
Avon: Jean Ellen Housel, age 69, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 28, 2023, surrounded by her loving family at Strong Memorial Hospital.
Jean was born March 2, 1954, in Syracuse, New York, to Margaret and Oliver (Robert) Loomis. She graduated from Penn Yan Academy in 1972 and went on to attend SUNY Oswego for her undergraduate degree followed by Syracuse University where she obtained a Master of Education degree. Jean began her teaching career in 1976 in North Syracuse and then moved on to teach in Liverpool. In 1982, she joined the Honeoye Falls-Lima Central School District where she taught English and Reading at the Manor School. In 1993, Jean retired from teaching due to progressing symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, which she had been diagnosed with 11 years prior.
Jean, affectionately known as Skipper, was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She treasured spending time with her family and friends. Some of her fondest memories included: spending Fridays with her granddaughters, weekend getaways with her family at their cottage on Keuka Lake, family vacations to Florida, her “sister days” spent on the back porch of her home, and her daily car ride adventures as co-pilot to her husband, John. Jean was an avid fan of the New York Yankees and Buffalo Bills. She also enjoyed collecting antiques, reading books, and listening to music.
She leaves behind to cherish her memory: loving husband of forty-six years, John Housel; daughter, Deborah (Dave) Nelson; son, John (Maureen) Housel; grandchildren, Charlotte and Palmer Housel; step-grandchildren, Ethan and Chloe Nelson; sisters, Pegianne Arnold of Tallmadge, Ohio, Sharon (Earl) Hayes of Ithaca, New York, Susan (Mark) Loomis-Collatz of East Lansing, Michigan; father-in-law, Alvin Housel of Penn Yan, New York; sister-in-law Terry (Steven) Nussbaumer of Penn Yan, New York; brother-in-law Jeff (Pam) Housel of Penn Yan, New York; and many nieces and nephews.
Jean was predeceased by her parents, Margaret and Oliver (Robert) Loomis, mother-in-law, Thelma Housel, sister, Deborah Loomis, brother-in-law, Robert Arnold and nephew, Steven Nussbaumer.
Family and friends may pay their respects on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home Inc., 21 Big Tree Street, Rte. 20A, Livonia, NY, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A memorial service will be held immediately following at 12:00 p.m. A celebration of life luncheon will follow at the Avon Inn at 1:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org To send a condolence or share a memory please visit: www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com