Jeanine Marie Watrous

Jeanine Marie (Price) Watrous died September 2, 2016 in New Braunfels, Texas of a heart attack. She brought life, love, and generosity to everyone in her 69 years. She was born on Easter Sunday to Constance and Lt. Col. Henry D. Price in Detroit, Michigan. Her youth, energy, and effervescence stayed with her to the very end.

At her funeral Mass will be her brothers, Henry M. Price and Don Price, and her husband of 44 years, Phillip Watrous. Her daughter, Mara (Watrous) Morkes, her son-in-law, John Morkes, Jeanine’s beloved grandchildren, Lili and Alex Morkes, and her niece and nephews will be there as well. Her funeral will be at her church (where she was a Eucharistic minister), Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church of New Braunfels, Texas on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at noon with a reception at the church to follow. Jeanine’s ashes will be buried at Our Lady of The Rosary Cemetery in Georgetown, Texas with just family attending.

Jeanine graduated from Marian High School and then Purdue University, where she was a member of Sigma Kappa sorority. She became an elementary school teacher, and then married Phillip Watrous in 1972. She taught in Michigan for 10 years and moved to Texas a year after her daughter was born. She was involved in anything and everything altruistic: Civic Club, Optimist Club, and a leader to her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. She taught first grade in Texas for 20 years, making her own teaching games for the children who were struggling. After teaching, she became a children’s librarian near Houston. When she learned she was going to be a grandma, she retired and moved to New Braunfels to be closer to her grandchildren. She was a devoted grandma and gave her daughter and son-in-law a much appreciated date and break every weekend. She had energy left over for tutoring children, mentoring children, playing her guitar for various groups, gathering bilingual books for children in Honduras, going on Newcomers Group trips, and being a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and retired teachers’ groups. She spent most of her volunteer hours, however, at the New Braunfels Public Library helping with the children’s books for the Book Sale. Jeanine was a lifelong advocate of children and children’s literacy. In her spare time, she loved to travel with family. Jeanine had thousands of friends because everyone was drawn to her exuberance and warmth. She kept her friends because she was unfailingly kind, generous, and a great listener.

If you wish to send flowers, please send them to her funeral and reception at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 386 North Castell Avenue, New Braunfels, Texas 78130. If you would prefer to make a donation, please donate to the New Braunfels Public Library, Children’s Section, 700 Common Street, New Braunfels, Texas 78130.

Thank you to all her family and friends who mourn such a sweet lady. No one can replace what the world has lost, but continuing her legacy of giving selflessly, being kind in the face of unkindness, and devoting yourself to serving others is a good way to start. Know that she is a child of God and is utterly happy and rewarded in her new Home.