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Jeanette Fann (Dean) - Year Entered 1974

Jeanette Fann (Dean)

From United Church of God Minister and Member Services...

 

Jeanette (Fann) Dean (AC Bricket Wood and Pasadena) died on March 22, 2020. She was the wife of elder Bruce Dean of the Canberra, Australia congregation.

Jeanette was born in South Africa, where she lived with her family until she was 18. Her South African upbringing was a big part of who she was. She held fond memories of her childhood years on the family farm next door to the game reserve, and her school years spent at boarding school. She delighted her children, and later her grandchildren, with stories of drunken elephants, feral hippos and her cheeky schoolgirl antics.

At the age of 18, Jeanette left South Africa for England to attend Ambassador College at Bricket Wood. Later in her college degree she transferred to Pasadena in America.

After graduating, she moved to Brisbane, Australia, on a fiancé visa and married Bruce Dean one month later, on April 18, 1976. From then on she served as a dedicated pastor's wife and mother during assignments in the states of Queensland and New South Wales, specifically Albury, Wollongong and finally Sydney.

After retirement, Bruce and Jeanette moved to Canberra to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren.

Jeanette was a woman of action and service to others. If something was important to her, she did something about it. For instance, she didn't just talk about the importance of education, she returned to school in her early 40s and attained a Master's degree in Post-Colonial English Literature. She used this degree to work and serve in her local community as a librarian. She didn't just rely on the Clean-Up Australia Day initiative to help reduce litter in her local area one day of the year, she picked up litter in her local neighbourhood on a regular basis.

She saw the importance of Sabbath school lessons for kids in all congregations, so she made sure she taught a lesson for the children whenever she could, particularly in the smaller congregations (even when there were only one or two children in attendance). She knew the teens in the church were important, and was key in getting the United Youth Camps up and running in Australia with Bruce.

She spent many summers at camp, getting involved wherever she was needed (very often the laundry) and developing important relationships with the church teens. Many of those relationships continued into the adult years. Jeanette was also responsible for getting Women's Weekends started in UCG Australia.

Over the years she mentored and encouraged other ladies to take on the mantle after her. Jeanette saw the Women's Weekends as a necessary way for the women of the church to build and strengthen relationships with each other and with God. She knew the importance of connection. She put time and effort into connecting with people and maintaining connections, be it catching up at church services, a card in the mail, a phone call or a text message.

At Church services, she was always one of the first to welcome new people and to sit with the elderly, or engage with the children.

Jeanette Ann Dean was a determined lady of faith. She set an encouraging example, not just of knowing God, but in applying that knowledge to how she lived every day. She was a loving and supportive wife and best friend to Bruce for 44 years, a dedicated mother to Renee and Graeme, a proud grandmother to Oliver, Isabelle, Charles and Samantha and a devoted daughter and sister.

In true Jeanette style, everything was neat and organised as she died on her 66th birthday. Jeanette was sure of God's promises for her future.

Her race is now run and she is asleep until the last trumpet sounds.



 
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04/18/20 07:52 AM #1    

Gillian Pilkington (Gully) (1974)

Jeanette and I entered Bricket Wood the same year - 1972 - she from S. AFrica and I from Tasmania.  We worked in different departments, but became friends.  When the campus was closed, we were moved to Pasadena.  Jeanette and I shared an apartment with 2 others.  She and I shared a bedroom and became close friends.  We picked up that friendship again when my husband and I moved to Australia and served in the ministry.  When we returned to the US, she came by to visit us in Texas.  Our sons are now friends with one another.

Jeanette was a warm and caring person who worked tirelessly alongside Bruce all her married life.  When Bruce's eyesight began to fail many years ago, she learned to drive - no mean feat when you are in your 40's with two children!

Jeanette was respected and loved by all who came to know her.  I feel privileged to have such fond memories of time spent together.

Gillian


04/18/20 09:53 PM #2    

Doris Allen (Cole) (1951)

 
I received this from a friend in Australia, Janne (Samantha) Elliott after I had written to her about the death of Molly Antion. 
 
From Janne Elliott:
It's so sad to hear of one's demise. I sadly never had the pleasure of meeting David or Molly. His love and (now) pain is palpable.
She is now one who is waiting patiently. 
 
We also, here in Australia have lost an incredible wife. Jeanette Dean, Bruce Dean's wife, died after fighting bowel cancer over the last 5 years. 
She, Bruce and Beatrice made me ever so welcome upon returning to the church. We spent hours together on different occasions just talking, about mum, Jeanette's cancer, and biblical things.  She was a treasure, and died on her 66th birthday. 22nd March. 
We could not attend her funeral because of the covid-19 situation. 
Their son Graeme, his wife and children made it out from England the week before her death. Just as Australia closed up it's borders. And is now stuck here. But the positive side of that, is that Bruce is surrounded by family at this difficult time.
Two such wonderful ladies. But I'm positive we will all see each other again with Christ's return
Janne 

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