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Jean Louise Andress

Jean Louise Andress, 93, of Essex, formerly of Old Saybrook, passed away peacefully on the evening of Sept. 5 after a long courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Throughout her last year’s, Jean was surrounded by her husband, Joseph, who along with her children and staff from Essex Meadows Health Center, lovingly cared for her.

Jean was born April 21, 1929, and was raised in Bronxville, New York. She was the daughter of Charles Owen Power and Ella Merle Fierbaugh Power. She graduated from Beaver College with a degree in education. While attending Beaver College, she met her husband, Joseph Andress, where they both realized they had ridden the same school bus in childhood. She taught in the New York school system until the birth of her first child. After starting her family, she became a full-time homemaker.

Jean was a lifelong learner. After raising her three children, she went back to school to pursue her passions of interior design, arts and antiques, American Sign Language, and a variety of craft making techniques. Jean enjoyed spending time with her family attending Broadway musicals, visiting art museums, collecting antiques, taking beach walks, hiking, and enjoying the beauty of nature. Jean enjoyed planning, preparing, and decorating for lavish parties for family and friends. In their retirement, Jean and Joseph enjoyed traveling the world. She loved animals, raising many dogs and cats over the course of her life. Until the end of her life, she would light up with joy when visited by a canine friend. Jean approached life with a keen sense of wit and humor and was loved by all.

Jean and Joseph recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with family, friends, and the staff of Essex Meadows on Aug. 22.

Jean is survived by her devoted husband Joseph; her daughters, Pamela Phillips (Jim) of Vancouver, Washington and Karen Andress of Newington; daughter-in-law Karen Andress of Oviedo, Florida; her grandchildren, Jennifer Staines (John), Matthew Andress, Ryan Andress (Tom), Kyle Andress, Rebecca Weidenaar (Mark), Dylan Avena and Hannah Avena; and her great-grandchildren, Jacob, Emily, and Sarah. She was predeceased by her eldest son, Thomas, in 2018 with whom she is now reunited.

The family would like to thank the staff of Essex Meadows who lovingly cared for Jean over the past several years.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Alzheimer’s Association or a charitable organization of your choice.

www.swamfuneralhomeoldsaybrook.com.