In Memory of Jean Ward

Jean Ann Ward, 91, passed away peacefully at Vernon Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, Vernon CT on Thursday, February 9, 2023.  She was born on December 5, 1931, in Oneida NY and was the daughter of the late Nelson and Melva Bickley (Evans). She was predeceased by her brother Donald Bickley of Prospect, NY, and sister Carole Verne of Chittenango, NY. 

She is survived by her children: son William N. Ward and his wife Kate, of Louisville, CO, daughter Bonnie Root and husband Dave of Maderia Beach, FL, and daughter Kelley J. Kelly and husband Dan of South Windsor, CT in addition to her four grandchildren that were the love of her life.  Eric Ward of Denver CO, Benjamin Ward of New York, NY, Daniel Kelly of Somerville, MA and Bridget Kelly of South Windsor CT as well as her former husband, William F. Ward and many nieces and nephews. 

Jean lived in Trumansburg NY most of her life and graduated from Trumansburg High School in 1949.  Jean was an artist at heart as she was the illustrator of her Senior year book and 28 years later worked at that same high school advising the student yearbook committee. 

Jean worked in real estate for many years in Tompkins County and ultimately retired from Tompkins Country Trust Company. Following her retirement, you could find her continuing to put her artistic skills to work decorating cakes at Wegmans of Ithaca and always finding time to volunteer her time at Camp Good Days and Special Times as mother nature, as well as with the American Red Cross as a blood donor and blood drive volunteer. She was an active member of the American Legion Axillary, Post 770, Trumansburg, NY where she never missed a social event. She enjoyed competing in her bowling league. pitching horseshoes and working at the Legion tent at the Trumansburg Fair with her dear friends Marge and Sue. 

Jean moved to Connecticut in 1995 to be near her daughter Kelley, her son-in-law Dan and her two grandchildren Daniel and Bridget.  She could always be found on the sidelines of various sporting events as she never missed the opportunity to cheer them on.  She continued her artistry while working at local stores decorating cakes a making floral arrangements and hanging out with her friends’ doing ceramics at the South Windsor Senior Center. 

You could always find a friend in Jean, and she was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone that needed it.  She was loved by everyone she ever met and will be dearly missed by her friends and her family. 

A special thanks to all of the nurses and aides at Vernon Rehabilitation and Health Care Center for taking such wonderful care of her over the last 3 years and the Visiting Nurse and Health Services of CT nurses, aides and volunteers for making her comfortable over the past few weeks. 

Final Arrangements will be handled by Abby Cremation. The family will be having a celebration of her life in the spring, with information to be shared at a later date. 

Memorial donations may be made in Jeans name with the American Red Cross at: https://americanredcross.donordrive.com/campaign/In-Memory-of-Jean-Ward or simply consider giving blood at a local blood drive in her honor.