Obituary of Jean Leefeldt

Jean B. Leefeldt 

1923 - 2023

Jean B Leefeldt, age 99, a longtime resident of Ocean City, NJ and Yardley, PA, passed away peacefully on April 8, 2023. 

Born in Trenton, NJ, Jean graduated from Trenton State Teachers College in 1943, when she began working as an educator with the Trenton Public School District. She enhanced her formal education by returning to college for elementary and technology advanced studies.  She taught physical education, outdoor education, elementary education, and K-6 computer instruction. Jean gained national recognition for establishing Trenton’s Mott school computer lab and instructional programs, and was a NJ Governor’s Teacher of the Year in 1988.  During her long career in the city of Trenton, Jean worked for 15 principals and ventured into every new school project opportunity, accepting all challenges put to her.  She was a valued leader and key team member involved in many creative and innovative educational initiatives.  While teaching, she raised her family, worked as a homemaker, and supported her family.  She retired in 1988 after a 35 year long successful and rewarding teaching career. 

Carroll H. Leefeldt, Jean’s husband of almost 43 years, died in 1991. The Leefeldts moved year round to Ocean City from Yardley, PA in 1988, retiring to the South End beach home they owned and loved since 1970.  

Jean was an independent, dedicated, hardworking, loving, and generous person.  Jean had a gift of making everyone she met feel at ease, and as a result she made many valued friends throughout her long and good life.

Jean made the best of tumultuous times in close to a century of living, from rumble seats, ice boxes, coal furnaces, and nickel movies, to living through war, civil rights crusades for integration, and a pandemic. Through her varied life experiences, Jean developed an appreciation for seeing and respecting people and situations from many viewpoints, and she lived by the belief that you should be accepting of all people.

She was an avid reader who loved books all her life. She had no time for cursing, card playing, or gambling.  Jean was a talented, artistic designer who loved color and fabric.  She was a skillful sewer, creating many clothes for her and her family.  For many years, she produced a wide variety of original handmade crafts as part of her home craft business. She started quilting later in life, and created a beautiful collection of fabric art, from wall hangings to full sized quilts.

An athlete before women’s varsity athletics existed, Jean enjoyed basketball, canoeing, swimming, and dance.  She started playing tennis in her forties as an escape from life pressures.  Her love of the game brought her happy benefits such as fun, friends and fresh air, and ultimately resulted in many special friendships that extended her entire life.

Tennis in Ocean City, time at the beach, biking and walking with family and friends made good memories. Family enjoyed spending time with Jean playing and watching tennis, basketball, baseball, and horse racing.  We enjoyed sharing her love of the beach, nature, and the great outdoors with her. Jean enjoyed travel and exploration with family or with friends, to Europe, Alaska, and through national parks and island preserves.

Jean is survived by her two daughters, Janice Leefeldt Painter (husband, Tom) and Carol Leefeldt Anderer (husband, Dave); her granddaughter, Katelyn Painter, as well as her sister, Pat Miller, nieces, Donna Miller and Kathy Miller Hall, and nephew, Mark Miller, of Plantation Florida.

Jean will be remembered and missed by family and friends. 

The family suggests donations in Jean’s memory can be made to the Ocean City Humane Society  HSOC, PO Box 1254, Ocean Ocean City NJ 08226  http://hsocnj.org/online-donation/  or United Methodist Communities at The Shores, 2201 Bay Avenue, Ocean City, NJ 08226. Services will be private. Arrangements are by The Godfrey Funeral Home of Ocean City. For condolences to the family, visit www.godfreyfuneralhome.com