Jean Marie Medick Costigan

Born on April 14, 1929 to Joseph and Helen (Fitzpatrick) Fanning of Garden City, New York, she was the middle of three children and the only girl. She attended Garden City High School graduating in 1947. After graduating from High School, she attended Vassar College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951. She then went on to earn a Masters of Educational Psychology, along with a Teacher Certificate K-12 in 1954 from Fordham University.

In 1971, Jean began her career as an elementary Teacher with the East Lansing Public Schools. For the next 18 years, Jean taught, mentored, inspired, and encouraged 5th graders to love learning, and reach for the stars.

Upon retiring in 1989, Jean and her husband, Matthew Costigan, spent a great deal of their time traveling and spending summers at their cottage on Lake Michigan where they had great fun hosting the family’s annual 4th of July celebration. Together they enjoyed playing tennis, volunteering at the Bread of Life Food pantry and spending time with friends and family.

Jean was also a very talented artist whose watercolors were greatly admired by family and friends alike. Those fortunate enough to have received one of her paintings considered it a cherished gift.

Jean is survived by her daughters, Cynthia (Medick) Smith of East Lansing, Michigan, Julia Medick of Austin, Texas; sons, Matthew (Kristine) Medick of Maple Grove, Minnesota, and John Medick of East Lansing, Michigan; grandchildren, Jaclyn (Dustin) Austin, Nicole (Dave) Wright, Casey (Damon) Patrick, Courtney Medick, Mike Medick, and Peyton Rose Smith; great grandchildren, Mason Patrick, Maiya Patrick, Molly Austin, Wyatt Austin, Montgomery Wright, Faye Austin, Riley Patrick, and Harper Patrick.

Jean is preceded in death by her husband, Matthew E. Costigan; mother, Helen Fanning; father, Joseph Fanning; brothers, Joseph Fanning Jr., and James Fanning; and daughter, Jean E. Carleton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jean’s name may be made to either: The Harbor House of Hart, 315 S. State Street, Hart Michigan 49420 or the Bread of Life Pantry, 11 Washington St., Hart, Michigan 49420