Jean Hedmark

Jean E. Hedmark, age 54, of Batavia, passed away into the gentle arms of her Savior, Sunday, April 22, 2018. She was born January 30, 1964, in Geneva, IL, to proud parents, Fred and Bobbie Jean (Phillips) Hedmark. Their only child and “miracle baby,” she came into this world in the autumn of Fred and Bobbie’s life and was dearly cherished. Fred and Bobbie’s joy at the birth of their daughter was shared by an extended family that included close friends Alberta Grace (“Bert”) and Rae Wheeler (“Nida”). Rarely was there an important time in Jean’s life when Bert and Nida were not present. Jean grew up in Batavia and attended local schools, including the beautiful historic Louise White School. She graduated from Batavia High School in 1982. She had a large circle of friends, was an honor student, and played flute in the marching band. Jean earned her undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University and went on to complete a Masters in Speech and Language Pathology. She began work as a speech therapist in 1989 with the Kendall County Special Education Co-op. Her career spanned more than 25 years, including Boulder Hill Elementary School, Oswego School Dist. #308 Jr. and Sr. High Schools, and more recently the Opportunity School. Jean’s warm heart and uncommon ability to understand challenged students gave her a special strength working in the Emotional Disability Program.
Jean’s strong faith guided her throughout her entire life. She shared that faith with family and friends, impacting their lives with her loving, joyful spirit. Jean and Joe were introduced in 2006 and both felt blessed that God had brought them together. Joe and his daughters, Jill and Danielle, and all the grandchildren became the family that Jean had always wanted.
She loved spending time with her family: riding with Joe in the classic cars he restored; late night chats in the kitchen with Jill and Danielle; cooking and baking to make the holidays extra special; babysitting the grandkids; making quilts and knitting mittens; sleeping out in the RV with all the kids; spoiling her boxers, Major and Champ, with peanut butter sandwiches; lunching all afternoon with girlfriends; and hanging out with the gang around the backyard campfire.
Jean lived all of her life in her family’s 1880’s Batavia home, where she felt blessedly content.
She always made time for those important to her. Jean would drop everything to be present with you through life’s ups and downs. She listened to everyone’s troubles and downplayed her own, even during her illness. She was fiercely loyal and supportive but would also speak her mind if she thought you were travelling down the wrong path.
Jean lead by example and relied on her faith to endure life’s challenges. Losing her father at the age of 16, caring for her mother during illness, and living with ovarian cancer, were all met with conviction and determination. When the day was done, Jean placed her trust in the hands of the Lord.
Jean was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Geneva as well as their women’s bible study.
She is survived by her fiancée, Joel Torrance; two daughters, Jillian (Jose) Barragan and Danielle (Rhys Brink) Torrance; five grandchildren: Lilyana, Lucia, and Ari Barragan; Bennet Torrance and Zachary Brink; cousins John “Buckie” (Georgia) Phillip, Harriett Wiegel, Pam (Darrell) Wright and Helen Philip; and a family of friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Bobbie Hedmark. Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. with a memorial service to follow at 10 a.m., Saturday May 5, 2018 at the Chapelstreet Church, South Street location, 2300 South St., Geneva, IL 60134. Private family burial will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Jean’s name. Checks may be made to the “Jean E. Hedmark Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com where you can read her full life story.

A memorial service at 10 a.m., Saturday May 5, 2018 at the Chapelstreet Church, South Street location, 2300 South St., Geneva, IL 60134.

Visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. Saturday May 5, 2018 at the Chapelstreet Church, South Street location, 2300 South St., Geneva, IL 60134.

Private family burial will follow at a later date.