Jean Springer

Our dear friend, Jeanette “Jean” M. Springer, continues her journey crossing into her new life at the age of 73 on February 20, 2018, in Austin, Texas. She was born in Island Falls, Maine on November 12, 1944, to parents Alton and Lois Springer.

Jean has a very strong faith and a long history of spirituality, caring and ministering to those around her. She was raised Baptist and spent her teenage years longing to become a missionary. As Jean said, it took becoming Catholic and entering Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary to make her way as a missionary in South Africa, teaching and counseling with the local youth and serving as an Adult Minister. While there, she obtained her Bachelor's in education in 1974 at Johannesburg, Transvaal in the Republic of South Africa.

Her eight years experience in Africa gave her a hunger and thirst for a contemplative way of life. After searching all over the United States for a community which would affirm and support her, she found Lebh Shomea House of Prayer in Sarita, Texas. At Lebh Shomea Jean served as manager, tutor and spiritual director and while there, she obtained her Master of Theological Studies from Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas.

A yearning and desire grew within Jean to provide a space in Austin where people could step back from their everyday lives on a more regular basis to listen to the Spirit. In 1992 Jean moved to Austin to make this possible. So began The Dwelling Place which later was renamed Eremos. Jean became the Spiritual Amma of Eremos: A Center of Contemplative Life. Eremos invites persons to come and behold the mystery of God dwelling within. From the intimacy of this communion they are empowered to live and love others. From 1992 until her passing, Jean was the Spiritual Director of Eremos and touched the lives of thousands of people.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Alton and Lois Springer; step-mother Katherine H. Springer, uncle Ronald Brownlow; her Aunt Lydia and Uncle Joe Siton, who raised her for five years after her mother’s passing two days after Jean was born.

Jean is survived by her step-sister Anita Bishop and husband Francis, of Bellevue, Nebraska; brother Gary G. Springer and wife Johnnie F., of Miles, Texas; nieces and nephews; Cindy and David, Christine M Unger, of San Angelo, Texas, Carrie G. Bolding and husband Skip Bolding, of Loveland, Colorado, Jay E. Springer and Wife Jenille P. of Austin, Texas, Tori, Tanner, Justin, Aubrie, Jackson and Jovie, Steven and Lois; aunts Virginia Richardson “Aunt Ginny” and Priscilla Brownlow; longtime friend and housemate Nancy Angel and her Eremos family; and a host of other loving family and friends.

Friends and family are invited to gather from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with a Celebration of Life at 7:00 PM on Friday, March 2, 2018, at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. A Memorial Mass will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 3, 2018, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, with food and fellowship to follow at Abiding Love Lutheran Church.

“As you journey into and through your moments of darkness, may you know you are not alone. A light, a prayer is held for you at Eremos and in the heart of God. May you also be that light of hope for others whose lives you touch each day.” --Jean Springer, Spiritual Amma of Eremos.