Jeanne B Connelly Liederbach , August 04, 1922 — September 24, 2018

On Monday night, September 24th, Jeanne Liederbach, age 96, died peacefully in her home, surrounded by loved ones. A mother of seven and grandmother of nineteen, Jeanne will be remembered for her quick wit and fun-loving spirit. Even in her final years perfect strangers were often tickled by her clever wise-cracks.

Beyond the laughter, Jeanne possessed a soulful, Irish spirit – a rock, a moral compass, a mama bear. Jeanne grew up in Chicago, studying to become a nurse cadet during World War Two. She married a naval engineer and they “had seven kids in six states”, Jeanne would tell you, before she’d explain the moving that resulted from Fred’s early career.

After nineteen years they settled down in suburban Washington, DC, lived there for thirty three years, and nurtured their lively offspring into adulthood. At age 78 Jeanne came to a crossroads: she could continue in empty-nest isolation and alcoholism, or she could move near family, stop drinking, and start over. Thankfully she chose the latter.

In June, 2000 Jeanne moved to Petoskey while Fred moved south. With the help of A.A. and her Catholic faith, Jeanne sobered up and thrived. She saw Fred often over the next two years and they enjoyed a true healing before Fred passed away in 2002.

Jeanne’s eighteen years in Petoskey were a testament to the virtues of exercise, community, family, humor, and faith. These years were not easy: first Alzheimer’s, then near-fatal surgery complications, blindness in 2015, and a stroke in early 2018. Yet, two weeks before her death, Jeanne was laughing and reveling with a milkshake after having walked 240 yards.

She was resilient, hopeful, hilarious, and inspiring. She will be deeply missed. Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband, a son, her parents, three siblings, four in-laws, and a nephew.

She is survived by her son Fred, his wife Kathy, and grand daughter Sarah, all of Petoskey; Fred and Kathy’s four other children, Sr Victoria Marie (Mary Beth), Patrick, Margaret, and Freddie; Patrick’s wife and son, Melina and Soufiane; five other children and their families; a sister, a sister-in-law, and twenty two nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass will be held at St Francis Xavier in Petoskey on Wednesday, October 3rd at 10:30 with visitation at 9:00. A subsequent Mass and Burial will be held in Rockville, MD.

Remembrances can be made by thanking the next nurse you see. Or by praying for those suffering with addictions. Or most simply, by pausing and smiling.

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