One of my earliest reflections of Jean was sitting on my friends garden swing in Great Wakering. Laughing and giggling, as her feet wouldn’t touch the ground and pretending she was a telly tubby. I thought she was some crazy lady but this was the Macmillan nurse assigned to my dear friend Val who had terminal cancer. You could hear her infectious laugh and always knew, when Jean was around.

Who would of thought that 30 years later I would be around looking after this crazy lady. I met Jean many times round Vals house and when she found out tragedy had struck my family there was Jean reaching out her hand in love. Now that’s when I found out that Jean was a Christian and worshipped at West Leigh Baptist Church. I wasn’t terrible impressed at the Christian bit because I had been a member of West Leigh, but my Christian life was non existent since my brothers suicide and the God bit just made me very angry. The latest tragedy the murder of my sister in law left no room for God. Well I met my match with Jean because sadly she had her own tragic family story and Jean shared her testimony. Left me speechless, not that she dwelled on the tragedy, more what the Lord had done in her life.

I went along to slimming world with Jean. Well that was a waste of time, she always tried to be good, but somehow it was never going to happen, we were never going to be twiggies. We had so many laughs. It deepened our friendship without God getting in the way, well that’s what I thought. She just came alongside me and that’s what I needed at that time. God was banter we had between us.

Had some tough years after the murder because my husband and I gave a home to my brothers children who had been orphaned. It wasn’t easy having two disturbed teenagers, with the added problems of drink and drugs. I battled with the Lord and Jean was one of my listening ears. She was one of the few Christians that could get anywhere near me.

I remember going away with my husband for a few days to Marlow on Thames on a works away day. Being in the grounds of the hotel and through the sheer beauty of nature the Lord spoke to me in away I couldn’t ignore. Jean and many of my Christian friends were the Lords feet 🦶

and hands, but Jean especially because she had empathy with my battles but would always have the last word and I would let her.

Over recent years coming down from Epping to take Jeany Bean out for a drive, lunch and shopping. With music blasting or listening to podcasts we use to sit along the seafront in the car having her weekly Rossis 99 ice cream. Jean was my weekly tonic and no doubt I was hers. Even when communication was poor, she would try dancing and wiggling her feet on her chair to the music.

In February my nieces now living abroad come over from Canada and Australia and went up to Lancashire for nearly three weeks. I knew the visit wasn’t going to be easy but when God is taking charge there is no end to his love and at the first opportunity I came down to Southend to tell Jean what the Lord had done. She was quite poorly that day. I told Jean and Paul how my nieces had visited their family home where the murder of my sister in law had taken place and this wonderful Muslim family opening their house in love and extending Gods healing power was astonishing. I thought Jean was asleep when I told her, but she just squeezed my hand and opened her eyes. To be able to share with Jean the end of a chapter was amazing and in deed this was the last time I saw Jean conscious. Paul. What an amazing friend and carer to Jean.

Visited Jean in the hospital daily and you know it was so lovely that the Lord used that time in such a special way. I was so tired and sitting with Jean in a room filled with the love of Gods Holy Spirit and folk coming to say goodbye. The night before Jean died Dee safely put into an envelope Jeans necklace with her cross for Hannah or so she thought. The morning after when I went into the hospital the nurse said to me that the cross placed into Jeans hands had been put in a locker, How did that happened I do not know and how it didn’t get lost is amazing. A motto, don’t give anything to Dee to look after. Only joking. 🤣 We had some laughs as well, especially the day on returning to the room Paul was on his own when I asked if she had gone, meaning the other visitor. We both looked at Jean and laughed. I could of imagined her saying. ‘No I am still hear”. Gods timing for Jean was perfect and she just went into a natural sleep without any medication.

The verse that most reminds me of Jean is from Philippians 3 v 13 “ “Forgetting those things that are behind and looking towards the goal”. Jean has reached her goal.

I went to church after Jean died in Theydon Bois I was sitting preparing for the service Reading the verse and I nearly fell off my seat when the minister announced he was going to be preaching from Phillipians 3 v 13. I had said to God I don’t know why I am here so you best give me a sign. I hadn’t quite expected that. Jean would of thought that hilarious.

Love Gods sense of humour.

The end of another chapter and the beginning for my dear friend Jeany Bean. The music Hail Mary: Gentle woman is a song that most reminds me of my friend.

Gentle woman,

quiet light,

Morning star,

So strong and bright,

Gentle Mother,

Peaceful dove,

Teach us wisdom,

Teach us love.

You were chosen by the Father,

You were chosen for the Son,

You were chosen from all women,

And for woman, shining one.

The Lord gave to Jean a family so big here at the vineyard.

Thank you to each and everyone of you.

