Beloved mother, stepmother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt

Jean Shirley Dean, 88, of Scarborough, passed away peacefully at Scarborough Terrace on December 9, 2022 from complications related to Parkinson's Disease. She was born in East St. Louis, Illinois on December 24, 1933, daughter to the late Louis and Hazel (Sanders) Henneke.

Jean lived many of her earlier years on Long Island, New York; graduating from Mineola High School in Mineola, New York. She met her future husband, Herbert Strauss, when they both attended a Girl Scout Boy Scout event while in high school. They married on May 1, 1954 and had two sons together: William and Robert Strauss.

Her marriage to Herbert eventually dissolved and she married her second husband, George Dean, in Garden City, New York on July 2, 1970.

Jean worked as an executive secretary for the Garden City Hotel, Long Island Trust Company, Abilities Incorporated, and Knutson Marina and Shipyard, retiring in 1980.

After retiring, she and George relocated to Stuart, Florida where they were able to enjoy golfing year-round. In 1983, they built a mountain house on a golf course in Newland, North Carolina and turned it into their full-time residence 12 years later. While in Newland, Jean volunteered at the local hospice and was very involved with her local Lutheran Church. She also worked at the Avery Development Corporation, where she served on the board for four years.

Jean held and cultivated many interests, some of which were sewing, baking, gardening, painting, and hosting dinner parties and get togethers for family and friends. She also excelled at Scrabble.

In 2017, Jean moved to Scarborough, Maine and became a resident of Scarborough Terrace. While there, she was very involved in the cooking and gardening clubs and remained active with many folks within the community.

Jean's kindhearted approach and welcoming demeanor will be deeply missed by all those close to her.

Jean is survived by her sons; William and Gretchen Strauss and Robert and Jeanne Strauss; her grandchildren; Julie Hellstrom, Angela Strauss, Erica Holland and Melissa Strauss; two great-grandchildren, Sophia and Liam Hellstrom; her stepchildren, Debbie, Vicki, and Sandy as well as their families.

The family would like to thank Scarborough Terrace for the care and community that was provided to mom as well as the Compassus Hospice Team. In mom's last few weeks, she was pampered and cared for by such wonderful and compassionate people, you were all such a blessing to our family. For that, we are eternally grateful.

Jean will be interred in North Carolina at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a memorial contribution in Jean's memory are asked to consider the Parkinson's Foundation or the Avery Humane Society, Newland, NC.