Jean Ann Corbett

Jean Ann Corbett, born January 28, 1942, at Little Company of Mary hospital in Evergreen Park, Illinois, passed on suddenly on January 2, 2022. She was born to John and Jeanette Corbett, the eldest of 5 children. Jean grew up in Chicago and in the Chicago suburb of Mount Prospect. She loved to travel and fell in love with the American West. She lived in California for 1 year in the 1970s, and finally settled permanently in the west when she moved to Arizona in 1983.

Jean loved creative endeavors. After she left Northern Illinois University, she worked in a “gear and bearings” company, but in the evenings was active in local community theater groups helping with costumes, make-up, and sets. She also took on the role of local 4H leader. Jean loved doing crafts and taking classes. Once she discovered spinning and weaving, she was hooked. She co-founded a spinning and weaving supply store in Des Plaines, Illinois, teaching many classes in these areas over the years. She became a master weaver and in 1984 was awarded a Certificate of Excellence for hand spinning.

Once she moved to Arizona, she joined a Phoenix craftsman gallery, showing and selling her weaving products. She had booths at many local arts and craft fairs around the Valley of the Sun. Throughout her life she continued to learn new crafts. Jean gravitated towards making friends with people with similar interests and organized and participated in many craft days and workshops. She also loved to teach others what she knew and happily taught friends to knit and weave. The last several years of her life Jean was introduced to quilting, which became a new love.

Jean had many interests besides arts and crafts. Jean loved entertaining family and friends and helped to organized many get togethers. She particularly loved setting tables. Jean enjoyed learning about computers. She became the go to person for her family on questions about any computer issue. She loved football, was a huge Cardinals fan and held season tickets for the “Phoenix” Cardinals during their few seasons. Fantasy Football became an obsession in recent years … she was the commish for three different leagues and participated in several others.

Jean enjoyed her role as an aunt to Chris and Todd Johnson and Clare O’Connor. She took pride in all their accomplishments and was always there to cheer them on. She will be greatly missed by them and by her siblings - sisters Cathy (married to Rod Johnson), Karen, Patricia (married to John O’Connor,) and brother John (married to Diane Krizek). She will also be missed by her lifelong friend Pat Vacilek (friends since their Arlington High School days) who shared in many of her endeavors and shenanigans over the years.