Jean Corrine Meacham

Jean Corrine Grant was born in Croydon, England, on July 17, 1925. She had two sisters Rita and Sheila. After her initial schooling Jean went on to High School while still living in London. She graduated and then went to work in her mother’s factory making woman’s blouses. Jean met and married her husband, Norman, who was British and served in the Royal Air Force. During the war Jean worked as a telephone operator and was stationed above the war room in London. She never knew if her house would be still standing when she returned from work! In 1954, Jean’s husband decided he would like to move to America because he understood the weather would be warmer. At this time they already had two sons and Jean was pregnant with a third. They sailed on the Queen Elizabeth from Southampton to New York. The Queen Elizabeth was launched in 1938, and was used as a troopship during World War II. It entered regular transatlantic service in 1946. This must have been a great experience for two young boys. Their father then drove them all across country into California where they have lived ever since spending time in Arcadia and cities in the San Gabriel Valley. Norman worked as a State Farm Agent and Jean was a homemaker. They completed their family with four sons and a daughter. Jean was obviously kept very busy taking care of five children, but was a member of Plymouth Rock Chapter of the DBE for 30 years. Jean was an avid knitter and every year knitted baby sweaters for sale to raise money for the British Home. Jean also made lemon-curd for a British restaurant that was located at the corner of Lake Avenue in Pasadena. Norman and Jean were happily married for 60 years until he passed away in 2003. During the years Jean has lived in America she and her family vacationed in England. She prefered British food, in particular, shepherd’s pie and fish & chips. Jean’s mother, Nina Grant, lived at the British Home from 1980 until 1987, so Jean knew when she decided to come and live there, she would be well taken care of. Whenever you saw Jean, she was always smiling! Jean is survived by her children, Darryl (Kathy) Meacham, Glenn (Gina Pellegrino) Meacham, Craig Meacham, Orin Meacham, and Nina Gans; and grandchildren, Phillip Meacham, Brian Gans, and Kelly Gans.

Arrangements under the direction of Turner & Stevens Live Oak Mortuary, Monrovia, CA.