October 27, 1920 – April 23, 2019
Jeanne Collett Hegel passed peacefully on April 23, 2019. At 98 she was lively until just a few months ago and her favorite response when asked how she was doing was “I’m still kicking, just not as high.” Jeanne was definitely one to kick up her heels and keep everyone engaged and connected and she was still doing that until almost the end. Her energy and joy for life will be the trait most remembered about her as we look back at her long life.
Jeanne was born in at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to Lillie Louise (nee Cox) and Edward Albert Collett. Her younger sister Lois Mae was born in 1923.
Jeanne graduated from Monaca High school in 1938 where she was a cheerleader. She attended Slippery Rock State Teachers College and graduated in 1942 with Honors and a BS in Education. She taught 2nd grade in Pennsylvania near Hopewell Township school for three years and attended summer school to be earn her teaching certificate. Jeanne also worked as a camp counselor at Girl Scout camp during the summer.
The summer of 1945, Jeanne went to Pensacola, Florida and stayed with her Aunt Helen and worked on a playground for the summer. Aunt Helen’s husband Austin ran the USO in Pensacola and introduced Jeanne to several eligible young men. Sometime in June of 1945, Jeanne was introduced to Harold Hegel at church. Harold was a Lieutenant in the US Navy in Pensacola. They began dating and began planning to marry the following summer. Jeanne returned to Beaver to teach for a year but when Harold found out that he was being shipped out to Alameda, California he sent Jeanne an engagement ring by mail to make it official and they moved up the wedding date. They were married Oct 6, 1945 in Beaver, Pennsylvania at the United Presbyterian Church in Beaver.
After Harold left the Navy in 1946 Jeanne and Harold settled in St. Louis where Harold was from and lived with his parents, Florence and Harry Hegel. Jeanne and Harold adopted daughter Janice Collett at age 2 1/2 (born July 22, 1946). They designed and built a home on Highgate Road in Olivette until 2002.
Jeanne went back to teaching 1st grade at Conway Elementary once Janice started school and she spent the next 35 years (or more) teaching 1st grade. Many Conway students will remember Mrs. Hegel reading stories to them near the fireplace she had in her classroom all those years.
Harold had a long career as an accountant and spent most of his career with McDonnell-Douglas that later merged with Boeing. Harold had a Steinway grand piano that he had from when he was a teen (he attended Julliard in NYC until WW2 began) until 2010 when Jeanne donated it to their church the Central Presbyterian Church. He joyfully played the piano all of his life sharing his gift of music with others.
Jeanne and Harold traveled the world and explored the US from shore to shore. They enjoyed playing tennis and bridge and each had social groups they enjoyed throughout their lives in St. Louis. Jeanne and Harold were involved in Central Presbyterian Church and many other social groups.
In 2002 when they moved to a retirement cottage at Friendship Village in south St. Louis County where they lived together until Harold’s death July 20, 2008 at age 94
Jeanne is survived by her son-in-law Gayland Price (California), granddaughter Dena and her husband Barney Watson, 6 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild (Arkansas). She is also survived by her niece Sharon (Kester) Linton and nephews Alan and David Kester (all of Washington state)
Jeanne is predeceased by her daughter Janice Price, grandson Chad Price and sister Lois Collett Kester.
SERVICES: Services are pending at this time.
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