Just thought I would bring my bible today because that would of amused Jean.

One of my earliest reflections of Jean was sitting on my friends garden swing in Great Wakering. Laughing and giggling, as her feet wouldn’t touch the ground and pretending she was a telly tubby. I thought she was some crazy lady but this was the Macmillan nurse assigned to my dear friend Val who had terminal cancer. You could hear her infectious laugh and always knew, when Jean was around.

Who would of thought that 30 years later I would be around looking after this crazy lady. I met Jean many times round Vals house and when she found out tragedy had struck my family there was Jean reaching out her hand in love. Now that’s when I found out that Jean was a Christian and worshipped at West Leigh Baptist Church. I wasn’t terrible impressed at the Christian bit because I had been a member of West Leigh, but my Christian life was non existent since my brothers suicide and the God bit just made me very angry. The latest tragedy the murder of my sister in law left no room for God. Well I met my match with Jean because sadly she had her own tragic family story and Jean shared her testimony. Left me speechless, not that she dwelled on the tragedy, more what the Lord had done in her life.

I went along to slimming world with Jean. Well that was a waste of time, she always tried to be good, but somehow it was never going to happen, we were never going to be twiggies. We had so many laughs. It deepened our friendship without God getting in the way, well that’s what I thought. She just came alongside me and that’s what I needed at that time. God was banter we had between us.

Had some tough years after the murder because my husband and I gave a home to my brothers children who had been orphaned. It wasn’t easy having two disturbed teenagers, with the added problems of drink and drugs. I battled with the Lord and Jean was one of my listening ears. She was one of the few Christians that could get anywhere near me.

I remember going away with my husband for a few days to Marlow on Thames on a works away day. Being in the grounds of the hotel and through the sheer beauty of nature the Lord spoke to me in away I couldn’t ignore. Jean and many of my Christian friends were the Lords feet 🦶

and hands, but Jean especially because she had empathy with my battles but would always have the last word and I would let her.

Over recent years coming down from Epping to take Jeany Bean out for a drive, lunch and shopping. With music blasting or listening to podcasts we use to sit along the seafront in the car having her weekly Rossis 99 ice cream. Jean was my weekly tonic and no doubt I was hers. Even when communication was poor, she would try dancing and wiggling her feet on her chair to the music.

In February my nieces now living abroad come over from Canada and Australia and went up to Lancashire for nearly three weeks. I knew the visit wasn’t going to be easy but when God is taking charge there is no end to his love and at the first opportunity I came down to Southend to tell Jean what the Lord had done. She was quite poorly that day. I told Jean and Paul how my nieces had visited their family home where the murder of my sister in law had taken place and this wonderful Muslim family opening their house in love and extending Gods healing power was astonishing. I thought Jean was asleep when I told her, but she just squeezed my hand and opened her eyes. To be able to share with Jean the end of a chapter was amazing and in deed this was the last time I saw Jean conscious. Paul. What an amazing friend and carer to Jean.

Visited Jean in the hospital daily and you know it was so lovely that the Lord used that time in such a special way. I was so tired and sitting with Jean in a room filled with the love of Gods Holy Spirit and folk coming to say goodbye. The night before Jean died Dee safely put into an envelope Jeans necklace with her cross for Hannah or so she thought. The morning after when I went into the hospital the nurse said to me that the cross placed into Jeans hands had been put in a locker, How did that happened I do not know and how it didn’t get lost is amazing. A motto, don’t give anything to Dee to look after. Only joking. 🤣 We had some laughs as well, especially the day on returning to the room Paul was on his own when I asked if she had gone, meaning the other visitor. We both looked at Jean and laughed. I could of imagined her saying. ‘No I am still hear”. Gods timing for Jean was perfect and she just went into a natural sleep without any medication.

The verse that most reminds me of Jean is from Philippians 3 v 13 “ “Forgetting those things that are behind and looking towards the goal”. Jean has reached her goal.

I went to church after Jean died in Theydon Bois I was sitting preparing for the service Reading the verse and I nearly fell off my seat when the minister announced he was going to be preaching from Phillipians 3 v 13. I had said to God I don’t know why I am here so you best give me a sign. I hadn’t quite expected that. Jean would of thought that hilarious.

Love Gods sense of humour.

The end of another chapter and the beginning for my dear friend Jeany Bean. The music Hail Mary: Gentle woman is a song that most reminds me of my friend.

Gentle woman,

quiet light,

Morning star,

So strong and bright,

Gentle Mother,

Peaceful dove,

Teach us wisdom,

Teach us love.

You were chosen by the Father,

You were chosen for the Son,

You were chosen from all women,

And for woman, shining one.

The Lord gave Jean a family so big here at the vineyard.

Thank you to each and everyone of you.