Jean Zimmer

1942 - 2025

Jean Seeta Devi (Ramson) Zimmer, a devoted grandmother, mother, wife, sibling and lifelong teacher passed away on November 1, 2025. Born April 25, 1942, to Waveney and JG Ramson in Georgetown, Guyana, Jean was the eldest of their thirteen children. Jean moved to the U.S. in 1967 to attend college, the first of her family to do so. She met John Leo Zimmer, her husband to be, there in Omaha, Nebraska while attending College of St. Mary and Duchesne College. She and John were married in 1970 and her family grew even larger as the Zimmers and Parles welcomed their bright, energetic new daughter-in-law into their clan. She and John made lasting friendships in all the places they called home, including Fayetteville, NC, Omaha, NE, Kalamazoo MI, Macon, GA, Glenwood, IA and finally for the past eight years in Denver, CO with her daughter and son in law, Shanta and Fernando Holguin. Her grandsons, Mateo and Diego Holguin were the light of her life and the lessons she left them will endure forever. In their teenage years, she became their number one sports fan, questioner of girlfriends, favorite lunch or breakfast date, and teasing partner, tolerating their constant jokes with a witty response and a giggle.

Jean was a dedicated teacher for 42 years and served as a K-8 principal at St. Peter Claver School. During her career, she taught students of all backgrounds, ages and abilities. Her unique gift was to see the potential in every child and to persist in finding keys to unlocking their success as a learner. Those children, now successful adults with children of their own, make up a massive Facebook fan club for Jean where she enjoys seeing how those "kids" thrive in communities across the US. Not far behind her former student community are the wonderful colleagues, she calls her "teacher friends" who continued to support her through these past few years, including through the loss of her beloved John Leo.

If forced to choose a favorite student, Jean would have to pick the one who called her "Mom" in and outside of school. In fact, when she taught Shanta in the first grade at Holy Name School in Omaha, the class voted on whether Mrs. Zimmer or Mom would be the appropriate title in the classroom. Shanta, her cousins, and now her children and their cousins experienced the type of firm but compassionate discipline that she used to bring out the best in every student in her life. The importance of hard work, education, leadership, social justice, and altruism are expectations Jean has left to all of us. Long after she retired, Jean turned her teaching to the generations around her, including in her parishes in Glenwood and Denver. She was fortunate to have lived a full life to the very end, administering Holy Communion to her home-bound friends, attending art class and Tai Chi even up to the week of her passing.

Most important to Jean throughout her life was her Christian worship and works. While a young Catholic high school student, she expressed the desire to become a Catholic Nun. Although she was called instead to marriage, she served her churches, community and all of us as if she were a holy servant. She attended church every day, served as a lector in the church and a Eucharistic minister for more than 50 years. Her life was truly centered on living the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Preceded in death by the love her life John Leo (March 2024), Jean Seeta is survived by her immediate family of daughter Shanta, son-in-law Fernando, grandsons Mateo and Diego; and siblings Gloria Gorringe, Lloyd Ramson, Charles (Bonnie) Ramson, Indira Hairston, Sally Manns, George Ramson, Joe Ramson, Indrani Ramson-Malley, Raj Ramson, Kamla Branche, Shanta Ramson, and Robert Ramson. Jean found much joy in the gatherings and celebrations of the extended family, including her brothers and sisters in law on both sides, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Graduations, weddings, and reunions were special times for her, and she was always glad to participate in preparation of traditional favorite meals with the family, blending cultures of Guyana and India with Zimmer favorites, too. She especially enjoyed the annual summer trip to Martha's Vineyard where she was a regular and fearless participant in the Ink Well Beach Polar Bear classes. Jean left family and friends with innumerable memories to provide comfort during this time. More importantly perhaps is an even greater expectation that more of us choose to live a life committed to the love and betterment of our neighbors. As one of those favorite students reminded us with his second-grade card to his Valentine, "Nothing Shimmers like Mrs. Zimmers."