- Date Of Birth: August 1, 1931
- Date Of Death: July 22, 2015
- State: New Jersey
Jean Marie Colbert entered into Eternal Life on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at Centra State Hospital, Freehold, NJ. Jeannie was born on Aug. 1, 1931 in Manhattan, New York City, NY, and was baptized Eugenia Marie.
She is predeceased by her parents, Oreste and Evelyn (Anna Evelina Perfetti) Funaro, and her beloved Aunt Mary “Mamie” (Perfetti) Keene Letts who had been like a mother to her in this life. Jean is survived by her husband of 61 years, Frank J. Colbert, of Jackson; their five children: James J. Colbert of Roebling, NJ, Sr. Theresa A. Colbert, FMIJ, of Cherry Hill, NJ, John F. “Jack” Colbert of Linwood, NJ, Kathleen M. “Kathy” Renz and son-in-law Brian Renz of Chalfont, PA, and Mary M. Colbert of Blackwood, NJ; and their four grandchildren: Stephen J. Renz, Colleen M. Renz, Janine E. Renz and Maryann T. Renz, all of Chalfont, PA.
Jean is also survived by her twin brother, Joseph H. Funaro, a retired New York City Police Officer, and his wife Ann; and two sisters-in-law: Dolores Kaufman and Patricia Smith, both of Westfield, NY. There are also many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnephews and grandnieces. Jean graduated from New Dorp High School, Staten Island, NY, in 1950, a good student who loved photography and was a member of the Cardinal Newman Club. After high school, she moved to Jackson and worked for a time as a bookkeeper at the First National Bank in Lakewood before going to work in the Archive Department in Hangar 2 at Lakehurst Naval Air Station. Coincidentally – as God would plan- she started work on the same day – Aug. 25, 1952- as her future husband, Frank, then a Petty Officer First Class Sonar Technician assigned to work on the blimps in Hangar 1.
As he watched her walking by to work each day, though too shy to meet her, Frank told his friends that one day he would marry her. Their first actual meeting occurred on Christmas Eve, 1952, at a party off base because buddy called Frank, then on duty, to “give it to someone else and come over and meet that Red Head”, which he did. Later they married on Jan. 17, 1954. Jean knew first hand that “the hardest job in life is that of a Navy wife” and, as a devoted wife and mother, was ready to make a new home whenever Frank was transferred to a new base at duty’s call. After Frank attained the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer and retired from active duty, he and Jean moved with their five children to Jackson in June, 1966 becoming members of the then newly begun Parish of St. Aloysius where she joined the Altar Rosary Society and later taught catechism class helping to prepare children to receive First Holy Communion until she and Frank still later joined the Parish of St. Monica in Jackson. Although Jean sometimes worked outside the home, she was happiest being a Mom at home. She enjoyed arts and crafts, ceramics, crocheting, sewing, and gardening.
She would give her time to helping at school being “everybody’s class mother” and, when Frank retired from Civil Service, she went to work as a transportation aid for special needs children for Jackson Township. She volunteered for the Navy Relief Thrift Shop, sometimes serving as chair/co-chair, and for the Kimball Hospital Thrift Shop. She loved the Tuesday Social at St. Monica’s, arriving early with her husband to set up for coffee, whatever potluck came and fellowship following the Tuesday Communion/Prayer Service. A generous soul and kind, Jean loved her family and friends and always had a cup of coffee, a helping hand, a listening ear and words of quiet wisdom to offer others with a smile. She was gifted with a great deal of common sense that comes from lived experience and always had a special place for little ones.
She was steadfast in her Catholic Faith, often affirming that “God raised me” when reflecting on the difficulties and trials of her childhood. She loved Our Lady’s Rosary which she and Frank prayed daily. Together they set a stellar example of the love, devotion, fidelity and faith of a married couple.
