Jean Hunter Stem

Jean Hunter Stem

As her family begins to accept the reality and reflect on a truly special mother, grandmother and great grandmother, we report that Jean Hunter Stem, born February 16, 1923, died a peaceful death onThanksgiving, Nov. 26, 2015 after many years of declining health. Mom packed a full life into those 92 years! Born in Tung Cho, China of educational missionaries, she grew up on the compound, leaving only when she turned 18 in order to attend college in the States. Her upbringing in China impacted the rest of her life, influencing her reading, her poetry and her paintings. She continued to speak Mandarin at every opportunity, surprising waitresses in every Chinese restaurant we ever visited.

She attended Northwestern University and Knox College, where she learned and honed her teaching skills with plans of returning to the mission field. These plans changed when she met and married Charles Hubert Stem and instead began her life as a minister's wife. Mom served churches, along with Dad, in Chicago, Brookline, Grand Rapids and in Akron at First Congregational Church and St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Although she was not a great cook, by any stretch of the imagination, she was an excellent hostess; organizing gatherings at the various parsonages and hosting Sunday dinners after church; serving her special dish, baked chicken and rice topped with peanuts, raisins and gravy.

It was in Akron that Mom decided that after years of being the ever gracious minister's wife she was ready to begin her next stage; returning to college to renew her teaching credentials. Mom was a teacher of English at old South High School for 14 years before moving to Buchtel High School where she taught for 11 years. Her knowledge and passion for English literature and grammar were unparalleled and made an impression on hundreds of students at both schools. Mom relished the fact that former students would contact her, expressing gratitude for how hard she had pushed them in class; confiding that they had hated her and the effort required at the time! Mom was awarded Literacy Teacher of the Year by the Ohio Department of Education and was selected to receive the first Lifetime Achievement Award in the South High Hall of Fame. She was very proud of both these awards as each was a testament of her dedication to her students, her hard work, and her never ending belief that her efforts would make the world a better place.

Once retirement loomed, Mom began her next stage. She had always been a creative woman of many varied and strongly held opinions. Her white Taurus was a traveling statement of them, much to the chagrin of her family! Her numerous Voice of the People letters in the Akron Beacon Journal frequently voiced her opinions. Putting to good use her beliefs and the multiple little note pads she always carried in her purse, in order to jot down a phrase, a word, or an idea whenever it hit, she put her creativity to use and began writing poetry; publishing six volumes of remarkable poetry over the years.

Thank you, Mom, for having touched our lives, for being our teacher and for being our loving mother. We now send you on with our love as you continue on your journey to the next stage of your life. We will miss you daily. You were after all, the woman who: taught us the importance of setting a good example, had the best collection of hats to wear to church every Sunday, knew the words to every hymn without even looking at the hymnal, could spout random verses of poetry at will, sang Mulligan Stew to the delight of her grandchildren while she cooked her traditional holiday dinners, loved Friendlys' cappuccino, hung the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes sign on her doorknob every year fully expecting Ed McMahon to ring the doorbell, hated those *$#&^ squirrels at her bird feeder, and always the woman who never hesitated to correct a grammatical error.

With love: your children: Susan and Ron Bishop, Sarah Stem and Max Miller, Martha Stem and Greg Gagarin; grandchildren: Brandon Price, Courtney Scott, Sarah Gagarin; great grandchildren: Emma Jean, Gracie and Elliot Scott.

We wish to express our gratitude to Visiting Nurse Hospice Care Center on Ridgewood Rd and Rockynol for the care given to Jean. The family's deepest appreciation to Becky Metcalf, Mom's home healthcare provider and companion for the unconditional love and tender care she provided over the last five years. Mom loved her dearly.

We will cherish her memory and let it live on, and we will do as she would want: smile, open our eyes to the beauty of the world, love each other, and go on. Her work here is done, and she may now, in good conscience, rest.

Cremation has taken place with burial at Rose Hill Burial Park. A Celebration of Life Service will be arranged at a later date. To share a Memory, Send a Condolence or Light a Candle, visit the Tribute Wall at www.billowfuneralhomes.com (Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel)