Jean B Nadeau

Delma Jean Bush Nadeau, a beloved mother, grandmother and cherished friend, passed away peacefully on Sept 7, 2026, at the age of 101. Born at the former Hill Hospital in Montgomery, AL on Aug 28, 1925, Jean, nicknamed Snookie, was raised in rural Barbour County near the town of Baker Hill. She, her brother Charles, and family lived in a small house with no electricity, no running water or inside plumbing. But there was plenty of food and laughter with aunts, uncles, cousins and friends around. After graduating from high school, she moved to Ft Rucker to work on the base for the duration of the war, then moved to Montgomery where she worked as a telephone operator for Southern Bell. With encouragement from a close friend, she went on a blind date with a young man who had also recently moved to Montgomery. After many dates of window shopping, movies & porch sitting, and trips to Mobile to meet his family (whom she loved) and to Baker Hill to meet her family (whom he loved), she married Alex Nadeau in Feb 1952. They remained married for 60 years until Alex’s death in 2011.

After a couple of years of apartment living, they bought the very first house on Le Ruth Circle and began filling it up with 6 children. Jean lived in that house for 72 years. As the kids grew, the house grew and the neighborhood grew, culminating with around 38 children in the neighborhood. Jean once said, “I think my children had a good time playing hide & seek at night, catching lightning bugs, playing sports, riding bikes and fighting.”

After converting to Catholicism, Jean became an active member of St. Bede’s Church and school, volunteering for too many activities to keep track of. When the last of the children started high school, she returned to the workforce enjoying 20+ years with the Alabama Legislature, then volunteered at Jackson Hospital for another 20 years.

She is preceded in death by her husband Alex and daughter Teresa. She is survived by her brother Charles (Glenda) Bush; children Steve (Alison) Nadeau, Mike (Darlene) Nadeau, Jeff (Sheila) Nadeau, Philip (Karen) Nadeau and Julie (Larry) Schifer; grandchildren Kevin Nadeau, Bennett Nadeau, Elliott Nadeau, Emily (Montgomery) Kennedy, Victoria (Austin) Hall, Amanda (Carlos) Gimenez, Alex Schifer, Grace Schifer, Travis Creekbaum and Tracey Creekbaum; great-grandchildren Gray Creekbaum, Aleah Nadeau, Tate Kennedy, Mattie Kennedy and Carlos Gimenez, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jean will be remembered for her humor, strength, warm heart, generous spirit and unwavering devotion to her family. She had a special way of making people feel welcome and loved, and her presence brought comfort and joy to generations of friends and family.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, Sept 12th. Visitation will be at St. Bede’s Parish Hall from 9-10:30 am, followed by Mass at 10:45 am. Graveside Services will be at 4 pm at Greenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Alex Schifer, Kevin Nadeau, Bennett Nadeau, Elliott Nadeau, Russ Bush, Bob Faulkner, Randall Beesley and Ryan Beesley.

Special thanks to all the priests, deacons, Eucharistic Ministers and friends at St. Bede’s, as well as special thanks to the amazing staff at Fair Haven Rehab Center in Birmingham.

And an incredibly special thanks to Joyce May for the many years of loving, devoted assistance and friendship.

Rest peacefully Jean. Your 101 years were a gift to all of us who were blessed to know and love you.