Jean Oleskewicz Burtness, wife of the late William H. Burtness went home to be with the Lord on October 2, 2019. Born May 12, 1924 in Hartford to Frank and Antonina (Zienkiewicz) Oleskewicz. Jean grew up in Bloomfield with her four brothers, Frank, Henry, Edward, and Fredrick, on her parent’s dairy farm the “Clover Ridge Dairy.” After graduating Bloomfield High School as an Honor Student, Jean was employed by the Prudential Insurance Company. Jean joined the U.S. Navy Waves in 1944, did her training in New York and Iowa and was stationed in San Francisco, California until her discharge in 1946. After her military service, she returned to the Prudential Insurance Company and retired 45 years later as a Field Office Consultant.
She was married to William Burtness and lived in Wethersfield for many years. Jean loved to travel, play the piano, knitting and was an avid reader. She was seen riding her bicycle each morning while in her 80’s. She leaves a step-daughter Marjorie Herzog and son-in-law Marc Herzog of Canton, CT, two grandsons, their wives and great grand-children, Nathan and Kristin Herzog and their three children of North Granby, CT and Ross and Melisa Herzog and their four children of Telluride, CO. She leaves two sisters-in-law, Joyce Oleskewicz of Leesburg, FL and Betty Rieder of Delano, MN and many nieces and nephews, most especially Betty Woods and her husband John, who lovingly helped care for Jean in her later years. She was pre-deceased by her four brothers.
A special thanks to the entire staff at Eagle Point and the Suffield House for the love and care they gave Jean in her final years, and to the nurses and caregivers at Masonicare Hospice.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 9 – 10 a.m. on Saturday (October 5th) at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield, CT. A funeral service will be held at the conclusion of calling hours on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the funeral chapel. Burial will follow at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield.
To leave a message for the family, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com
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