Jeanne Marie Crowell

Jeanne Marie (Barca) Crowell, 93, of Houston, TX, passed away on November 1. Born in Boston, MA, on September 21, 1932, Jeanne was the daughter of the late Michael Barca and Nora K. (Thomas) Barca, and the wife of the late Loran A. Crowell. She was a graduate from Girls Latin High School in Boston, class of 1949, and attended Radcliffe College (Harvard) in Boston, MA, and Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH. She also belonged to The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in Boston, an organization that empowers leadership, confidence, and citizenship. In 1946, Jeanne asked Loran to the Sadie Hawkins dance and he walked her home, beginning a romance that lasted 76 years, of which 71 were as husband and wife.

Jeanne had a career in banking that book ended raising her three children. She retired in 1993. Beyond family, she lived a full life that brought her much joy, including drinking tea, gardening, cooking, hosting family, friends, and foreign exchange students in her home, traveling with her husband, many creative crafts (especially quilting), time on the lake in Maine, spending quality time with her seven grandchildren (often teaching them crafts and baking), and over the past year cherishing her first great-grandchild. Jeanne gave back to her community in so many beautiful ways, such as volunteering in school libraries and as a Girl Scout leader, Vice President of the AFS (American Field Service) in Northbrook, IL, the Civic Club in Southern Pines, NC, and making quilts for veterans and babies with her quilt groups—the list is long that spans decades.

Jeanne was the loving wife of the late Loran Crowell. She was the mother of David Crowell (Debra), Jane Fyfe, and Judi Black. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren: Colleen (Joey), Katherine, Cameron (Elizabeth), Christopher, Elizabeth (Geoff), Scott (Katie), and Melinda; plus by her great-grandson, Crew.

No official services will be held. A family gathering to celebrate Jeanne’s life will take place at a later date.

In honor of Jeanne’s life, donations may be made to AFS (American Field Service), the nonprofit organization that Jeanne and her family belonged to while hosting foreign exchange students. AFS.org