Jean Ellen Clohessy

FUNERAL HOME

Summers Funeral Home

1205 West Bannock Street

Boise, Idaho

Jean Clohessy Obituary

Jean Ellen Clohessy Jean Ellen Clohessy, 78, died at home on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008 surrounded by her family. Jean was born on May 10, 1930, in Burlington, Wis. to Gervase and Ruth Flaherty. The firstborn, with brothers Tim, Dennis, and Mike, Jean loved ice skating, swimming, and piano. When Jean was 12, her mother died. Her father remarried to Frances "Connie" O'Connor. Jean graduated from South Milwaukee High School and St. Mary's School of Nursing. Jean met Curtice Clohessy in the lunch line at Minneapolis General Hospital. They married on Nov. 20, 1954. After Curt's stint in the Navy in California, the family came to Boise in 1959, where Curt began practice in internal medicine and Jean was a homemaker. With their three children, they skied and sailed, painted and nailed. Jean maintained lifelong friendships with childhood pals and enjoyed reunions with high school and nursing school classmates. She was a member of the Catholic Church. Many will remember her in the Hulls Gulch trails area with her devoted dog, Daisy. She had a zest for life and a flair for organization, and with her family lived, as she said, "a very good life." Generous to her family, full of enjoyment and ideas, Jean will be very dearly missed. Jean's beloved husband Curt died in 1995. Jean is survived by her children Steve Clohessy (Anne) and their children Collin and Nicholas; John Clohessy; and Katherine Young (Steve) and their children Ellen and William. Memorials to Jean's life would be welcomed by the Idaho Humane Society's Mobile Clinic, 4775 Dorman Street, Boise. Idaho 83705. Memorial services will be held Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 at 10 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Cathedral. Reception will follow the services at the Clohessy home, 3408 Meadow Drive, Boise. Private family burial will be at Morris Hill Cemetery. Arrangements are by Summers Funeral Homes, Boise Chapel.

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Published by Idaho Statesman from Oct. 29 to Oct. 30, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Jean Clohessy

4 Entries

Cindy (Vaughn) Sangster

November 11, 2008

Dear Steven, John, and Katherine and families,

I was stunned to hear about your mother's (and grandmother's) passing. You are all in my prayers. I'm sure this is a very difficult time for you all.

My grandmother, Margaret Evans, worked for your father for many years. (She retired in the spring of 1969.) Grandma thought the world of your parents. Your mother and my grandmother kept in touch until Grandma passed away (age 99) last February. I vaguely remember you all, but I do remember Katherine toddling around your dad's office. Sometimes I would help your mom and Grandma at statement time. I also remember going to a couple picnics at your cabin.

Here is a little story to tell you about how someone can always be part of your life - even if you don't pay attention to that fact.

About a month ago, part of our family got together for our annual fishing trip. For a snack, I dug out a box of store-bought ginger snaps. Everyone had a fit because I hadn't made "Grandma's" ginger snaps - the ones we always had. No one else had the recipe and asked that I please send it to them. Yesterday, I finally remembered to copy the recipe for everyone. Guess whose name was on the from line - Jean Clohessy.

(When my dad saw your mom's name on the recipe card, he e-mailed about your mother.)

Please realize that this isn't just any ol' cookie recipe. These were and still are our absolute favorite cookies. (Please contact me if you would like a copy of the recipe.)
Cookies made from this recipe have been made and/or served in at least Idaho, Michigan, California, Oregon, Utah, and Indiana. They have been served at youth group, church functions, 4-H meetings, lunches, school parties. They have been sent to "starving" college students and to people in the military. Literally, we (including my brothers) have made these cookies hundreds of times. Thank you, Mrs. Clohessy.

Rod Jensen

October 30, 2008

Dear Jean ("Mrs. Clohessy"): May you forever rest in the eternal peace, love and joy of Christ our Saviour. Steve, John, Katherine, spouses and grandkids: Your Mom was a wonderful, wonderful person. As was your Dad. She was truly one of the most upbeat, positive, infectiously happy and caring individuals I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. And lucky for me - I was blessed to have known her nearly my entire life! I remember being in your basement on Meadow Dr. before your folks had it finished - even before Katherine was born. Steve and John, you guys had airplane models, car models, truck models, and all other sort of interesting, creative things spread out as works in progress. And I can remember, probably my earliest memory of doing something with you and your folks, going out to a place on either Chinden Blvd. or State St. It was, as I recall, a miniature golf place, or something fun along those lines. That was probably in, like, 1963 maybe 1964? Does that sound about right, if you remember? And I recall going up Pine Creek with you and your family to your folks' cabin that ya'll were building (speaking of painting and nailing!). We rode your Dad's Trail 90 around the area quite a bit that day, if I remember right! And those were only a couple of events in a long, lasting, and ceaselessly fun friendship with you and your folks. One day before long, we'll all have to get together again and talk about the good ol' days on Meadow Dr. Jean sure as heck made them as good as one could ever have hoped. To me, Jean was like a surrogate mom, along with Beverly Brunelle, Mary Lou Leonard, Mrs. Alkire, Mrs. Stein, my mom Billie of course, and many others (too many others?). And over the years, after we'd all pretty much gone our separate ways, Jean, my wife and I would still run into each other on Meadow Dr. or in the neighborhood. We'd talk up a storm getting caught up on everyones' lives and whereabouts. I'll really miss those conversations with Jean and will cherish them always. Toni and I had the pleasure of bumping into your mom and dad out on a walk in the neighborhood, shortly before your father passed away too. Even in the sadness of thinking back on that moment and the conversation, it was still the humble power, beauty and love of your folks that made it so wonderful. And every time Jean and us would similarly bump into each other thereafter, the same: humble, grand beauty, love for, and power of life. Your mom was amazing. I'll sure miss seeing her on Meadow Drive and in the Meadow Dr. folks' neighborhood. I know the neighborhood will miss her dearly too. Our deepest sympathies and love always Steve, John, Katherine and family. You're in our thoughts and prayers.

Most sincerely,

Rod, Toni, Monica, Ceci, and Lucy Jensen

Lisa Malespin

October 30, 2008

I had the pleasure of Jean's company at my work at Brownfield's. She was an inspiration to all she met and spoke so fondly of her family and dog. She will be missed. God bless you Jean.

Crystal Collier

October 29, 2008

I work at the wound clinic where Jean was getting treated. Everyday that she came in was like seeing a ray of sunshine walk through the door. Jean often made me smile and laugh because she always had something nice to say. She will be greatly missed by myself as well as the entire clinic.

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