Obituary of Jean Pethic

Jean Elizabeth Read Pethic

     Jean Elizabeth (Read) Pethic, age 91, died on Sunday September 10, 2023 as the birds outside were awakening.  Jean was born in Rochester N.Y. in 1932 to Blanche (Casey) and William Read. Upon graduating from East High School in Rochester N.Y, she attended Brockport State Teachers College where she caught the eye of Gerald Pethic, whom she married in 1954.  Jean and Jerry gave life to three children: Thomas, Scott, who died in infancy; and Pamela.  Alongside mothering, Jean taught kindergarten in Phelps, and later clerked at Penfield Credit Union where she kept an eye on her grandchildren’s Scottie Saver accounts.  Her love for working with children continued as she helped launch the Faith Lutheran Nursery School. 

     Each summer, Jean invited loved ones to the family camp on Higley Flow in Colton, NY which she often referred to as “Our little piece of Heaven”. It was there that she breast-stroked through calm river waters and taught many to swim. On any given day, you could find her giving a celebratory thumbs up or put’er-there, holding bunny ears behind the unsuspecting, filing her nails to a point, making sun tea, dead heading flowers, enjoying friends, feeding humming birds, giving milk-bones to dogs passing through, driving to Massena for a deal, sitting by the campfire, or hanging onto the side of Jerry’s golf cart as he flew her up and down the hill.  Over her life, Jean attended hundreds of barbershop events, hockey, basketball, soccer, volleyball, and lacrosse games, collected newspaper articles on the accomplishments of her grandchildren, and made delicious Chicken Supreme.  

     The family would like to thank her amazing caregivers who loved her so much! A private graveside service is planned.  Jean is survived by her devoted husband of 69 years, Jerry; her son, Tom (Anita Van Acker) and her daughter, Pamela (Russell Stark): grandchildren Aaron (Nicole) Pethic, Tricia (Ahmed Veknach) Pethic, Emily (Joseph) Fernandez, Andy (Alia) Stark, Allison Jean Stark; 9 great grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews. Jean was predeceased by her parents and infant son, and siblings Wilma (Read) Comstock, James Read, and William Read. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St Jude children’s Research Hospital.