Jeanne Marlene Furst

Jeanne was born in Syracuse, New York, on her sister’s 17th birthday. She was the youngest of six children born to recent Italian immigrants, Samuel and Louise Ponzo. Jeanne was a graduate of Solvay High School and Le Moyne College in Syracuse, where she earned a degree in Biology. While at Le Moyne, she met the love of her life, William (Bill) Kent Furst.

Jeanne and Bill were married in 1961 while Bill attended Georgetown University Medical School. Jeanne worked in a laboratory at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda until the birth of her first child. Together, they raised three children: Kathleen Burtschi of Reston, VA; Terrence Furst of Florence, SC; and William Furst, Jr. of Boyds, MD. They shared three happy decades together until Bill’s death from cancer in 1990.

A devout Catholic, Jeanne attended daily Mass at Our Lady of Mercy in Potomac. She was a woman of deep faith, always quick to offer kind words and prayers for others. Jeanne supported many charitable causes, especially those benefiting the military, in honor of her father and brothers who served during World Wars I and II.

Jeanne took great pride in her family and devoted countless hours caring for her three grandchildren—triplets Corinne, Tyler, and Kerry. She often said that “God sent three little angels to me, knowing how much I missed my loving husband, Bill.” Jeanne will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 23, 2026, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 9200 Kentsdale Drive, Potomac, MD 20854. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20906. Family and friends are invited to a time of remembrance following the burial at Congressional Country Club, 8500 River Road, Bethesda, MD 20817. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to www.woundedwarrierproject.org/donate.