Obituary

Jean Arlene Richner passed away peacefully on the morning of Tuesday, April 30th, 2024. Jean began her life on February 23rd, 1935, in California’s sunny San Joaquin Valley, where she developed an early love for the sun. She lived there until she moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1962. Jean raised three hardworking children: Brian, Jacob, and Jennifer, and was blessed with four wonderful grandchildren: Rikki Jean, Bonzai, Adam, and Kamikaze. She even got to witness the early years of her great grandson, Ezra.

Jean’s heart was always full of love and compassion, prioritizing her family above all else. Her character, marked by complete self-sacrifice, found joy in the happiness of those she loved. She would always remind her family to “be safe”, a simple yet heartfelt expression of her enduring care and concern. Preferring to avoid the spotlight, she enjoyed observing life from a distance, appreciating all of its chaos and beauty.

While Jean had an early affinity for fast cars and fashion—eventually giving up the fast cars—her elegance never waned. For many years, she enjoyed traveling across the country, living the life of a snowbird, and treasured her beautiful collection of music boxes. Her wit and sense of humor were subtle, sharp, and often unexpected.

Jean loved animals and always had a dog or cat in her life, sometimes many. She adored her big cat, Waldo, and her best buddy, Louie. Jean’s favorite song was “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, and while she experienced great love and great loss in her life, she is now a bluebird free to fly over the rainbow.

A celebration of Jean’s life will be held at 3:00 p.m. this Saturday, May 4th, 2024, in the Chapel at Greenacres Memorial Park, 5700 Northwest Drive, Ferndale, Washington.