JEAN ROSE SANCHEZ

JEAN ROSE SANCHEZ 1925 - 2025

Jean Rose Sanchez, "Grammie Jean", passed away peacefully at the age 100, after a life filled
with family, friends, service and dancing.
Jean was born January 18, 1925 in Los Angeles, CA and always called herself "a city girl at heart", although she lived much of her adult life in the beautiful mountains of Big Bear Lake, California. Her memories of her childhood centered around her parents, Jesse and Basil Rose. Jesse instilled a lifelong love of reading and conversation. Basil emphasized rigorous physical fitness activities and Jean excelled at swimming, skiing, tennis and walking. Jean loved school at all levels, and graduated from UCLA with a degree in English Literature. It was at UCLA that she met her future husband, Tom Sanchez. They were married in 1947 and moved to Big Bear soon after. Tom and Jean quickly became well known and well-loved members of the community and stayed so for many years. Both worked for the school district, although Jean's first job was teaching in a one room school house in Angeles Oaks. She then spent 20 plus years teaching 5th grade in Big Bear. She also spent two years teaching at the prestigious Los Angeles Westlake School for girls.
Tom and Jean moved to Long Beach in 1981. After Jean's retirement from teaching, she became a dedicated volunteer advocate for the California Alliance for the Mentally Ill. She traveled to Sacramento often to speak to the state legislature, and in 1992, she was named Volunteer of the Year for the LA County Department of Mental Health and the Volunteer of the Year for all of Los Angeles County.
Jean was also known for giving lively New Year's Eve parties, dancing at every opportunity, and being an involved parent, grandparent and great grandparent. At the age of 91, she moved to Sunrise Independent Living in Salt Lake City and immediately became one of their most popular residents. She danced at her 100th birthday party.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband Tom, daughter Dianne and son Tommy. She is survived by son Craig Sanchez and wife Kathy Kelly, daughter Sandie Proctor and husband Kenny Proctor; grandchildren Jeney Sanchez, Scott Proctor, Brett Sanchez, Kriss Proctor, and six great grandchildren.
In her last years, Jean often proclaimed that she had a wonderful life. Her family agrees.
In lieu of flowers please donate under Jean Sanchez to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. (NAMI)