Obituary of Jean Elizabeth Dean

Jean Elizabeth “E” Dean passed away peacefully in her sleep after a brief illness on Monday, November 21, 2022 at Heath Village in Hackettstown.

Born March 12, 1926 to Felix and Wilhelmina Van Duren, growing up in Clifton, New Jersey, she was always and excellent student and avid school sports participant. Following World War II, she married Walter P. Dean, the love of her life. They built a house in 1955 in Pine Brook, NJ, where they raised three children.

Jean was a legal secretary in Caldwell, NJ, prior to opening a consignment shop in Lake Hiawatha. She enjoyed her career as the School Secretary of Woodmont and later Cedar Hill Elementary School, where she also covered the roles of Administrator, as well as part-time Nurse and Guidance Counselor. Always a student herself, Jean was a grammarian and edited numerous college assignments and Master’s Degree papers. After retiring in 1983, in 1990 Jean moved to Mount Bethel, PA, where she and Walter enjoyed the slower pace of the country life, especially as flea market vendors. In 2012, Jean and Walter moved to Heath Village in Hackettstown, NJ.

Always a “people person” she loved participating in her various bridge groups, and continued to follow her professional sports teams. Although we are deeply saddened by her passing, we take comfort in knowing she is now reunited with her husband, Walter P. Dean, Jr., and her son, Walter Scott Dean.

She leaves only joyful memories to her adored children, Janis Amodeo and her husband Jon, her son Donald P. Dean; her cherished granddaughters, Jenna Amodeo and her husband Josh Kaiser and Elizabeth Amodeo and her husband Dylan Riley; her loving nieces, Adele, Susan, and Kathy Bailey and Sharon Ann Becerio; as well as many more dear extended family and friends.

Jean will be buried beside her husband at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania; services will be private. Please leave a condolence, light a candle, and share your favorite memory of Jean here to continue to let her light shine.