Jeanette Emily Cook

Jeanette Emily Cook was born on September 17, 1936, in Fairmont Heights, Maryland, to Mary and Worth Falls. She graduated from Dunbar High School and lived a life defined by care, structure, and an unwavering sense of pride in how things were done.

Jeanette attended Emmanuel Presbyterian Church and was shaped by values of responsibility, respect, and order—principles she carried into every part of her life. She had a deep love for children; long before her professional career, she was known as the neighborhood babysitter, trusted to watch over and guide young lives.

That love found purpose in her work as an educator. Jeanette served as an Indianapolis Public Schools teacher for 12 years, teaching kindergarten and elementary students. She was nurturing but firm, patient but structured —believing children thrived when expectations were clear and standards were high.

Alongside her husband, Earl P. Cook, Jeanette raised a blended family and ran her household with intention and discipline. Her home was a place of order, care, and pride. Jeanette was also known for her sense of style—always well dressed, fashionable, and appreciative of the finer things. She believed presentation mattered, whether in appearance, in the home, or in how one carried oneself in the world.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Earl P. Cook; her daughter, Donné Mills; her son, Maurice P. Cook; her brother, John Falls; and her sister, Marjorie Johnson.

Jeanette leaves to cherish her memory her niece, Medrina Johnson; her nephew, Reginald Johnson; her granddaughter, Tina Mills; and her great-grandchildren Nyla, Nigel, Noa, and Noelle Gaither. Her legacy lives on in the values she instilled, the standards she upheld, and the love she expressed through structure, care, and example.

Jeanette Emily Cook will be remembered as a woman who knew what she loved, knew how she wanted things done, and showed up with grace, style, and purpose.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Crown Hill Funeral Home, Remembrance Hall, located at 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46208, US. The service is scheduled for February 13, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm.

The service will be available via live stream at the following URL:

https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c26021380604574