She was born on February 25, 1939 to parents Raymond and Norine Cranston (Wilkin) in Little Current, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. She attended schools in Little Current and Kitchener, Ontario.
She moved to Oshawa, Ontario in 1960 to work as a secretary at General Motors of Canada where she met her future husband, Blaine. They were married on August 18, 1962. Son Scott was born in 1963 and daughter Sheryl in 1966.
From 1969 through 1983 the family moved several times as a result of job transfers and she and Blaine settled in Pittsburgh, PA in 1984. An assignment took them to Paris, France in 1989, returning to Pittsburgh in 1994. Upon Blaine’s retirement in 2001, they moved to a new home in Naples, Florida while also maintaining a seasonal home in Lagoon City, Ontario.
Jean was active with friends in a number of clubs and organizations wherever she lived but her first and primary focus was her family, particularly as grandchildren arrived in 2000 and 2002. She especially enjoyed cruises and vacation trips with her family.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Blaine; son Scott, daughter-in-law Suzette (Desjardins), triplet grandchildren Jonathan, Melissa and Sarah and grandson David; daughter Sheryl, son-in-law Robert Chanona, step grand-daughters Lynne Polymenakos (Chanona) and Melanie Chanona; sister Beverly Hill (Cranston); niece Karen (Cranston) Burnett (Chris) and children Jamie and Emma and niece Leslie (Cranston) Buback and children Caitlin and Amanda.
She was predeceased by her parents, brothers Merlyn and Wayne and infant twin sister Joan.
Special thanks to the caring staff of Avow Hospice who supported Jean and her family for the last month.
Showing will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, February 26, 2016 at the Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens, 525 111th Ave. N., Naples 34108 with services to be held at 2:00 p.m. A reception for guests will follow. Their website is at www.HodgesNaplesMG.com
A subsequent showing will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, April 22, 2016 at the Dixon-Garland Funeral Home, 166 Main Street North, Markham, Ontario with services to be held at 2:00 p.m. A reception for guests will follow. Their website is at www.dixongarland.com
Interment will be in the Stouffville Cemetery, Stouffville, Ontario.
In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Jean to Avow Foundation, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, Florida 34105; avowcares.org/donate-now would be appreciated.
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