Jeanne Christine Greene

Jeanne Christine Greene, age 75, of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away at home with her family by her side on November 26, 2022. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on March 30, 1947, to Jerome and Mathilda Gapinski (Brzeskiewicz). Jeanne was married to her second husband, George H. Greene for 25 years, who preceded her in death in 2008. Jeanne had a 35-year career with Sonora Quest Laboratories, retiring as a laboratory supervisor in 2012.

Jeanne and her first husband moved to Phoenix in December of 1973 from Milwaukee to start a new life in the "wild" west after buying a John F. Long home sight unseen. Jeanne was proud of being Polish and often told friends and family that had she been raised in Poland; her heritage would have made her a Polish Princess. Jeanne enjoyed a glass of white wine at exactly 5 pm whenever possible, and always enjoyed it with ice cubes. When her 3 children were young and she was single, she often took them camping or to San Diego for a week in the summer and always said, "we're on an adventure", and that's how she lived her life - on an adventure.

Prior to retiring, Jeanne and her second husband George enjoyed traveling, cooking, time with family, and the annual jazz festival in Paradise Valley. She and George traveled to Europe twice, and Jeanne relived her memories of Italy watching Stanley Tucci's show on CNN. She admired him greatly and found how he handled and managed his battle with cancer inspirational.

After retiring, Jeanne became active in her community and served as a neighborhood association President. Jeanne was a lifelong gardener, and after retiring, she started a community vegetable garden on her large corner lot where neighbors helped to cultivate and manage the garden. She found inspiration watching gardener Monty Don on her British tv channels and had a crush on Monty. Jeanne spent several summers in Northern Michigan, where she managed a very large garden of heirloom vegetables that were sold at her daughter’s roadside farm stand each summer. Jeanne loved Leelanau county and being on or near lake Michigan. She grew up sailing on Lake Michigan from the South Shore Yacht club in Milwaukee with her brother Jerry and loved to be near the water. She also loved playing mahjong and going to thrift stores with her daughter Aanya, gardening and going to Brewers spring training games with her son Pete, talking to her sisters Pat and Mary about recipes and British tv shows, and having wine and hitting the slot machines with brother Rob. Jeanne transferred her green thumb to all of her children who enjoyed learning from her and had an annual banana tree-growing contest with her son Peter.

In 2019 Jeanne was diagnosed with lung cancer and was determined to treat it in any way possible. After initial rounds of chemo and radiation, Jeanne was able to return to gardening, playing mahjong, traveling to Michigan, spending time with her grandchildren, and was accompanied everywhere by her beloved dog, Eddie. Jeanne was extremely grateful for the care received by Dr. Demitrio Mamani and other healthcare providers, and the grants she received for treatment from the PAN Foundation. In 2020 and 2021, Jeanne spent a good deal of time sewing items to be sold in Michigan at her daughter's farm stand, with proceeds going back to the PAN Foundation to help others. She made bucket hats, bowl cozies, clothes, and potholders, and all who bought or were gifted these items were thrilled with them.

Jeanne is survived by her children Andria (Bob) Bufka, Aanya Metrakos, Peter Metrakos, stepchildren Kenny and Christopher Greene, grandchildren Mathilde and Calvin Rispoli, Alexander, Annika, and Ava Metrakos, Devon Greene, and Rakia Blackwell. Jeanne was the oldest of 5 children and is survived by brother Jerry (Jane) Gapinski, sister Patricia (Gregg) Kowalski, sister Mary Beth (Joe) Steiger, brother Rob (Monica) Gapinski, she is preceded in death by her parents, and her husband of 25 years George H. Greene.

Jeanne shared her love of gardening, cooking, sewing, and dogs with friends, neighbors, and family, and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Her memory carries us through the grief as we celebrate her life while we mourn the loss of her physical presence. A private service will be attended by the immediate family where she will be inurned with her husband George, and a celebration of life service will be held in February or March, with details to follow once arrangements are made. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Jeanne’s name to the PAN Foundation or Hospice of the Valley, both organizations that helped Jeanne tremendously during a time of need.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023. Please click the link for additional information https://www.eventcreate.com/e/jeannegreene