ForeverMissed
Large image
Her Life

Jeanie!!

March 14, 2014

s my Mom told me not too long ago "Don't mourn me.  I lived a great life!"  So we are celebrating her most interesting life.  My Mom was born in Schnectady New York.  Soon after she was born her family moved to Pennsyvania.  When Jeanie was 9 years old her Father passed away.  It was the middle of the depression.  My grandmother couldn't afford to raise her brother and she.  My grandmother found a wonderful boarding school for girls without fathers called Ellis School.  My Mother thrived in this enriching environment.  She graduated from high school valdictorian and went on to get her Teacher's degree at Westchester State Teachers College. Jeanie didn't like teaching that much.  It was during World War II.  So she marched herself to the recruiting station and joined the Women Marines.  She always said the reason she joined the Women Marines was because they tested makeup for Elizabeth Arden.  She was first stationed at Cherry Point NC.  She then had training in Norman Oklahome to fix airplanes. The Marines liked the women to fix the planes because they were small and could side into the nose of the planes,  She then was sent to Quantico Virginia.  That is where she met my Dad Vincent Cuccinello.  They courted in Washington DC, Philadelphia and New Jersey.  On September 28, 1946 they were married in Orange New Jersey.  Jean settled into life in a big Italian family in Orange raising 2 children.  At the time of her wedding Jean converted to Catholicism.  Her Catholic faith was a big part of her life.  She put her college degree and substiute taught for many years.  In 1975  Her husband Vincent died.  Jean had to go work so she sent her resume to things she liked.  One of these was WRFM a radio station in New York City that she listened to all the time.  The General Manager hired her as his assistant.  She loved that job.  She loved the radio station!  She retired at 65 and moved to California to be near me. When we moved to Arizona she came right along.  She loved the Arizona desert.  She was most pleased when Charlie and his family moved to Scottsdale.  Now she had almost all her grandchildren near by...except for her oldest John.  Her grandchildren were the love of her life  and brought her such pleasure.  Her health gave out and she was in an assisted living home.  She never complained.  She just loved watching her cooking shows and Sports.  I know now she is rooting for the Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Jeanie had a joy for life and was always the life of the party.  She touched many lives with her kindness.  We will miss her always.