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JEAN DUNNINGTON Obituary
JEAN MARIE DUNNINGTON (Age 63)
On Wednesday, February 5, 2014, of Silver Spring, MD. Amazing and beloved sister of Frances "Betty" Thompson. Her loss is mourned by Betty's husband, Donald "Andy" Thompson, their children, Elizabeth and Greg Thompson, their families, her aunts and cousins, and many friends from church, libraries, organizations of people with disabilities, science fiction groups, book groups, and more. Relatives and friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, (Valet Parking), Sunday, February 9, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Bernadette's Church, 72 University Blvd. East, Silver Spring, MD, on Monday, February 10, at 10:30 a.m. Interment St. John's Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to support disability-related library services through Friends of the Library Montgomery County, 21 Maryland Ave, Suite 310, Rockville, MD 20850, and made payable to FOLMC DRC Account, in memory of Jeanie Dunnington.www.COLLINSFUNERALHOME.com
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Memories and Condolences
for JEAN DUNNINGTON
Kathlin Smith
February 1, 2022
I miss Jean. I worked with her on library advocacy and always cherished the times when I drove us to and from Rockville, catching up on news, perspectives on the library, and such. She was such a thoughtful, articulate force for good.
Chris lUNDY
March 1, 2014
I knew Jeanie very well when I worked at the Special Needs Library and she was so active with the Friends of the Library there, a roll she continued at the Rockville Memorial Library. She was always so pleasant, always in a good mood, always positive no matter what was going on. In the years since the Special Needs Library closed, I saw her often around town, and she really lifted my spirits whenever she said hello. I will miss her so much. Bless you, Jeanie.
A. Ingram
February 17, 2014
Jean touched the lives of many. She will truly be missed by all. May the Father of tender mercies help you to cope with your loss.
Jane Cartney
February 14, 2014
You were absolutely correct to call her "amazing'. Nothing prevented her from living a full and useful life. I'm a former Lorain Avenue neighbor and will always cherish her friendship as well as her mother's and Theresa's
Susan Jaskot
February 11, 2014
Dear Betty and Family,
I worked with Jeanie in the Catalog Office of the Folger Shakespeare Library from 1981-1986, and again from 1992-1995. Despite her increasing difficulties with vision over those years, Jeanie worked meticulously and with zest, and never complained. She was a supportive friend to me, and I still treasure the amazing baby blanket that she crocheted for my oldest child, which featured a brilliant pattern of signal flags (my husband was in the Coast Guard at the time). All three of my children used it. I'm humbled to learn here of all that Jeanie did after her retirement from the Folger. She was a bright spirit whom I will never forget.
Kathlin Smith
February 10, 2014
I got to know Jeanie from my work as a volunteer with the Montgomery County Public Libraries. We carpooled to many testimonies, briefings, and other events, and I always looked forward to her company. Her sense of humor, intellect, and dedication to public libraries will remain an inspiration to me. She has left us too soon, and I will miss her. My heart goes out to her family.
Jane Fu
February 10, 2014
Jeanie leaves behind an amazing legacy of a tireless advocate for the low vision and handicapped community. I came to know her at the Saturday Adaptive Technology program and Tuesday computer lab activities, both at the Rockville Memorial Library. She was always cheerful,kind,helpful and generous with her time. She will be sorely missed, but her legacy and spirit live on.
~Jane L. Fu,
Catherine Cecere
February 10, 2014
Dear Betty and family,
I was deeply saddened to hear about Jeanie this morning. I last saw her several years ago at the Folk Life Festival on the National Mall. We chatted and as usual, she was so upbeat and positive. I will always remember her charming smile. She was an inspiration to me.
Deepest sympathy,
Cathy Ault
Lois Neuman
February 9, 2014
I too have special memories of Jeanie from our work with the Montgomery County Public Libraries where she shared her ideas, suggestions, and support for libraries. Her strong leadership of and participation in the Disabled Resource Center contributed to the community voice. I last saw Jeanie in November at a library meeting. Despite her recent health challenges, she remained enthusiastic and involved. I cherish the memory and my good fortune to have known her.
