Jeanne Sherman

I had the chance to visit with my Great-Aunt Jeanne in February 2020, a couple of weeks before she passed away on March 9. I feel
grateful to have been able to share the following words with her and now others… she would have loved to be involved with GAP!!

My great-aunt Jeanne is a rare gem of a woman. Generous, kind, and welcoming, her first instinct is to see the good in others and to celebrate what is right in the world; bluebirds, freshwater lakes,
volunteerism, a loving community,  the art of listening, individuality, and cats- to name just a few. Born in 1927, to Dr. Burt and Thelma VanArk. Jeanne is the eldest of three girls- with my Great-Aunt Ginnie and Grandma Judy two years and four and a half years her junior.

By the time I was born and met Jeanne in 1984 she and her husband Eber had raised six children, endured the loss of one of these children as well as a grandbaby, and welcomed numerous grandchildren into their clan. Jeanne was a social worker, a mentor, a super volunteer, and a friend to many within her communities. She loved sun and lakes and birdwatching and gardens and family and church and games and Petoskey stones; and when I was born- she loved me.

When I speak with my Aunt Jeanne on the phone- I can hear her smile. When we connect in person- I can feel her heart reaching out to listen, understand, and engage in my stories. And her hand-written letters- surprising to no one- are filled with dainty dots, stars, swirls, and words of love.

*That is as far as I got in the letter I was able to share with her, but promised that I would continue to explain that she was also mischievous in all the right ways, especially when it came to asking questions that got folks pondering right, wrong, choice, and others’ opinions. My Great-Aunt Jeanne was definitely a FABULOUS FEMALE! -Charlotte Souter