We are profoundly saddened to share the news of the passing of Jeannie Dillon on Friday, September 28, 2018. Jeannie was born in Orange, N.J. She was the youngest daughter of Peter and Claire Dillon and the youngest sister of Christopher, Matthew and Anne. She grew up in Union and graduated from Union High School in 1989. She attended Union County College and Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Jeannie worked as a program coordinator at Rutgers Business School in Piscataway.
In August 2001, Jeannie and Donald Meixner married. Together, they created a beautiful family including (step)daughter Caity, 23, and three sons, Matthew, 16, Peter, 14 and Donald, 10. They settled in Westfield.
Jeannie’s family was the center of her world. She was passionately devoted to her children and an insightful, funny, kind, caring mother. If mothering can be considered a “talent” then Jeannie was a natural. Yet, true sportswoman that she was, she developed her God-given talents through hours of play with the kids and by reading, consulting with her friends and Don and through inspired experimentation. She regarded good parenting as life’s greatest achievement. Donald, her husband and partner in the adventure of life, shares this mission. Together, through many trials, they kept the faith in each other and in the possibility of a better future for their family. They have worked incredibly hard to give their children every opportunity to develop into their best selves in a home filled with laughter, love, acceptance and lots of sporting equipment. And they have succeeded. The love and understanding between Jeannie, Don and their children is indescribable. They will carry her in their hearts forever. She will be profoundly missed by her family.
Jeannie was a much beloved friend and colleague. Her enormous group of friends and co-workers know how much she cared for them. There aren’t enough words to describe what she meant to the people who knew her from childhood until the end. Time, distance, illness and even exhaustion could not break the bond they shared. They will carry her in their hearts forever. She will be profoundly missed by her friends and co-workers.
Jeannie is survived by her grandmother, Anna Hardie; her husband, Donald Meixner, and their four children, Catherine, Matthew, Peter and Donald; her brothers Christopher and Matthew and their spouses Donna and Elena; her sister Anne and her spouse Peter; her aunts Margaret, Eileen and Catherine and their spouses; her uncles Lawrence, Thomas, James and John and their spouses; along with mother-in-law Maureen, her sisters-in-law Kathleen and Lauren and their spouses; her brothers-in-law Michael and Thomas and their spouses; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and countless friends.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of the following charities in Jeannie’s memory. Both organizations have as their mission to assist families while their loved one is being treated for cancer or cystic fibrosis. We know how important research and treatment is in beating both of these terrible diseases. But we feel that there is a grave and immediate need to assist families as they are dealing with the tremendous costs of illness. Don and Jeannie have been helped enormously by the support of Family Reach. During a very stressful period, their support was like a lifesaver.
Family Reach Foundation
www.familyreach.org
142 Berkeley Street, 4th floor
Boston MA 02116
Email: ctardif@familyreach.org
Claire’s Place Foundation
www.clairesplacefoundation.org
2110 Artesia Blvd. B
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Mourners are kindly requested to bring a modestly sized autumn decoration to place on her grave.
