Jean S. McGuire

At 82, our Mom decided she's read every book worth reading here and moved on to a library with a better fiction section. Jean passed away peacefully on March 16, 2026. A woman of quiet strength packed into a tiny, 5'2" frame, she lived by a code her husband, David, summed up perfectly by saying of her, "she neither offers nor takes any bullshit".

She was born in Chicago on May 18, 1943, to the late John Anthony and Ethlyn (Miley) Svoboda. Her resilience grew out of a childhood where independence was put upon her at an early age. Her Dad passed away when she was just four years old. Raised by a single working mom at a time when day care was uncommon, Jean attended elementary boarding school at St. Patrick Academy in Momence, IL. Once older, she and her Mom lived in an apartment in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. She attended Immaculata High School and then Mundelein College, institutions that bestowed in her an appreciation for the benefits of an all-girls education and a lifelong love of reading.

She was married for 56 years to David McGuire until his passing on November 22, 2022. After marrying in 1966, Jean and David moved to Northbrook and stayed rooted in that community for half a century. The center of Jean's community and friendships were found at St Norbert's Catholic Church. An active member and volunteer, it was there she and a close group of girlfriends bonded over their shared senses of humor and their faith, naming themselves the "Deaconesses"-a title they adopted as a cheeky nod to the Church's glass ceiling. She was a faithful Catholic who deeply respected the Church while also acknowledging the cracks in the

institution.

Long before "artisanal" was a trendy marketing term, she was living it. Family meals were made up of everything from hand-cranked pasta to homemade bread, DIY peanut butter, and French cuisine; she cooked her way through Julia Child's repertoire decades before the rest of the world caught on via Hollywood. Equally skilled with a needle, she sewed most of her own clothes, knitted colorful hats and mittens, and created cheerful and cozy quilts. And she loved to read. If she were here, she'd remind you that buying a book is a rookie mistake when your public library exists for free. Frugal to the end, she believed a library card was like a blank check. Even after moving to assisted living and hanging up her car keys, she immediately secured a local library card and filled her laptop with a steady stream of novels, newspapers, and knitting patterns. She always kept a notebook where she listed each book she read; she simply recorded the book title and author, and paired it with a few quick words of her opinion on the book. Her ultimate remedy for stress was her favorite author, Jane Austen. Whenever life got chaotic, her directive was simple: "Keep calm and read Jane Austen."

She leaves behind her children, son James (Bridgette) McGuire of Liberty Township, OH, and daughter, Ruth (Darren) Lange of Wheaton, IL, as well as her seven grandchildren (the magnificent seven as she called them); Meghan McGuire, Madison McGuire, Molly McGuire, Grace Lange, Benjamin Lange, Maggie Lange, and Kevin Lange. Her greatest joy was seeing her grandkids grow into young adults, and seeing them inherit her quiet strength, her love of a good read, and her inability to suffer fools.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

In her honor, she'd say please skip the flowers or donations and instead, support your local public library.