Jean Gansa

1930 - 2025

Jean Gansa
06/25/1930 - 04/07/2025
Jean Charles D'Anneo Gansa died peacefully at home in San Francisco on the morning of April 7, 2025 at the age of 94. She was born on June 25, 1930 to Allan and Caroline Charles in San Francisco, California. Three years later, they welcomed her dear sister Caroline "Nini" Charles, who predeceased Jean.
Jean is survived and missed by her husband of 45 years, Alex Gansa; her 5 children from her previous marriage to Andrew D'Anneo: Roberta (Scot Terry), Drew, Allan, John (Cidnee) and Paul D'Anneo; her 6 grandchildren Christopher, Kelsey, Nicholas, Isabella, Samuel and Anthony D'Anneo and many other beloved family members and friends.
Although Roberta (Robbie) survived the death of her mom Jean, she passed on June 23, 2025 and is up there enjoying her espresso while Jean sips on her earl grey tea.
Jean spent most of her secondary education at Miss Burkes, where she graduated in 1948. Coming from a legacy family of Stanford alumni, she earned an undergraduate degree in history from Stanford University and later obtained a master's degree in psychology from Lone Mountain College. Whereafter, she held a successful private practice as a psychotherapist until 2010 and worked for many years with the Guild for Psychological Studies. During her three decades at the Guild, Jean served as a respected leader and staff member, hosting a number of significant seminars and meetings. The nexus of spirituality and psychology within the Jungian approach inspired much of Jean's own therapeutic practices and personal beliefs.
Jean was a wonderful mother and grandmother; a devoted wife; a writer; an avid hiker and lover of the outdoors. She loved walking the iconic hills of San Francisco and grew up riding horses in Golden Gate Park and playing polo at Stanford. She took her children on many incredible backpacking adventures in the desolation wilderness of Fallen Leaf Lake; a place that was near and dear to her heart. Her husband Alex shared many fulfilling decades with her traveling to different countries, attending Sunday morning services at St. Lukes and spending their summer's at their family cabins in Fallen Leaf Lake.
Our family expresses our sincere gratitude to Jean's caregivers who made her remaining years comfortable and full of love and joy.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday July 27th, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at the St. Francis of the Mountains Chapel in Fallen Leaf Lake. Our family welcomes and appreciates support through Jean's celebration of life, however due to the quaintness of the chapel, there will be limited seating available inside (there will be additional outdoor seating and standing room). Following her memorial, her final resting place will be at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in San Francisco where she and her husband Alex were longtime parishioners.
Jean once said, "We must make ourselves available to our dreams." We, as her family and friends, will do so in her honor.