Patrick McGuire
February 9, 2014
I had known Jeanie, not well, but for decades, from science-fiction circles. I remember interesting conversations and her general cheer and optimism. She will remain in my thoughts and prayers.
David Poehlman
February 8, 2014
Jeanie was a ood friend of mine and also a good friend of Jennifer Etowski who died on February 5, 2009.
Burt Levy
February 7, 2014
Every once-in-a-while, our Creator plants a gem in HIS garden to show all of the rest of us the best example of HIS work. Jeanie was one of those gems-! I was privileged to meet Jeanie shortly after I got involved in the Low-Vision Community at Services for the Visually Impaired. The fact that she was a really special human being was obvious from that very first meeting. As a source of aids and appliances for visual impairments, I had met many folks who were just angry about losing their vision and most had very little patience to learn how to cope with their loss. Jeanie was so very different. She seemed to consider her vision loss an opportunity to develop new skills-! And she did just that. She not only learned how to get along in an ever darkening world, she shared her skills and knowledge with everyone else in the Low-Vision community. Later, when I took on the responsibility of providing a Low-Vision Resource – Jeannie's encouragement and positive nature were instrumental in any success I have had. An example of her great influence on the Low-Vision Community was when she asked me to provide a ‘button' which read “I HAVE LOW VISION.” She proudly pinned that button on her hat - and within hours, my phone began to ring with requests for ‘the Low Vision Button' - !!!
She stopped by to see me between hospitalizations a while back and – despite what I had heard from others about her health – she looked good and had that ever-present good nature. I did notice that she kind of paused on her way out and somehow it occurred to me to she had more to share than she was willing to tell, so I got up and we did at least share a warm and meaningful hug. I am so glad to have that memory. I'm never very good at sending ‘Get Well' cards or even at making phone calls to check on the sick and ailing, but at least I did have that chance to convey how much I cared about her.
She will be sorely missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Sincerely,
Burt Levy
Beyond Specs and the White Cane '& More'
Iva Blake
February 7, 2014
To the Thompson Family - Jeannie will be missed by staff and friends here at the Library for The Blind and Physically Handicapped. We always looked forward to her visits. She was an amazing person with passion and purpose. May she rest in peace.
Brian and Kelley McCormick
February 7, 2014
We will miss our Lorain avenue neighbor. She was always so kind to our boys. What a great example to let nothing ever slow your down. Rest in Peace Jeanie.
Carole Burnett
February 7, 2014
Jeanie is the most patient, hopeful, and serene individual whom I have ever known. She is a precious treasure who has simply moved from this very imperfect world into the kingdom of her Heavenly Father, whom she loved and relied on throughout her entire earthly life. Jeanie, your brightness will continue to shine on me until we meet again. MUCH LOVE, Carole
February 7, 2014
Dear Betty and Andy,
Our sympathy and prayers go out to you and your family. May Jeanie rest in peace in the arms of the risen Savior.
Bill and Judy Dinges
Kamran Rasul
February 7, 2014
Jeanie, my friend and co-host for the Saturday Adaptive Technology program @ MCPL, you will be missed, thank you for your friendship and care for individuals with disability in the community. KR
Kamran Rasul
February 7, 2014
Jean was a friend and a partner for the Saturday Assistive Technology program we host together @ MCPL. You will be missed. Kamran.
Jeanie w/Aunt Helen 10/2/2012 at Ashley's House after Abby's Baptism
Pat Dunnington
February 7, 2014
My Dear Cousin Betty,
Jeanie, and you, waged a valiant and courageous battle with an aggressive and terrible attack on her physical being. But Jeanie's spiritual being never, ever gave up working for life - always focused on doing good for others. Would that we all could leave a legacy as honorable as Jeanie's legacy. We are all very proud of her and will greatly miss her spirit in our lives.
