She lived her early life in southern Saskatchewan communities and later went to the University of Saskatchewan where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and took an additional year of education to qualify her to teach.
When she returned to Regina, Jean started attending Young Peoples Union again where she later became engaged to the love of her life Mervin (Merv) Thornton and was married on July 28, 1962.
They were happily married for 53 years until his sudden passing.
Jean and Merv were blessed with two rambunctious boys, Chris and Shawn and later welcomed a daughter-in-law, Jennifer. In December 2017, Jean became a grandma with the birth of Shawn's daughter Mackenzie.
She loved children and was creative which led to 35 years of teaching. In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening and planting flowers, reading the latest bestsellers in book club, helping establish STARTA, dancingand toe-tapping to music, travelling around the world with Merv, keeping warm and spending time with her friends, church community, and family. Jean was known for her kindness, compassion, grace, humour, and unconditional love for her family.
In the last twelve years of her life, she battled Alzheimer's and cancer, displaying a sunny disposition through all of it.
Jean passed away peacefully on the morning of January 6, 2020 at Lifestyles Options, Whitemud. She is survived by her two boys, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, sister-in-law, nephew, nieces and cousins. In her final days, Jean was surrounded by people who loved her and she will be deeply missed by many.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sentin memory of Jean Thornton to Alzheimer's Society of Alberta at #306 10430 61 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 2J3.
To send condolences to the family, please visit www.memoriesfuneral.com
