Jean Coleman

Jean Coleman, of Livonia, age 85, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2023.  Beloved wife of Glenn Coleman and the late Gene A. Page.  Loving mother of Nancy Page and Lori (Jeff) Barch. Beloved grandmother of Riley Barch. Step mother to Donald Page and Connie (Dan) Wessel and step grandmother of Shelby (Manny) Tapia.

Jean was born in Buffalo N.Y. and moved to Michigan to further her education as a teacher and ended up getting a job in the Livonia Public School system.  She met her 1st husband Gene Page while teaching at Riley Jr. High school. They were happily married for 25 years until his passing in 1987.  She met and married Glenn Coleman in 1991 and they were together until her passing.

Jean had multiple jobs over the years. She was a home economics teacher.  When her daughters Nancy and Lori were born, she became a stay at home mom for many years until she decided to go back into the work force. She then became a temporary worker at Ford Motor Company for a few years until she went back to substitute teaching.  Eventually she found herself teaching in the Livonia Continuing Education Program with her students being mainly senior citizens getting their GED’s.  The “seniors” who took her sewing classes reignited her love of quilting, teaching her a thing or two along the way.

After she retired she jumped into quilting full time.  She purchased a long arm quilting machine and rented a space attached to a quilt shop and her business, “Creative Quilting”, was born.  She quilted countless quilts over the years for customers.  She continued to make her own quilts to give to family and friends as gifts and kept a few for herself too.  She was a member of the Ann Arbor Quilt Guild for many years.  She loved going to Q.U. and learning new patterns and techniques and would occasionally teach classes there too.  She made many wonderful friends in the quilting world over the years.

Jean decided to retire from quilting (though she did keep her machine and continued to do her own quilting in her spare time) so she could enjoy other things.  She and her husband Glenn did a lot of camping and traveling. She visited the family cabin in Oscoda often in the summer and was able to do the things she wanted to do.

For over 60 years Jean was a very active member of Timothy Lutheran Church in Livonia, serving on church council many times.  She was involved in many projects with Lutheran World relief.  Her favorite was, of course, making quilts that were sent to people in need, very often overseas.  She was also involved with the organization Livonia Cares.

After her brain cancer diagnosis she spent lots of time with family and friends doing the things she loved most: sewing, gardening and going to lunch or dinner with friends, or just hanging out at their homes, chatting.   She was also able to check off some items on her “bucket list. If we asked her if she wanted to do something, the answer was always a big YES!  She had a love of life that was as infectious as her bright smile.

Until we meet again, rest peacefully and tell the family we love them and miss them!  We will miss you, your vivid blue eyes, bright smile, comforting hugs and your love for life.

“There are no goodbyes for us… wherever you are you will always be in my heart” Gandhi.

A Visitation will be held at the R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home, 15451 Farmington Rd., Livonia, Friday, May 5, 2023 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM.  A Memorial Service will be held at Timothy Lutheran Church, 8820 Wayne Rd., Westland, Saturday at 11:00 AM with visitation starting at 10:00 AM. There will be a luncheon directly after the service in the lower level of the church.  All are invited.

Memorial contributions may be directed to:
Timothy Lutheran Church, 8820 Wayne Rd, Livonia MI 48150
or
the national brain tumor society
https://nbtsevents.braintumor.org/jeancoleman