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BORN
1938
DIED
2024
Jean Murray Obituary
01/15/1938 - 09/02/2024
Jean Kunze Murray was born on January 15, 1938 in Yonkers, New York and passed away on September 2, 2024 in Lafayette, California. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Margaret Kunze; brother, David Kunze; and husband, Charles Murray. She is survived by her three daughters, Sarah (John Brouhard) of Orinda, California, Rachel of Lafayette, California, and Hannah of San Francisco, California; grandchildren Ethan and Anna Melvin; half sisters Karel (Doug) Keel and Marcy (George) Sakarakis; nieces and nephews; and close friends who were family to her.
Jean graduated from Hastings High School in 1956 and Vassar College in 1960, majoring in Child Studies and Development. She moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts after college, where she met her husband, Charles, and started her long career in education. Jean and Charles, after living in Boston and a short stint on St. Croix in the British Virgin Islands, drove a Volkswagen van across the country in 1968 and settled in San Francisco. They relocated to Lafayette, California in 1977 where they raised their three daughters. Jean continued to work in San Francisco as the resource specialist at Grattan Elementary School, helping students with learning disabilities learn how to read and thrive, until her retirement in 1998.
She blossomed in retirement, devoting herself to her treasured group of women friends, WomenSing, ballroom dancing, traveling, book clubs, and bridge. Above all, Jean was selflessly dedicated to her beloved grandchildren whom she considered her "gift for growing old." Her grace, kindness, artistic talents, beautiful singing voice, intellect, strength and sharp sense of humor will be profoundly missed but will live on in all who knew her.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Lafayette Library Community Hall, 3491 Mt Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, California; on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 11am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The American Cancer Society.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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