Jean was born in Plymouth, Michigan on August 5th, 1935 to parents Hilda Virginia Knoelk Cates and Lyndell Newton Cates. She came into this world accompanied by her twin sister, Janet Joyce Levine.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Hilda Virginia Knoelk Cates and Lyndell Newton Cates; her sister Phyllis Ilene Bannan; her brother Robert Lee Trivett; and father to her sons, Felipe Quintero. Jr.
She is survived by her children, Jeff and Kathy Quintero and Chris and Sunita Quintero; Her grandchildren, Bonita Quintero Garcia, Jennifer Quintero, David Quintero, and Joseph Quintero; her great-grandchildren, Victoria Garcia, Veronica Garcia, Bradley Kytle, Joseph Garcia, and Alex Quintero-Griffin; sister Janet Joyce Levine; countless nieces and nephews including her namesake Barbara Jean Goodemann; and her beloved extended family Geoi Jackson; Andrew Davis; Gavrie Davis; Dennis, Donna, and Gabriella Quintero; Michael and Julie Quintero; Deborah Quintero; Esther Rhodes Monroe; and Patrice Rhodes Laughlin.
Jean was a devoted mother to her boys, Jeff and Chris, whom she raised as a single mom. She was very proud of them and the men they grew to become.
Jean loved spending time with family. Her boys, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were her world. For decades, family gathered at her home for Christmas, where she cooked her traditional spaghetti dinner. Those times were filled with laughter and love; a sense of belonging; warmth; and A Christmas Story playing in the background with its familiar music and scenes we all knew by heart.
Jean especially enjoyed it when Santa arrived. Each Christmas Eve, right after dinner, the grandkids would hear the perfectly timed jingling of Santa’s sleigh bells. They would run outside as fast as they could in hopes of catching a glimpse of St. Nick. They never did see him. But as they came back inside, dozens upon dozens of presents would magically appear under the Christmas tree, all wrapped in Santa’s special wrapping paper of course, so they’d know the gifts were from him. She loved seeing the expressions on their faces while they jumped and squealed with joy. She also thought it was funny when one of the kids tore open a gift from Santa only to find a bag of charcoal.
Jean’s heart was as big as Texas. There wasn’t a thing she wouldn’t do for her family. If you needed it, all you had to do was ask and it was yours. She left a huge part of her in each of our hearts. Thank you, Jean, for all the love and wisdom you shared. For showing us that there’s always room for one more at the table.
John 14:1-2 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."
We love you, Nanny. You’re finally home in your Heavenly mansion.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelofeternalpeace.com for the QUINTERO family.
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