Jean Doris Papcun

Beloved wife of 45 years to Jim and devoted mum to her daughter Melanie (Whitefoot) of Pinckney, MI. She is survived by her brothers and sisters in England: David, Grace (Joe), Annette, Florence and Elizabeth (Tony) and by her brothers-in-law in the US: Al (Mary Lou), Tom (Marie), Larry, Richard and Andrew. She was a loving aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews at home and abroad. She is predeceased by her parents, John and Doris Edwards; her aunt and uncle, Hilda and John Jones; her brothers Ernie and Stanley Edwards; and her sisters-in-law Gemma and Gerrie Papcun.

Jean Edwards was born in the northern English coastal town of Fleetwood in 1941. After the passing of her father when she was very young shortly after the war, she was raised by her aunt and uncle and attended Bailey Secondary Modern School. Upon completion of her schooling, she worked for the English Civil Service as a secretary for more than eight years. During her time in England, she often holidayed with her cousins and family throughout Europe, particularly Ireland, Spain, Italy and Greece.

In 1965, she travelled to the US, visiting another aunt who had married an American G.I. after World War II and who were living in Detroit, MI. At the end of her visit, she decided to stay in the area and worked for Ernst & Ernst of Detroit and then later for Capital Finance of Detroit, where she later met her future husband Jim when they worked together. After Jim’s transfer to Jackson, MI to become a branch manager, Jim and Jean were married on November 16, 1968 and welcomed their daughter Melanie in November of 1970. Jean and family relocated to Redford, MI in 1975. She later resumed part time work at Michigan Plant & Process Inc. in Redford until her retirement.

After relocating to Livonia, MI in 1996, she was able to finally escape the cold Michigan winters when she and Jim purchased a winter home in Naples, FL in 2003. She continued her love of travel by accompanying Jim on many trips across the US. Jean’s love of gardening and artistic upkeep of her home will always be fondly remembered. She excelled at hosting her family members from England when they would visit and the Papcun family Christmas Eve dinner, summer barbeques and family celebrations.

Jean will always be remembered for her unquestioned support and love of her husband and daughter, her sense of humor, patience, pragmatism, her love of animals and her enthusiasm for her many hobbies, interests and life itself.

A Memorial Gathering for Jean will take place on Friday, May 2, 2014 at the Harry J. Will Funeral Home in Livonia, MI from 4-8pm. Join the family for a Rosary at 5:30pm. A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church of Redford, MI on Saturday, May 3 at 11am (with visitation begining at 10:30am). Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Jean’s memory to the Believe in Miracles fund care of St. John Providence Health Foundation, Novi, MI which provides financial support to cancer patients in need.