Jean Bante Moore

Beloved wife of Stephen Moore; dearest mother of Michelle (Justin) Smith, Colleen (Jonathan) Haskell, and Matthew (Katherine) Moore; dear grandmother of Quinn, JD, Chip and Bailey; dear sister of James (Mary Suzanne), Susan (Daniel) Hoffman, and Robert Bante; our treasured sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend.

Jean was born in St. Louis on October 26, 1955, the daughter of John Delbert Bante and Mary Quinn Bante. She grew up in South St. Louis, a loving big sister to her two brothers, Jim and Bob, and her sister, Susan. A passionate life-long St. Louis Cardinals fan, Jean remained proud of her St. Louis roots wherever life took her.

She attended St. Mary Magdalen grade school and Cor Jesu Academy high school. She remained close to the friends she grew up with throughout her life and cherished the relationships and education she received from the Sisters of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart at Cor Jesu.

Jean attended Rockhurst University in Kansas City where she met Steve the first day of freshman year. After graduation, Steve and Jean returned to St. Louis where they married and she graduated from St. Louis University Law School. She started her legal career at Union Electric.

Steve and Jean had two daughters, Michelle and Colleen, while living in St. Louis, and then moved to Westport, Connecticut. Jean loved the close access to her favorite Broadway shows, shopping in Manhattan, and the Westport beach.

Two years in Connecticut were followed by a move to Naperville, Illinois where Matthew was born 3 months premature. A fierce advocate for all her children, Jean marshaled all her considerable abilities during Matthew’s early childhood years to make sure Matthew had the resources he needed to thrive. She also served as the President of the White Eagle Swim Team and would go on to support many more swim teams all the way throughout Michelle’s college career.

After a brief stint in frigid Calgary, the family made a 100 degree (Farenheit!) move south to Houston. Jean once again immersed herself in the kids’ activities and was very active in the St. Agnes Academy Mothers’ Club. She loved the ladies in the St. Agnes bridge group and would travel with these friends throughout her life. Her family still questions how much bridge was actually played.

Another move followed, this time to New Canaan, Connecticut where Jean followed the same playbook as in previous moves, becoming President of both the Fairfield Prep Mothers’ Club and the Encore social club, forging lasting friendships there and with her bridge group. She continued her love for NYC and was always thrilled to host old friends from all around the country on trips to the City. Jean was also able to reconnect with the Sisters of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart from Cor Jesu who were headquartered in Hamden, Connecticut and was proud to use her legal skills to support their immigration clinic.

Upon retirement, Jean and Steve made two last moves to follow their kids and grandkids, splitting their time between Austin and Denver. Jean relished her role as Nana and enjoyed spending time as a family in the Rocky Mountains and Texas Hill Country.

Anyone who met Jean would know immediately she was whip-smart and no-nonsense, but also that she loved being around people and would often laugh until tears came to her eyes. She loved hosting parties and bringing people together and poured love into the very fabric of the many quilts and needlework pieces she made for her family and friends along the way. Jean always “bloomed where she was planted” throughout her life’s many moves but still managed to maintain close relationships with all the friends she made along the way. Those friendships were among her most treasured possessions.

Jean was strong in her convictions and giving of her time to support the causes and people closest to her - she never waited to be asked to help, she just jumped in with both feet, volunteering wherever she could and usually ended up running the place before she was done. She was particularly adept at organizing groups of girls and women (from Nancy Drew book clubs in grade school to Mothers Clubs at her children’s schools) and her life is a testament to the positive impact women can have in their communities. She raised three beautiful and successful children, each of whom is strongly rooted in faith, family and friends just like their mother (as well as in their St. Louis heritage, even if one of them was born in Chicago, ahem).

Many thanks go to the caregivers at Highline Place Memory Care in Denver who made Jean’s time there as comfortable as possible as she fought valiantly during her final journey.

We were all blessed to have lived in Jean’s world - it was a place with unconditional love, old show tunes and as many reruns of M.A.S.H. as you could handle. Jean will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Services: Visitation on Sunday, October 13, from 3 to 7 pm at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary, 6464 Chippewa Street, 63109. Mass of Christian Burial 10 am on Monday, October 14, at Church of the Magdalen, 4924 Bancroft Avenue at Kingshighway, 63109. Interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Cor Jesu Academy appreciated (https://www.corjesu.org/support/give-now)