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kenneth R. Jacobson (Dick); her parents; four brothers; and her cherished dogs, Martini and Rossi.
Jean was born in Kemmerer on Jan. 9, 1940. She graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1962 with a degree in speech therapy and psychology. Her professional career took her to Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas, where she worked as a speech therapist.
Jean married Dick on July 6, 1963, in Cheyenne, and they moved to Beaufort, South Carolina, where Dick served as a captain in the United States Marine Corps. After his service, Jean and Dick moved to California, Pennsylvania and, finally, in 1974, settled in Naperville, Illinois.
While raising her three children, Jean dedicated much of her time to volunteering, painting and assisting at school events. She also spent many summers taking splits at every swim meet for Jim and Perry.
Once her children were older, Jean returned to the workforce; first at Mark Shale, and then as a personal shopper at Nordstrom in Oak Brook, where she also managed the St. John department for more than 10 years.
Jean had a deep love for travel and learning. She studied Italian and visited Italy numerous times, immersing herself in the culture and language. Another favorite destination was the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, where she and Dick formed lasting friendships over the years.
After Dick’s passing in 2007, Jean found companionship in her dogs, Martini and Rossi. Martini, whom she trained as a therapy dog, brought joy and comfort to senior communities; while Rossi, with her wild spirit, kept life full of laughter and energy.
Jean’s passion for life and her commitment to spreading joy and laughter were evident in everything she did. In recent years, she was lovingly cared for by her companion and caretaker, Jennifer, and then most recently by the staff at StoryPoint in Bolingbrook. She also received further care from Lightways Hospice.
The family is deeply grateful to all who provided her with compassion and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations or time be given to your favorite charity in Jean’s memory. A memorial visitation will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, with a memorial service at 11 a.m. at Friedrich Jones Funeral Home, 44 S. Mill Street, Naperville, Illinois.
Inurnment will be at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery at a later date.
