Jennifer Louise Cressy Deane

Jennifer Louise Cressy Deane passed away peacefully with her loving husband by her side on July 13th.

Jennifer (or “FeFa”, “JJ”, “Da Mama”, “Aunt Jen”, and, of course, “Grandma”) was born on April 19, 1950 in Mishawaka, Indiana to her beloved parents Angela Gerstbauer Cressy and George Sidney Cressy. She was the fourth of seven children raised in a home full of joy, love, and boundless energy - and one rooted deeply in kindness, generosity of spirit, and their Catholic faith. 

Jennifer was a proud graduate of Indiana University and went to Bloomington on a full-ride theater scholarship. While there, a friend tried repeatedly to fix her up on a date, which Jenny respectfully declined. However, the polite persistence of the young man in question intrigued her enough to finally "say yes." This is how she met the handsome, kind, funny, smart, and thoughtful Steve Deane, marking the beginning of a beautiful partnership of more than half a century. 

Jenny and Steve married on May 11, 1974 and they were, without a doubt, the loves of each others’ lives. They rejoiced in one another’s company and laughed, learned, explored, prayed, and grew together over 55 wonderful years. They respected each other deeply, always spoke with kindness, listened, honored, and genuinely treasured each other. Their partnership and love has been an inspiration to countless people, including nieces, nephews, friends, and especially their children. 

Jennifer and Steve have three children, Angela (Noah Armstrong), Steven (Kat), and Kyle (Claire), who they raised in the most joyful home and for whom they modeled the importance of family, faith, kindness, gratitude, generosity, and always the familiar refrain of “Do Unto Others.” They love Noah, Kat, and Claire as they do their own children and their home has been a welcoming gathering place for kids, grandkids, friends, nieces and nephews, cousins, and countless others for decades. 

Jenny delighted in and cherished her and Steve’s 10 grandchildren: George Louis Deane Armstrong, Betty Andrea Deane Armstrong, Frances Louise Deane Armstrong; Diego MonroyHuerta, Emily Monroy-Huerta, Penelope Angela Deane-Huerta, Colette Leslie Deane-Huerta; Maggie Jennifer Deane, Simon Joseph Deane, and Susannah June Deane. They adored their Grandma - who added sugar to their sugar cereal, took them for super-fast speed boat rides, sang to them in her beautiful, operatic voice, regaled them with stories, and loved them with every bit of her soul. 

To know Jennifer Deane was to love her. She embraced everything with a joie de vivre like no other. She was a confidante to so many - her kids’ friends, whom she welcomed, loved, and often chatted with hours into the night as they sought out her wise counsel; her nieces and nephews, in whose every success and milestone she delighted and to whom she sent her famous Halloween packages at college year in and year out; her daughter, whose 3:00 a.m. calls in college she never once turned down. She made every single person feel as if they were the most important person in the room - and that’s because she truly believed that they were. She listened intently, encouraged people to be fully and completely themselves, was always the first to say hello, was a firm believer in asking for forgiveness rather than permission and that love was multiplied and never divided.  She wasn’t afraid of a speck of dirt (“we’re all buried in it”), was a gardener, a visionary, a musician and singer (Malibu Four!), wedding officiant extraordinaire, and a cheerleader to all. There truly was never a brighter light - she is so very loved. 

In addition to Steve, her children, and grandchildren, Jennifer is survived by her loving siblings Don (Pat) Cressy, Marcia (Mike) Hammes, Ray (Mary Lou) Cressy, Maryclare (John) Dunbar, Susan Makielski, and George (Katy) Cressy; her dear brothers-in-law Mick and Randy Deane; her sister-in-law Shelly Deane; dozens of beloved nieces and nephews; more than 60 first cousins; her Godchildren Jim Cressy, Gavin Ferlic, Barbie Fulnecky, and Evie Cressy; her “confirmandis” Beth Ferlic, Garetta (Davey) Keefer, Marie (Cressy) Kyriss, and Blair Fulnecky; and many, many treasured lifelong friends. 

The Deane family is immeasurably grateful to Carol McCaffery, Samantha Fisher, and the devoted caregivers of Carol’s Cottage, and to Kim Toles for their kindness, love, care, professionalism, and companionship over the last many years. We also want to thank Mark Davis for his many years of friendship, love, and support, and we extend our deep gratitude to Paradigm Hospice and Kristie Powell for their loving and compassionate care. You have all brought so much to Jenny’s - and to our - lives. 

Jennifer’s friends and family are invited to celebrate her beautiful life from 3:00pm - 7:00pm on Thursday, July 16th at Palmer Funeral Homes Hickey Chapel (17131 Cleveland Rd., South Bend, IN 46635). A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, July 17th at 10:30am at St. Pius X Catholic Church (52553 N Fir Rd., Granger, IN 46530) with a luncheon immediately following. Family will greet guests before Mass at 9:30am. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to Facing History & Ourselves http://give.facinghistory.org/ or Shriners Children’s Chicago http://donate.shrinerschildrens.org/jennifercd

Palmer Funeral Home - Hickey Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.     

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.