Jeannette "Jay" (Packard) Stewart, 92, of East Hartford, loving wife for over 61 years of the late George E. Stewart, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 23, 2017. The daughter of the late Ransom and Lillian Packard, Jay was born November 17, 1924 in Brockton, MA. She graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, Class of 1946, and married George in 1947. Jay and George moved to Hartford, CT in 1950 and East Hartford in 1952, where they raised three sons, held various jobs, and volunteered endless hours.
Jay's proudest accomplishment was serving on the Ethics Committee at John Dempsey Hospital as the only non-medical member. Volunteering was Jay's contribution to her community, and she was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce in 1986 for her efforts. Jay was an active member of the South Congregational Church of East Hartford and served on the Board of Deacons, the Board of Trustees, as Church Moderator, and as a Lay Minister. Jay was guardian, conservator, and certified advocate to George and Alfred Banks for many years. She also wrote weekly letters to church shut-ins, and did whatever needed to be done at South Church for 60 years.
Jay served as a Bates College Trustee for 17 years, remaining a Trustee Emeritus, and received the Bates Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1962 and 2000.
She was an East Hartford Women's Club member for over 60 years and served as President from 1956 to 1958. Jay was active in the East Hartford and Greater Hartford YM/YWCA starting with co-chairing the East Hartford Building Committee with her husband George in 1957 and continued to be involved her entire life. In 2010, the East Hartford YMCA awarded Jay the Volunteer Leadership Award. Jay enjoyed chairing and working at countless Red Cross blood drives, and was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award for the Greater Hartford Red Cross in 1990.
Jay was an active member of the East Hartford Rotary Club, and went to many Rotary conventions even after her husband finished serving as a District Governor. She received the Rotary Club's highest award, the Paul Harris Award, in 1984. Published in The Hartford Courant on Aug. 31, 2017
Jay was always knitting, be it a prayer shawl, or a cancer hat for the local hospital or civic organization. Jay will be remembered for her generosity and friendship. She loved to give and get hugs, and she loved to help anyone who needed a hand.
Jay and George enjoyed their summers at their cottage on Lake Pocotopaug in East Hampton. They traveled around the world with Rotary and hosted many foreign exchange students. They also were very involved in South Congregational Church's sister church, Dore and Totley in Sheffield, England, hosting and visiting many members including their dear friends, Barbara and Ron Ainsworth.
Jay is survived by three sons and their wives: Randy and Beth Kurker-Stewart of Glastonbury, Doug and Susan Stewart of Hebron, and Bob and Beth Stewart of Tolland. In addition, Jay leaves behind eight grandchildren and their spouses; Christon Kurker-Stewart and Karen Marino of Wolcott, Nicole Kurker-Stewart and Steve Pickus of Cheshire, Devon Kurker-Stewart and Tom Peterson, Jr. of Hamden, Alison and Brian Munroe of Cambridge, MA, Greg and Viki Stewart of Philadelphia, PA, Paige Stewart of Charlotte, NC, Kay and Colin Redford of Fuquay-Varina, NC, and Caroline Stewart of Los Angeles, CA. Jay also leaves three great grandchildren: Bryce Kurker-Stewart of Wolcott, Katie Munroe of Cambridge, and Adelaide Redford of Fuquay-Varina. In addition, Jay leaves her sister in-law Carol Jeanne Stewart of Denver, CO and her nephew, Tom Stewart of Boulder, CO; her Rotary adopted daughter and her husband, Nancy and Brian Jendrzejczyk and their children Jake and Jennifer of East Hampton; countless friends including her long-time friends, Art and Charlotte Bradbury of East Hartford.
A memorial service celebrating Jay's life will be held Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 10:30 am at South Congregational Church, 1301 Forbes Street East Hartford. Everyone is asked to please go directly to the church on Saturday morning. Private burial will be held at the convenience of the family. Jay's family will receive relatives and friends at the D'ESOPO - East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford on Thursday, September 7th from 3:00 to 7:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the Stewarts request donations in Jay's memory to please be made to either South Congregational Church of East Hartford or the Stewart Scholarship at Bates College c/o Bates College, 2 Andrews Road, Lane Hall 6, Lewiston, ME 04240. For on-line expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com.