Jeanne Crystal Duffield-Becker (née Monahan)

Duffield-Becker, Jeanne Crystal (née Monahan), baptized into the hope of Christ's resurrection, Friday, September 19, 2025. 

Jeanne Duffield Becker, a devoted mother of four and faithful Catholic, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the age of 96. Jeanne was preceded in death by the love of her life, Eugene “Gene” Duffield, and her dear second husband, Albert “Al’ Becker, Jr.

Born on December 18, 1928, in Morristown, New Jersey, Jeanne was the youngest of six. At the age of 18, she trained under a local dentist to become a dental assistant, an occupation she continued part-time for much of her life.

Jeanne married Gene Duffield on June 17, 1950, and they shared 36 joyous years of marriage together as a “pair of Jeans”, before his passing on April 22, 1986. Together, Gene and Jeanne raised four daughters, Colleen, Maureen, Cathleen “Cathy”, and Eileen. 

Jeanne was known for her baking skills. Her cakes and pies, especially her legendary apple pie, were often requested and cherished by family and friends. Every dish she made was infused with love, and her many guests fondly recall the warmth of her kitchen and the joy that came from her meals.

Jeanne’s quick wit and strategic mind made her an accomplished bridge player, enjoying the game with friends in three different groups during her prime. Whether as a fierce competitor, or a welcoming partner, she made every game enjoyable, and her spirit will be remembered at every card table she graced.

Travel was one of her greatest joys.  With Gene, they made memorable journeys from the tropical shores of the Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands to the historic cities of Europe. Naturally there were trips to Ireland, which held a special place in their hearts. 

After Gene’s passing, she was blessed to marry Albert “Al” Becker, Jr. in 1994, and became a second mother to Janet, the late Donna, and Albert Becker III. Al and Jeanne shared wonderful times together visiting Australia and New Zealand as well as square dancing and camping with the “the Gang”.

She would continue to travel the world, visiting the Holy Lands and Nordic countries with her good friend, Edith.  Later Jeanne traveled to the Mediterranean with her companion, the late Jack Lewis.

Jeanne’s Catholic faith was the foundation of her life. She was an active and dedicated member of St. Joseph’s Parish in Manchester, MO, where she served as a Eucharistic minister and was a treasured member of the church choir, singing alongside Gene for many years. Her love for the church extended to volunteering for parish events such as sausage suppers and fish fries. For 20 years, Jeanne was also a devoted member of the “Helping Hands” ministry, offering her assistance and sharing her compassion to those experiencing the loss of a loved one. 

The foundation of her home life revolved around the love Jeanne had for her four daughters, Colleen (Dave), Maureen (Jay), Cathy (Tom), and Eileen (Dan), and she was the beloved “Nanny” to her five grandchildren, Nicholas (Melissa), Alicia (Ryan), Travis, Claire (John) and Matthew (Tiffany) and three great-grandchildren, Clara, Olivia and Reese. Her spirit will live on through them for many years to come. She leaves behind a powerful example of a life lived with purpose, dedication and love. 

Services: Visitation at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 567 St. Joseph Lane, Manchester, Monday, September 29, from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 10:30 a.m. Interment at St. Joseph Cemetery, Manchester. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Unbound.

As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family’s on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.