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Jean Foresta Obituary

June 24, 1919 - March 15, 2020 Jean had many friends, but "family" [ her 3 kids: Hank, Ken and Phyllis] were everything to her. As her family grew so did she. She focused on her 7 grandkids and 10 great grandkids. She had many admirable traits: humble, honest, reliable, energetic, friendly, and most of all a"worker". Housewife, seamstress, baker, cook and wedding cake decorator were her occupations. Arrivaderci con affettuosi abraci e baci da familia.

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Published by Pasadena Star-News on Apr. 1, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Jean Foresta

Sponsored by Pasadena Star-News.

24 Entries

April 1, 2020

To Jean's family, so very sorry for your loss. My late mother-in-law, Marie Flosdorf and Jean were friends for many years. Being a handyman, I did many home improvement projects at Jean's home on Cameron Ave, and she was always happy to see me. One year her olive trees were so heavy with fruit that I picked a 5 gal bucket and set them up in brine, they were delicious. She lived a good, long life and will be dearly missed. Robert and Lucille Steele Sr. West Covina

With my mom on her 100th birthday in June 2019

Phyllis Stute

March 31, 2020

Happy 100th birthday!

Lisa Stute

March 31, 2020

circa 2016

Lisa Stute

March 31, 2020

Jean Foresta and Lisa Stute playing cards in 2018

Lisa Stute

March 31, 2020

Mike Stute with Jean Foresta

Lisa Stute

March 31, 2020

Mike, Michelle, Sam, and Maddie Stute with Jean Foresta

Lisa Stute

March 31, 2020

Jean Foresta and grand daughter Lisa Stute

Lisa Stute

March 31, 2020

Jean Foresta and Paul Burval

Lisa Stute

March 31, 2020

Easter 2015

Lisa Stute

March 31, 2020

Lisa Stute

March 31, 2020

Pictures from the past five years

My mom, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, and me circa 2007

Phyllis Stute

March 26, 2020

A Life Well-Lived
Tenacious, caring, energetic, loving . . . the list could go on and on. That was our mother. She never let anyone down and always jumped in and was right there to help in any crisis. She is gone, but never forgotten, and always loved and with us.

Grandma from about 12 years ago having fun on an ATV and spending time with her great-grandson, Alex, who I hope held her hand and led her to her eternal home.

Lisa Stute

March 26, 2020

Grandma was the best grandmother anyone could ask for. When my other grandmother died when I was four and I was inconsolable, she calmed me by saying that she would be such a good grandmother, it would feel like I still had two! And, she kept her word. We enjoyed so many activities together and she taught me so many things, like how to bake Easter bread, sew, crochet, knit, needlepoint, and shop like a pro in Los Angeles.
When the going got tough, she went with me to court numerous times during my lengthy divorce. When hardships happened, she was always present, comforting and helping, such as when my dad and Alex died, and when I had surgery. When times were good, she did special things for me, like buy me my first high heels, take me for my first ear piercings, and look at houses that I considered buying.
She never forgot anyone's birthday and hosted major holidays at her home until she was about 97, giving all of us a sense of family tradition and belonging. She valued her family above all else. Words are not enough to express how much she is loved and will be missed.

Marlene Edwards

March 25, 2020

We only knew her as Grandma Foresta: known for her wonderful cooking, her great sense of humor and her feisty personality. She was a very special lady and will be greatly missed by family and friends alike

Grandma, you taught us what you gave us...Love, strength, understanding, forgiveness, family. We'll miss you so much, We love you so much .

Robin Foresta

March 25, 2020

Hank Foresta

March 25, 2020

Grandma at out wedding, 10/20/01, cuttin' up the dance floor!

Michael Stute

March 24, 2020

Grandma became Great Grandma once we had kids, but she'll always be Grandma to me. She was always there for all of us in thick and thin, lending a helping hand or arguing a valid point. I don't have many pictures, but I found this one from our wedding, doing was she did best: Having fun! I like to remember her this way, dancing and living life to its fullest. She used to tell me all the time, "Michael, you gotta get some fun out of life, don't worry, honey, stay positive..." As I get older, I realize how true those words are. Her last words to me were, "Michael, I love you very much." Grandma was tough and strong, but very loving, and it's how I'll always remember her.

Eleonora Bineau

March 24, 2020

My mother was Jeans oldest sister. We were very close as both friend and family.

Sharon Fannin

March 23, 2020

Grandma put her all into helping me and all the family She was always there when I needed her.
Life is not the same without her, however we go on to a changed life. She would want us to continue being the best people we can be! Helping each other and loving each other.
Some of our best times were just sitting around her kitchen table talking til 11or12 at night. She had many stories to tell! We talked and talked.
Love you always grandma

Southwoods 2019

Nida Apisaksiritada

March 23, 2020

Hello Ma: I have known you for 4 years; I appreciate that I am your daughter-in-law, and wife of your son Ken.
I enjoyed talking to you; thank you for helping me speak English o you.

Happy Birthday

Tony Foresta

March 23, 2020

Thanks Grandma for all your help, advice and love

Centenial

Hollie Foresta

March 23, 2020

Grandma helped me a great deal !

Ken Foresta

March 23, 2020

My mother lived 98 years of very good health; her last 2 years were very difficult for her. She did not want to be a burden; she did not want to live in a nursing home; her health declined, but she always maintained a rare enthusiasm for life. Anyone that met her recognized the energy that she radiated.

She lived a very happy or as she would say, molti bene , productive life filled with one major purpose: to build, nurture and support her ONE GOAL in life her immediate family.

There were many chapters in her life [most of them were very happy chapters], beginning with her difficult journey to America from Sicily as a child, her marriage when she was only 18 years old, motherhood , homemaker and housewife,
Moving to California to start a new adventure, guiding her children to grow into adulthood, enjoying the golden years with her husband,
And a last chapter without her husband, as family matriarch.

She had many admirable traits: She was humble, honest, energetic, friendly BUT most of all a worker a workoholic, always on the go; she never slowed down.

She had many occupations: First and foremost she was a housewife; cleanliness was her hallmark; you could eat off her floor
And boy could she cook:
veal parmesean, spaghetti and meatballs, calamari, zepole, scampi, canola and many more.

She was seamtress, and loved to crochet. Sewing was a passion. She was a wedding cake decorator, and a baker.

Everyone that knew my mother , knew she could TALK. She could talk about almost any subject, and she digressed a lot, but she was accurate about her major subject her family; she knew every birthday, every middle name, every grandchilds eye color, every minutia, every little tidbit, every anniversary, every wedding and so on.

Old age comes fast and you realize there are no answersjust stories. My story of her is this: I never knew her real first name, because every year at Christmas dinner my father would suggest that her real name was not Jean or Gina. Its Johanna, Giovanna, or Joanina. I just never knewI just knew her as MA.

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