Jean Crawford Obituary

Jean (McCrainor) Crawford, 90, of San Diego, beloved Mom and Grandma, passed away in her sleep in her Clairemont home on April 26, 2011. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska on September 20, 1920. She was the youngest of three daughters born to William and Emily McCrainor. Her father died when she was 3 and grew up during the Great Depression in a single parent household. She married Joseph J. Crawford, a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy. They met as Omaha neighbors in their youth as she was Joe’s sister’s best friend. They were married 64 years until Joe’s death in 2009.

Jean was a wife, mother, and homemaker. As a Navy wife of a WWII and Korean War vet, they moved often, having 6 kids born in 4 military towns. They finally settled in San Diego in 1958. The Crawford house was the “fun” house on the block–where the sports and games were played and the freezer was never short of ice cream for the kids. A strong advocate for her children’s education, she pushed for accountability and appropriate reading materials in public schools. She cultivated a quick wit and intellect and loved to debate, always maintaining a conservative stance. She held a love for reading, wordplay, crossword puzzles, and all games. Later in life Wheel of Fortune was a favorite. A devout Catholic, she was active in Marian prayer groups and devoted to the power of the Rosary. In 1982 she had a debilitating stroke that she overcame with strength and perseverance.

She is survived by her children James (Phyllis, died 2010) of Roanoke, VA, John (Karen) of Dunwoody, GA, Joseph (Michelle), Joanie, Jeannine (Lee) and Jacqui, as well as “adopted” daughter Helene Kelberg. She had 7 grandchildren; Joe (Leah), Kelly (Daniel), Katie, Jessica, Bud, Jonathan and Michael. She will be missed on Friday nights for Family Dinner, a decades-long tradition for the Crawfords and guests.

A Rosary is planned for Thursday, June 2 at 7:00pm at St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church. Memorial services are planned for Friday, June 3: a Mass at St. Catherine’s at 9:30am followed by reception and later a Memorial Service at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at 1:00pm. She was a supporter of many charities: Father Joe’s Village and various pro-life causes. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Father Joe’s Village or San Diego Hospice.

We have submitted this to the San Diego Union Tribune for placement soon. The obituary was posted May 15, 2011: JEAN CRAWFORD’s Obituary by San Diego Union-Tribune
.