Jean M. (Gibbons) Halsdorff, 60, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, December 13th.

Jean leaves her husband of 37 years, Dennis J. Halsdorff; four children, Dennis J. Halsdorff, II of Worcester, Colleen D. Palacios and her husband Anthony of Worcester, Erin C. Halsdorff of North Oxford, and Meaghan J. Oldenburg of Worcester; her grandson, Hunter Oldenburg; a brother, James P. Gibbons and his wife Elizabeth of Hingham, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Jean’s sister, Mary Anne Gibbons and her brother, John M. Gibbons predeceased her.

Jean was born in Worcester, the daughter of John P. and Helen M. (O’Malley) Gibbons. She attended St. Stephen’s School for eleven years until it closed, and graduated from Holy Name High School in 1972 and Quinsigamond Community College in 1974. Jean worked in clerical positions at UMass Memorial Medical Center for 30 years. For a short time she also sold products for Princess House, and taught CCD classes at St. Ann’s Church in North Oxford.

Jeannie was the sweetest soul you could imagine, well-liked by all who ever met her. She was accepting of all types of people and made everyone feel welcomed in her presence. She loved animals and could always be found lounging with a cat or dog by her side. She enjoyed reading, spending summers on the water, going out to eat, and the occasional visit to the spa. She was always a hard worker and really missed her friends and colleagues after leaving UMass Memorial. She liked to travel and wished that she could do it more often.

Jeannie will be remembered for her hugs and her humor. She was warm and compassionate, and boy could she make you laugh! She was also an exquisite role model, and we all looked to her for advice. She taught her children to be kind, tolerant, modest, and respectful. We learned from her how to strive for the best, while staying true to ourselves and advocating for what is right. She was strong in her faith, strong as a woman, and beautiful inside and out. She fought so hard for the last seven years to stay with us as long as possible.

Jeannie hosted a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner this year and cooked a delicious non-traditional family favorite. Because most importantly, she was the heart of her whole family. Whether it was for a holiday, a birthday, a weekend trip, or just a backyard BBQ, she always wanted her family to be together. She was so patient and caring, and she made it her duty to ensure that our family stayed closely bonded. She loved her husband and children dearly, but she was head-over-heels for her grandson, Hunter. She spent a fantastic five years loving him, and she cherished every moment. Jeannie was our family stone, and we will miss her with all our hearts.

Jean’s visiting hours will be on Friday, December 19th from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at CALLAHAN, FAY & CASWELL FUNERAL HOME, 61 Myrtle St., Worcester. Her Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, December 20th at 10:00 am at St. Stephen’s Church, 357 Grafton St., Worcester. Burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 10 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 or to Broken Tail Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 60296, Worcester, MA 01606.