Jean was born in London, England, on 8 July 1934, to Ivy and Reginald Stobbart. She had an older sister, Pat,(who still lives in Crawley) and an older brother,Rex. Pearl followed a few years later.
The family was evacuated to Crawley during the war, and continued to reside there after peace was declared. She had many stories about being bombed, wartime rationing, and one about when her school was bombed.
Jean received a scholarship to a private girls' school in Horsham, due to her academic standing, and later a place at London University to study math. She chose instead to go to teacher's college at St Gabriel's, London.
After college she taught infants in Crawley, sometimes in the same school as her mother, Ivy.
Jean played centre for her high school field hockey team. Many members of the opposing team left with bruised shins. She also played tennis, which she continued to enjoy, playing for the Crawley team.
It was at a match between Crawley and Horsham that she caught the eye of a handsome young man named Malcolm. They started to date and he eventually had the good sense to propose to her. She accepted and they were married in 1956. Carey and Laurel arrived in 1957 and 1958.
Jean and Malcolm emigrated to Quebec in 1967, and moved to Ontario in 1969 where they both taught for the Etobicoke Board of Education. Jean taught kindergarten and special education.
Many of her colleagues have described her as a gifted teacher. Children gravitated to her. She taught children to read who were never expected to learn.
Jean retired in 1989 so she was able to spend a lot of time travelling with Malcolm, and playing her three grandchildren.
Jean is survived by a heartbroken Malcolm, Carey (Pat), grandson Tristan, Laurel (Bill), granddaughter Marina (Scott) and grandson (Drake).
The word that best describes Jean is “kind”. She will be missed beyond measure.