Jean P. McDonald

She was born August 11, 1932 in Nebraska City, NE to Mary Hilger and Carl ‘Snick’ Morton Poling. Her fraternal twin, Joseph, passed 6 weeks later.

Her primary years were spent in Talmage, and her high school years in Beatrice, NE, where her father, a pharmacist, had a drugstore. Behind the counter, Jean worked as a soda jerk, making ice cream shakes for friends and customers. Back at school she was a gymnast, majorette and homecoming princess.

Never quite reaching 4' 11" in height, Jean proved a natural golfer. She won many tournaments during her golfing career. She was particularly fond of recounting the Beatrice and In/Outstate championships.

Jean attended Duchesne College of the Sacred Heart where she was a member of the Children of Mary Sodality, and volunteered at Omaha Children's hospital reading to iron lung patients. She graduated with a degree in sociology in 1953, and began a teaching career that would take her from Omaha to Denver.

In 1958 she married J. Robert “Bob” McDonald of Wallace, NE. The marriage produced six wonderful children over the course of eight years, ultimately making their home in Old Greenwich, Ct.

Jean was a remarkable mother, a loving and calming presence in a rambunctious household; tireless in support of her children and grand children. She loved her faith, her church, her 12-step fellowship, and all sports, especially the University of Nebraska Cornhusker Football.

Jean is survived by her children, Bill McDonald (Cindy) - Sammamish WA; Ann Feltch (Mark) - Newtown, CT; Jack McDonald (Paige) -- Ghent, NY; Kathleen McDonald (Jon Chris) -- Nogal, NM; Bob McDonald (Marcie) -- Stamford, CT; Mary Scimone (Tony) -- Trumbull, CT. as well as her beloved niece and nephew Matthew McDonald and Michela Buchanan.

She took great pride and joy in her grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Claire, Libby, Charlie, Sarah, Michael, Jack, Isaiah, Conor & Meghan.

She is predeceased by her parents, Carl & Mary Poling, her infant twin brother, Joseph, and her husband Bob.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either Catholic Relief Services (crs.org) or Regional Hospice of Danbury (regionalhospicect.org).

A wake for Jean will be held from 6pm-9pm on Friday, July 21st at Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home, 31 Arch St., Greenwich, CT 06830.

Funeral Mass will be held at noon the following day, Saturday, July 22nd, at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 4 Riverside Ave., Riverside, CT 06878. Father Gilbert D'Souza will lead us in a celebration of Jean's life. A reception will follow.