Jean Denise Andrews' Obituary
Born Jean Denise Andrews on January 8, 1955, in Charlotte, North Carolina, our ‘Jeannie’ left this life to be with her God on June 10, 2019.
Beautiful, gifted, creative, multi-talented, funny, brave, Jeannie. She will be remembered for her courage and steadfast persistence in life despite her mental health struggles. But she was so much more than that.
Jeannie was artistically brilliant. Her water color paintings are proudly hung on our walls. Her beautifully crocheted coverlets are displayed on our beds, her macramé plant holders have held many a fern, her charming knitted hats were sent up to Washington for our cold winters. She never missed an occasion to send a greeting card – she always found the best ones. She loved her family and was always thinking of us. Jeannie was also a talented flutist, and used to play duets with her sisters. Like her nephew Trevor, Jean loved Michael Jackson and Madonna.
Jean was also a gifted student. An avid reader, she was so advanced that she skipped 2nd grade. Then, as a senior at Oakland High School, she was allowed to graduate 6 months early, being only 15 years old at the time. She received an AA degree from Cabrillo Community College, and then transferred to the University of California, Santa Cruz as a junior.
Jean’s parents, John D. Andrews and Helen Pantos Andrews, predeceased her by more than 50 years. Jean is survived by her two sisters, Jo F. Andrews and Janice Andrews Ridge, her nephew Trevor Lee Andrews Ridge (all living in Washington State), as well as her many friends at the Rose Garden and Horizon House, where she resided for many years.
Services are private.
‘The heart hath its own memory,
Like the mind,
And in it are enshrined
The precious keepsakes.’
~Longfellow
‘The seed is the word of God.
Happy are they who, in a good and perfect heart,
hearing the word of God, keep it.
And bring forth fruit in its patience.’
~ One of Jean’s favorite quotes
We wish to thank the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for its dedication to the important mission and research they do to inform the public and legislators of the need to advance brain research, and raise the awareness of the prevalence of mental illness and the need to address it. NAMI provides support to those with mental illness as well as their families.
What’s your fondest memory of Jean?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jean?
Share a story where Jean's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jean you’ll never forget.
How did Jean make you smile?