Jean Glover

Jean Glover passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, August 24, 2023. She was born on March 13, 1930 to Aloysius and Florence (Schlie) Kirsch in Syracuse, NY. Her early life started on Leonard Street in Mattydale where she remembered walking to St. Margaret’s Church, with her grandparents who were founding members and donated the land for the church to be built. Her father purchased a large parcel of land on Taft Road in North Syracuse, known as Kirsch Dairy which produced milk, potatoes and asparagus and where she grew up. She graduated in 1946 from North Syracuse High School and was disappointed that her parents did not feel she needed a college education. For a short time, she worked for General Electric. Jean married Ed on January 28, 1950. In 1958, with three children in a small ranch in Pitcher Hill, they decided to build a house on her father’s former farmland. Ed built the house with the help of family and friends. The family moved in the fall of 1959 into the home where she resided for over 60 years. Once her children were all in school, she was able to realize her dream of going to college, receiving her associate’s degree from Maria Regina College to become a librarian/teaching assistant. Jean was delighted to be working with children at Allen Road, Bear Road and Peace Inc. Later, she became a bookkeeper for Marge Polito Florist, which kept her very busy during holidays. Jean, being the eldest daughter, was taught to cook and bake for the family, as well as to can (and freeze when it became the norm) produce, which she continued throughout her life. She loved having a vegetable garden and shared her produce with family, friends, and neighbors. She enjoyed growing flowers and took classes to make lovely arrangements. An excellent seamstress, she began with her own clothes, then her children’s clothes and their Halloween costumes. Also, she reupholstered and refinished furniture, created memorable birthday cakes and enjoyed all kinds of crafts including quilting, needlepoint and knitting. At 60 years of age, she took up rollerblading and cross country skiing. From her early upbringing, she was a devout Catholic, was a lector at her parish, St. Rose of Lima, happily for several years. Jean was predeceased by her parents; six siblings, William, Robert, James, Audrey, Marilyn and Sharon; her husband, Edward and sons, James and Thomas. She is survived by her daughter, Karen, her “other daughter”, Deborah (Mike) Rinaldo and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Calling hours will be on Wednesday, August 30th from 4 to 6 pm at Fergerson Funeral Home, 215 South Main Street, North Syracuse. A prayer at 9:30 am at the funeral home precedes the Mass of Christian Burial offered on Thursday, August 31, 2023 at 10 am at St. Rose of Lima Church, 407 South Main Street, North Syracuse. Burial will be in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Marcellus, at 11 am on Wednesday, September 6th. Donations may be made to St. Rose of Lima Scholar Fund, 407 South Main Street, North Syracuse, NY 13212 or to Francis House, 108 Michaels Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13208.