Obituary of Jean S. Bourgeois

Glenville- Jean Marie Bourgeois (nee Spencer), 95, of Glenville, NY, passed away on Monday, February 6, 2023, at The Bridges Retirement Community in Riverview, FL, leaving behind a lifetime of treasured stories.

A matriarch, Ballston Spa High teacher, and a master of the English language, Jean imbued hundreds of students with an appreciation of literature and linguistics, with her children and grandchildren as her most adored pupils. Jean’s refined rhetoric rendered her wild sense of humor delightful. Just like her comedic anecdotes, her memory is that of worthwhile lessons, laughter, and love.

 Writing the next chapter of her legacy are Jean’s children, Mary Katherine (Michael) Wedrychowicz, Margaret E. Bourgeois (Alice Dembner), Bernadette A. (Gary) Ilnycky, Daniel M. (Lisa) Bourgeois; seven grandchildren, Christopher and Kevin Wedrychowicz, Christine and Matthew Ilnycky, Caitlin Fischbach, and Caleigh and Alexander Bourgeois; three great grandchildren, Katerina, Mia, and Alexandra plus nieces, nephews.

 Any tale worth telling has romance, including Jean’s. She married fellow St. Columbus High School graduate and Navy veteran, Andre J. Bourgeois in 1951. Of course, this was only after he’d won over Jean’s brother, Don Spencer, and beloved sister, Beth Spencer, with whom Jean was especially close throughout her life. For the next 52 years, Jean built a home with Andre, traveling, working, volunteering, and co-parenting their four adored children. Jean was predeceased by her parents Dorr and Mae Golden Spencer,husband Andre and siblings Don and Beth. 

 In her later years, Jean shared firsthand accounts of history with family. She’d lived through the Great Depression, a World War, the Space Race, and countless other moments fit for the textbooks in her classroom. But her family takes comfort knowing Jean’s favorite moments were spent with them, and theirs with her.

 A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, March 13^th at 10 a.m. at Church of the Immaculate Conception in Glenville, NY, followed by a burial service at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville, NY, where she will be laid to rest with her husband, Andre.

 Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or in honor of 

Jean and her sister, Beth's passion about children’s literacy to Reading is Fundamental, 750 First Street NE, Ste. 920, Washington, DC 20002 Attn: Development Department.