Iris R Sears

Iris Rousseve Sears, affectionately known as "Miss Iris," passed away peacefully at 92 years young at home with her family by her side on Tuesday, November 11th, 2025. She was a 69-year resident of Fair Haven, NJ, but Miss Iris lived all over. She previously resided in Edgard, LA, Los Angeles, CA, Washington D.C., and Sicily, Italy.

Iris was born on October 25th, 1933 in New Orleans, LA to Rose Duronslet Rousseve and Lionel Rousseve. She graduated high school in California and went on to serve honorably in the U.S. Navy from January 17th, 1955 until February 28th, 1957. While in the Navy, she met her future husband, John A. Sears. Iris married her beloved husband of almost 67 years on February 17th, 1957 in Red Bank, NJ. Aside from serving in the military, Iris worked for several staple businesses such as the Red Bank Register and Dr. Wright Dental Office of Red Bank.

Iris had diverse interests and pursuits. She enjoyed playing all types of card games, especially Pinochle, Rummy, and Kings in the Corner, doing crossword puzzles, and watching game shows with $10,000 Pyramid, Press Your Luck, and Password being among her favorites. She also enjoyed introducing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to different games, instilling in them the importance of being a good sport. She was an avid traveler and loved taking trips with her daughter, Joy, to visit her other daughter, Denise, and Denise's family wherever the U.S. Air Force had them stationed. Absolutely nothing would stop Iris from traveling to see her granddaughters (and eventually her great-grandchildren). She would take "trains, planes, and automobiles" to get to places like Washington D.C., Wyoming, Alabama, Maryland, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Washington, Hawaii, and Virginia to see her family that she loved above all else. Her entire house and refrigerator were filled with pictures of all her beautiful grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Miss Iris was loved by all for her candor and no-nonsense approach. She was not known to mince words. She was a fierce, loyal, and resilient firecracker of a woman who would go down swinging to protect her family. As a teen, she stepped up and helped her mother raise and care for the family, taking odd jobs from a young age. Later in life, she assisted several elderly aunts and uncles with their care. Although her life was busy, she always found time to open her home to entertain the neighborhood children, dozens of cousins, and nieces and nephews alike. Known as the "favorite aunt," she was always fun to be around. And once the grandchildren and great-grandchildren came along, she became the all-time favorite "Granny" and "GiGi."

Iris was predeceased by her parents, Rose and Lionel Rousseve, her dear husband, John A. Sears (2024), her siblings, Charles Rousseve, Emile Rousseve, Maurice Rousseve, and Canedia Thomas, and sister-in-law, Una Sears Edmead.

She is survived by her children, Denise Sears Taylor (Darryl Williams) of Virginia and Joy Sears (Oz Blount) of New Jersey, her grandchildren, Brittany Zierow (Rolf), Courtney Taylor, Angel Taylor, Trinesha Wessel (Vernon), and Shalanna Taylor, her great-grandchildren, Nikolai and Axel Zierow, Ashtin Taylor, Madison and Dillon Ware, Chloe and Carter Wessel, and Levi Tillman, her sister, Ruby Coustaut, and a host of very special nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held for Miss Iris on Saturday, February 28th, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701. There will be a private interment at the BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ.