Jean C. Gehnich

Jean Caroline Helen Stutzmann Gehnich of Glendale, NY, was born on February 4, 1931 in Brooklyn, NY, in the midst of the Great Depression. Her parents, Elizabeth (nee Hegel) and Andrew Stutzmann were born in Hungary, emigrated to the United States, met again after knowing each other previously, married and settled in New York. Jean was baptized at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brooklyn where she became an active member in the church, the youth group and the choir. It was through another congregant and member of the Mothers’ Club, Elvira Gehnich, that she met her son, Arnold, whom she married in April of 1956. They were together for 49 years until his passing in 2005.

In Jean’s early life she met several girlfriends in kindergarten, elementary school, junior high and college with whom she remained lifelong best friends. She was very close to her older sister, Mildred, and brother-in-law, Donald, both who predeceased her in 2009 and 2008, respectively. She often commented that Don was the wonderful brother she never had. Jean, a math whiz, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Pratt Institute School of Home Economics in 1952 and held various positions in nutritional science practice until becoming a full-time loving and caring mother in 1957 to Cindy, and subsequently to Geraldine and Elaine.

By 1965, Jean and Arnie had already moved to Glendale and transferred to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Jean returned to work for several years at the F.W. Woolworth Company in Ridgewood before being tapped for a position as church and school secretary where she sometimes served as a second mom to the elementary school children dispensing a peppermint Tic Tac to students complaining of tummy aches or other ailments before sending them back to class. She served St. John’s for several years in that capacity before devoting her career solely to the church where she retired in 2002 after 24 years to care for her beloved Arnie.

She loved attending church services and being with her church family. Coming from a small but close-knit family, she truly loved celebrating everything with the family and watching the family grow through the decades. For nearly 22 years she also enjoyed the company of her beloved cat, Precious. Continued faith in God, lunches with the St. John’s Women’s Guild, time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, Sudoku, word jumbles, watching birds and cats outside her window as well as her favorite movies and TV shows kept her happily occupied for her remaining years.

Jean is survived by her three loving and grateful daughters, Cindy Cooke (John), Geraldine Babino (Brian) and Elaine, granddaughter Heidi Branam (Cole), grandsons Justin (Randi) and Joel (Dezrae); nephew and godson, David (Jennifer), nephew James (Jodi), numerous great-grandchildren, great nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Jean will be held Tuesday, March 5, 2024, from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Werst & LaBella Funeral Home, 71-41 Cooper Ave, Glendale, NY 11385. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, March 6, 2024, from 9:30 -10:30 AM at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 88-24 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale, Queens, NY 11385. A committal service will occur Wednesday, February 6, 2024, from 12-12:20 PM at Pinelawn Memorial Park, 2030 Wellwood Ave, Farmingdale, NY 11735.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 88-24 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale, NY 11385 or securely online at https://www.saintjohnsglendale.org/support.