Jeanette K Gordon

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Jeanette Kathleen Gordon, 63, of Wayne, N.J. passed away Saturday, October 23, 2021, at Chilton Memorial Medical Center, Pompton Plains, NJ, surrounded by her loving family.

Born May 30, 1958, in Long Branch, N.J. the daughter of the late William M. Gordon and Dympna C. (Healey) Gordon.

She is survived by her siblings Lynne (Gordon) Hoffman and husband Dean, of Richfield, Pa.; Evan Gordon and wife Jennifer (Winston), of Middleburg, Pa.; Katherine Gordon and wife Lisa Gray, of Pompton Lakes, N.J.; Mary Gordon and husband Matt Kaprelian, of Poughkeepsie, NY; Leigh (Gordon) Clancy and husband John Augustinski, of Greeley, PA; and Christine Gordon of Mifflinburg, PA.  Jeanette was blessed with and most adored by her nieces, nephews, extended family, and her dear friends.  With special acknowledgement to all those “angels” who supported Jeanette as caregivers, doctors, nurses, aides, therapists, and administrators – most recently our sincere gratitude to Julia, Christine, Raquel, Marla, Maria and Ivette – her east coast guardians. The family relocated and settled in Cedar Grove in 1963.  Jeanette graduated from Memorial High School in Cedar Grove in 1976.  She had joined The Jerseyman Club in its inaugural year.  During high school Jeanette was an associate for Bamburger’s department store in Wayne, NJ.

Jeanette attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa, IA.  While in college she joined the sorority, Alpha Eta Omega where she made so many lifelong friends.  Her “sisters” lovingly called her Flash.

She returned home to Cedar Grove and worked in the commodities department at Merrill Lynch in New York City at the World Trade Center.

Soon after, the road was calling, and Jeanette began her adventures West.  After visiting a friend in Arizona, she decided to call Tucson her home.   She was employed by Valley National Bank as a loan officer.  She was often called out for the tremendous time she spent with, and the care she offered, the many seniors who needed direction and assistance.  After leaving the bank, Jeanette turned toward the retail world and joined the team of Savon Drugs as manager and eventually transitioned to the CVS Pharmacy Management team.  Jeanette loved the terrain of Arizona and loved to go exploring.  She was the consummate tour guide, many times exhausting her visitors while ensuring all the sights and scenery were explored.  She adopted a palette for the food of the Southwest and shared her delightful culinary experiences with anyone who would join her.  Jeanette believed that one of her greatest accomplishments was graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree in Political Science.  This all being done over the course of a decade and while working full time at CVS.  Jeanette would confess that her role as student was never easy for her and was so proud of her successful completion at the university.

Jeanette’s dream was to work her way up the West Coast and eventually end in the Northwest.  So, her next journey was a little closer to that dream when Jeanette transferred with CVS to San Diego, CA.  Jeanette role modeled the philosophy of living life to its fullest.  Whenever the opportunity afforded, she would adventure out and explore the world around her.   And if you were visiting, you went shotgun.  She absolutely loved her world in the Southwest.  The canyons and old towns, the treacherous dirt roads, historical museums, and century old churches.  One of Jeanette’s favorite activities was dining out for breakfast “solo” on the weekend.  Just lingering over a phenomenal local dish while reading the Sunday newspaper.  Jeanette’s most cherished destination spot was Catalina Island.  She would pack a duffel for a long weekend, enjoy the ferry ride to “her” island and find, if she could, an old, story-filled, and if possible “spirited” hotel for her short stay.  Time was spent walking the island, meeting up with some bison, speaking to anyone that would come into her purview and soak it all in.

After graduating from the university, Jeanette began her work with the County of San Diego as Administrative Assistant.  She was known for her tremendously helpful and resourceful demeanor, her arranging and supporting events and for painstakingly baking the most delectable treats for the office.

In 2011, Jeanette was in a devastating auto accident that left her paralyzed from the chest down.  She was hospitalized for several months while beginning the rehabilitation segment of her newest stage of life.  Her colleagues and friends from the county government generously donated their personal time off to allow Jeanette to attend to her recovery.  For this she, and her family, are extremely humbled and grateful.  Shortly after, Jeanette decided that it was time to return to her family and friends back east where she spent the remaining ten years in New Jersey.  Her final home was Sunrise Assisted Living in Wayne, NJ where she flourished; living as independent a life as she could – supported by personal companions and the loving staff.  She went on adventures with friends and family as frequently as she could; parks and reserves, beaches and museums, restaurants and movie houses.  She had more energy than those around her.  Most recently Jeanette was so brave and returned to her beloved California and visited her loving friends and former colleagues.  She also ventured to Washington, DC by train, with her sister, Lynne and companion Raquel to “conquer the town”.
Jeanette was methodical in everything she did and with all that she achieved.  She worked hard, lived well, and thought herself successful in all that she had done.  I know she would say there was still so   much to do and ground to cover, but we believe that to be true even if she lived to the age of 100.  Jeanette was a huge advocate of continued education, both formal and informal.  If you had the great fortune to spend time with her, she felt it her obligation to assist you in assuring you were striving to be the best that you can be, and that you were happy.  She often turned the conversation from herself and what she has achieved, she just always wanted to know what was going on with others and she did not hesitate to give advice, mentorship, and direction – which was usually spot on.  Even during her most challenging times Jeanette put others first.

Jeanette had a tremendous adventurous spirit.  She was not afraid to go to new places and try new things.  Her quick wit and sense of humor drew people to her and she was adept at turning complete strangers into dear friends.  Jeanette went through all that she endured with the greatest of class and in an utterly selfless manner.  She never wanted to be a burden to anyone.  With Jeanette, you would never leave the room without a word of encouragement and marching orders to return and keep her up to date.  Her bright blue eyes and tremendous smile could light up any room.  She touched the lives of many and will be dearly missed.

The family respectfully suggests that those who desire make a memorial contribution to:
Push to Walk - https://www.pushtowalknj.org/donate/
The Christopher Reeve Foundation - https://www.christopherreeve.org/donate
The Sharing Network- https://www.njsharingnetwork.org/contribute