As I think back over our lives, I remember our childhood Christmas visits, July 4th picnics, the gardens at Lorain Ave, and numerous other family gatherings – Jeanie was always smiling and laughing and finding joy in being together as family. Despite her lifelong physical challenges, she never let that stop her – and she carried that spirit into her adulthood. The work with the libraries, to which she so passionately dedicated her life, will live on and help many, many people – amazing! I remember her always being there for milestones in our family, including within the last few years the baptisms of Jim's daughter Ashley's children (Abby and Ryan), and my Mom's (Helen's) 90th Birthday. Jeanie was always there and always took such joy in celebrating with us.
Jeanie always had a positive spirit and overcame every challenge life placed in front of her…she was and always will be an amazing soul. There's a little quote that means a lot to me, which I think also speaks to Jeanie's spirit: “Life…It's not about waiting for the Storm to pass, it's about learning to Dance in the rain.” Jeanie Danced – every day of her life. And that's how I will always remember my dear cousin Jeanie.
Kate Lewis
February 7, 2014
May you Jeanie rest in Peace and enter inside the Lord's home and share the same love and wisdom that you had done for us on earth as you will do in heaven. I will always love you and always miss you my dear friend. Prayers indeed always to you and to your family. xxoxooxxoxo You will always be close to my heart and soul as all of my friends and love ones up in the Lord's home is to me. You were indeed a very special lady and very funny. Always there to cheer me up when ever I needed a friend. Thanks for being my friend all of these years. God bless you.
Mary Mason
February 7, 2014
Wishing you all peace and comfort in your memories of Jeanie - such a very special person. With much love, Mary
Kate Lewis
February 7, 2014
Betty this is part of the e-mail I sent out to Cathy Hellerman.Something I wanted to share with you and your family.
This is beyond so sad we just spoke around the Christmas holidays a couple meetings back.
We talked about my job, about my niece to be etc. I was listening to everyone at the last
meeting about Jeanie and I was planning to help her out with driving etc.. duties. I
wished she didn't died so, I could of visited her at the hospital cause I don't think I
sent her a card and I may of e-mailed her in the past but, its gonna be hard to not see
her around when she was indeed a kind loving lady and dear friend. I will miss her a
whole lot. Jeanie always was concern about I cause I have a heart disease and a pacemaker.
I was so surprised and shocked when I knew she had Cancer but, when I spoke to her last I suppose around Christmas or around the New year. She seemed a tad bit tired but, was still talking about the many things she wanted to finish at home prior to returning back to the hospital. She mention how she loved to do the yard work just feeling the sun hit her head at a certain hour of the day especially while planting her flowers in the yard. She enjoyed hearing me sing while at St.Bernadette's in the choir from 2006-2013 & now for almost eight months I had joined the Folk Group at St.John the Baptist. I don't sing at St.Bernadette's church anymore unless its in the pews. Jeanie and I used to go out to Starbucks once or twice a month depending on my health , my family events etc.. plans. There were times I would go to the 9:00am Mass to see Jeanie and then go to the 6:00pm Mass at St.John the Baptist to sing later on. All I can say Betty is that I'm deeply sorry for your loss. I only had met you Betty a few times. But, as you know I was a friend to both of your sisters who are now in Heaven with your parents. I hope that we can remain in touch and become friends too.
I will try my hardest to attend the wake in memory of your sister. But, with I being a full time child care teacher, I don't know if my boss who is one of my friends will give me the morning off to attend the funeral. I will say maybe. I honestly didn't expect her to die I thought when Jeanie and I spoke for the last time she was okay. Even though she mention not all foods and drinks were agreeing with her,I just thought the meds may of given her a mild side effects of some kind.
My suggestion that I had mention to the sodality was to have a Mass in memory of Jeanie where the whole entire St.Bernadette's sodality group both near and far will attend a 9:00am Mass on a Sunday for her.
I wish I can do more for you and for your family Betty.
You are in my thoughts and in my prayers.
Love and Hugs,
Kate Lewis.
Feel free to e-mail me anytime. Thanks.
February 7, 2014
Dear Betty & Don,
Our most sincere condolences on your loss. Please know that you and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
God bless,
Steve & Mary Cassidy
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