In Loving Memory of
Jean D McLaughlin
January 12, 1932 – October 21, 2020
Virtual Celebration of Life Gathering was held on December 12, 2020 at 9:00 AM PST
Jean McLaughlin, a former resident of Fountain Hills, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at her current residence in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Jean was born in Brooklyn, NY on January 12, 1932 to Hugh and Geneva Dougherty. She married Richard McLaughlin in 1956 and had three children. In 1963 she moved to Staten Island, NY with her family and pursued a Bachelor’s Degree from Richmond College (currently the College of Staten Island) and a Master’s Degree from Wagner College. In 1997, Jean retired from AT&T where she was a Manager of Billing and Negotiations and relocated to Fountain Hills, AZ with her husband. During her time in Fountain Hills, she became very active in the community and was a member of the Friends of the Hills organization, the Fountain Hills Women’s Club as well as the Four Peaks Women’s Group. She was also a volunteer mentor with the elementary school in Fountain Hills providing assistance to teachers and students.
Jean was married to Richard for 54 years until his death in 2010. She is survived by her 3 daughters – Joanne Peterson of Palos Verdes Estates, CA, Deirdre Cebry of Paradise Valley, AZ, and Karen McLaughlin of Valley Village, CA. – and 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
In memory of Jean McLaughlin, please consider a gift to Episcopal Communities & Services Foundation, which operates The Canterbury, where she resided for 3 years. To honor the care she received, donations will be directed to Employee Education, assisting staff members like Donesha Sells, who so often brightened the life of Jean.
Donations can be sent to:
Episcopal Communities & Services Foundation or ECSF
605 E. Huntington Drive, #207
Monrovia, CA 91016
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Jean and I worked together at AT&T so very many years ago but we have kept in touch at least once a year via holiday cards. After she retired, I visited her in Fountain Hills when I was in AZ for a business trip. Today, the day of her celebration of life, I was ready to send her this year’s card, but decided to look her up online and saw the news of her passing. I was in awe of Jean’s enthusiasm and youthful spirit – she was a role model for me in that sense and I told her so many times. Jean was a person you wanted to spend time with because you always felt invigorated and happy just by being with her. My condolences to the family – she was a gem.
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Jean, my January 12th "BIRTHDAY SISTER", and I shared a calm, happy retirement life in Fountain Hills, AZ. She and Richard were checking on the progress of their home being built behind my husband, Sid’s and my new home when we met. The sharing of a crockpot of chili and our stories of life on Long Island, NYC, etc. in younger years helped Sid (a Canadian) with his understanding of "New Yorkers"
It didn’t take long for her to dive in to the many activities in our volunteer-focused community, She always had a smile on her face and a willingness to pitch in. She played a major role as a mentor in the elementary school. I remember when I visited her in her new senior community after Richard died —– She had taken on the role (unofficially) of SOCIAL DIRECTOR!!!!!
Everyone knew Jean and with her happy smile and attitude she had found many new friends. I have been blessed with the opportunity of knowing her and spending a part of our later years together.
Rest In Peace, dear Jean, with Richard. Love to your girls and Grandchildren.
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As a friend of Joanne, I was privileged to meet Jean on a number of occasions. As my son’s wedding was approaching in 2018, Jean shared with me the best advice for the mother of the groom … "show up, shut up, and wear beige". I was able to accomplish only one of the three. Jean’s energy, wit and compassion lives on in a beautiful legacy of her family. Sending prayers for peace to you all.
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Jean and I worked together at AT&T, in Piscataway, New Jersey. Jean became a mentor and a friend throughout our time together in the billing organization and we were fond of our mutual "Brooklyn" backgrounds. Jean was fair, honest, forthright and helped others reach their potential through her abilities and talents as a manger and coach. She was funny, witty and had an infectious smile…always! To this day I still remember working with Jean and that has now been over 35 years ago.
God Bless my dear friend and co worker, Jean ,and please know that you left a GREAT mark with many of your AT&T coworkers.
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i HAVE OST ANOTHER "SISTER". REST IN PEACE JEAN. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY THOUGHTS. DAVE
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Jean and I worked together at AT&T for a number of years. She was always smiling, full of joy and generally a happy lady. She brought both energy and light into staff meetings and other gatherings – always someone you wanted to engage in conversation. She readily shared her stories about life on Staten Island, the joy of raising 3 daughters, the fun of life with Richard. Jean was a mentor for us all in how to get along with others in a large and sometimes unforgiving corporate environment. She was a great lady, a great wife and mother, and a great colleague. May she rest in peace!
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It’s hard to sum up a lifetime of memories in a little box. We had some great times from the times in Elmhurst prior to getting married. The Staten Island times when we were having kids and houses and having so much fun together. The parties, the holidays, the vacations, all so memorable. Loved her and will miss her. A part of my life, gone but not forgotten.
Betty