Jean N. Barzelay's Obituary
Obituary
Jean N. Barzelay
11/30/1926 – 1/12/2023
The family of Jean Barzelay (née Berger) is saddened to announce Jean’s death at age 96. Jean was born on November 30, 1926 in Fall River, Massachusetts to Adolph and Hattie Berger (née Smolensky). Jean was raised in Worcester, along with her younger sister, Devona. After completing Worcester Classical High School, Jean studied at Westbrook Junior College in Portland, Maine, earning an Associate Degree. At a wedding in 1946, she met her future husband Ross Barzelay, where Jean was the bride’s maid-of-honor and Ross was groom’s best man; they themselves married in 1947. Ross was a highly decorated U.S. Army veteran who fought in the European War Theater in 1944-45 as an infantry officer. The two settled in Massachusetts as Ross completed his war-suspended studies in commerce and education at Boston University and Jean gave birth to their first child, William. Called back to active service in 1950 as a military science professor, Ross was stationed in Queens, New York, where Jean gave birth to their second child, Caren.
Seeking economic opportunity after discharge from service, they moved to Battle Creek, Michigan in 1952, as Ross joined the Post Cereals Division of General Foods Corporation, in a sales role. In Battle Creek, Jean was a homemaker and gave birth to their third child, Michael. Ross’s successful career with GF later took the family to Kankakee, Illinois and, ultimately, to Westport, Connecticut, where they lived for more than 20 years. Jean traveled extensively with Ross on business during the decade when he served in top executive positions.
After Ross’s retirement in 1982, the couple divided their time between Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Boynton Beach, Florida, while traveling for pleasure to destinations such as Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. As Ross became increasingly diminished by Alzheimer’s disease, Jean cared for Ross at home for several years until institutional care was necessary; he died in 1997 at the age of 75.
Jean eventually made her final residence at Mangrove Bay Senior Living in Jupiter, Florida. Despite being herself a victim of dementia, Jean exhibited her strong and amiable character throughout her more than 15 years living at Mangrove Bay, even at 96.
Jean is survived by her three children, William Barzelay (Colleyville, Texas), Caren Barzelay Stelson (Minneapolis, Minnesota) and Michael Barzelay (London, UK); by five grandchildren—Aaron Stelson, Elizabeth Stelson, Jenna Barzelay, Adele Barzelay and Alexandre Barzelay; and by two great-grandchildren— Reid Stelson and Lucia Anne Stelson. Jean’s remains are to be interned alongside Ross’s at Arlington National Cemetery, at which time the extended family will gather for a celebration of her life.
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