JeanMarie Jones

JeanMarie Jones died in the late morning of May 22nd, 2026, a bright sunny day after several days of storms, surrounded by her loved ones, both physically and spiritually present. 

Born to John Joseph and Ruth May Hargreaves in Newark, NJ in 1958, Jean was the second of four children, John (elder brother), James (younger brother), and Sandra (younger sister). 

One of Jean's favorite things was spending time with her loved ones. She particularly enjoyed trips to the beach where she gathered with family and friends. In March of 1980, after dating for five years, Jean married Donald R. Jones, her husband of 46 years. Jean and Don's doors were always open to everyone. When their friends and children's friends didn't have a place to go for holidays, they always had a seat at the table.

Jean was also an avid baker and made baked goods for every occasion. She was particularly known by her family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers for her tins and plates of Christmas cookies. Christmas was her favorite holiday–the house would be decorated and smell of cookies and pies from early November to February. 

Throughout her life, Jean loved and always had an ear for music. The day before she passed, Jean and Don spent the day listening to music and watching videos of live concerts. Jean lit up while listening to some favorites, including the Moody Blues, which was the first album she ever purchased.

Though she would be quick to say she wasn't a writer, Jean was an apt storyteller, in great part because of the life she lived. From playing field hockey as a youth to sledding through briar patches to friends eating aquarium fish at a bar to family poker games and lawn darts (over her parents’ two-story house) to late night Jack-in-the-Box taco runs with her best friend–Marie Valdez–in a Corvette to organizing a successful fundraiser collaboration with Tunnels to Towers, Jean had a lot of stories. Some of her favorite stories were of the pranks she had played. Jean will certainly always be a featured character in many of our stories.

Jean was a talented seamstress and designer. When her children were young, she made clothes for them. Favorites were Halloween vests, stars and galaxy shirts, and Christmas attire. She made bunnies and bears and Christmas trees. Jean also had an eye for interior design and was always in the middle of a DIY project.

Jean worked at Home Depot for 28 years, where she built many enduring friendships. She approached her work with curiosity and creativity, taking pride in sharing everything she knew with and mentoring others. Over the years, she helped countless folks build, rebuild, and re-envision their spaces and homes and was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of those journeys. 

Jean was dedicated and loyal to those she loved and will be deeply missed, as will her reminders that sometimes we need breakfast or dessert for dinner and that a life well-lived is one lived in flip-flops.

Jean is survived by her husband Donald Jones and their two dogs–Eleanor (Ella) and Isabelle (Izzy), and her children, Amy Rose and her child, Cam (and Teagan), and her dog; Jamie Jones and spouse, Larisa Maxwell, and their two dogs and cat; and Donald Jones and wife, Ashley Randolph, their son DJ, and their three dogs and cat; as well as by her siblings John Hargreaves and his spouse Claire and their children Melanie (and Lional) and Katherine (and John); James Hargreaves and his spouse Deborah and their children James (and Mandy) and Ashley; and Sandra Ledner and her spouse John and their children Alexis (and Anthony and son Leo), Joshua (and Jessica), and Matthew (and Natalie). Jean is preceded in death by her parents, John and Ruth, and her grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and dogs Chalula, Bailey, Abby, and Domino.

A memorial service followed by a celebration of life will be held on August 22, 2026 from 11:00am -12:00pm at St. Kateri Church, 427 Stanhope Road, Sparta, NJ.

A celebration of life will also be held in Texas, date, time, and location to be announced. 

For those who are unable to attend, please take a moment to remember some bright moments Jean brought to your life and lift a glass, bake some cookies, hug a loved one, pet a dog, or spontaneously (but safely) take out a wall in your home in Jean’s memory. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tunnels to Towers (T2T.org) or MissPits Rescue (https://www.misspitsrescue.org/).