Obituary of Blanche Jean Keefer

WATERLOO – Blanche "Jean" Keefer, 89, of Waterloo, NY, peacefully passed away Monday (February 1, 2021) at Seneca Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. In keeping with the wishes of the family, there will be no calling hours. A graveside service in Maple Grove Cemetery, Waterloo, NY, will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children – Erie, 1645 W. 8th St., Erie, PA, 16505. Jean was born February 19, 1931, in Waterloo, NY, the daughter of William and Doris Mount Kerridge. After graduating from Waterloo High School in Waterloo, NY, her career started as a stewardess for the airlines. She felt like she could see the world and experience what life had to offer. Her paths crossed with Calvin Keefer and they were married in November of 1956. Her life would now move in a different direction, the mother of four daughters, working on their dairy farm, a seamstress and also work for Singer Sewing Machine in Geneva, NY. Jean also worked as store clerk at Big N. Her life's achievement was earning her Licensed Practical Nurse degree, graduating from the Marion S. Whelan School of Nursing in Geneva, NY. She started her nursing career at Geneva General Hospital and retired from the Canandaigua Veterans Administration Medial Center. Jean was a 4-H leader for many years, a "neighborhood mom and grandma" of sorts. Teaching the neighborhood kids how to sew and cook. Later in life she took painting lessons. Her love of old barns and birds were her specialties. Many homes are adorned with her art. She continued to cook and bake over the years, gifting many of her goodies. Best known for "sticky buns" by the highway departments and the State Police, "After all she may need them some day!". As a devoted grandmother, every Saturday was "their day" with her grandchildren. She made sure her grandkids would learn to swim at the YMCA. After swim lessons grandmother and grandkids were off to the library and then a special lunch. Jean is survived by her daughter Christine (John) Saeli and their children Colleen (Anton) Nirschl, Catherine (Ryan) Somerville, Christine (Jake) Cornwell and John (Rose) Saeli and eleven great-grandkids; daughter Lisa (Don) Freier and their children C. Ben (April) Freier, Louis (Amber Greer) Freier and Colby (Anne Rose) Freier and four great-grandkids; sister Kate Litzenburger; son-in-law John Griffith; many nieces and nephews; two men she thought of as her own sons William DiCicco and Paul Brooks, Jr. She was predeceased by her husband Calvin B. Keefer; daughters Kathleen Griffith and Colleen Keefer; parents; sister Dorothy Kime; and brothers Kenneth and Calvin Kerridge. Condolences and remembrances for the family may be sent to www.coegenungfuneralhome.com.