Grantham, N.H. —
On Jan. 3, 1959, Jean married George Sutherland; together they moved to Bloomfield, Conn. and raised three children, Glenn, Julie and Beth. By the time her children were well along in school, Jean decided to resume her business career, first as secretary to the General Counsel at Connecticut General Life Insurance Co. (later CIGNA) and subsequently in several supervisory positions. While raising a family and working, she was active in the Junior League of Greater Hartford and loved singing in a group that performed in various venues in the area.
In 1994, Jean and George moved to the Eastman Community Association in Grantham (and learned from her nephew, the family genealogist) that she was descended from John Huntington, one of the first settlers of Grantham. Jean immediately became involved in the community’s activities as a member of the Eastmanaires singing group, was elected to the Eastman Council and chaired her local neighborhood organization. Jean was creative. She designed the home in which she and George lived and she did amazing things with needles. She made quilts, sweaters, and hooked a number of oriental style rugs and delighted in telling friends that she was a “hooker.”
The great joy Jean found in her Christian faith filled her with optimism, hope, and the ability to give unconditional love.
Jean is survived by her husband, George; and children, Glenn and his wife, Wendy of Chantilly, Va., her daughter, Julie and her husband, Sergio Marino of Boston, her daughter, Beth and her husband, Harold (Zunk) Buker of Grantham; her brother, Richard and his wife, Julie of Sun City, Ariz.; and her sister, Pat in Torrington, Conn. Jean was predeceased by her granddaughter Meghan Christine who died in 1987. Also surviving Jean are seven granddaughters, Alexandra, Anna, Caitlyn, Devon, Isabela, Nicole, and Teagan. Additional survivors are six nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank the staff at The Clough Center in New London, NH and the Hospice staff of the Lake Sunapee VNA. for the loving care they have provided to Jean during the last months of her life. A Service of Remembrance of Jean’s Life will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, New London Dec. 4 at 1 p.m.
Those wishing to make a gift of remembrance in Jean’s name may do so by making a gift to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 294, New London, NH 03257 or the LSRVNA, P.O Box 2209, New London, NH 03257.