Jean MacDonald Carolan, a centenarian ever open to any adventure that came her way, passed away on Monday, September 25 in Winter Park, Florida. She was 101.
Born in Chicago, Jean attended Smith College where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Not long after graduation, she married her high school football-playing sweetheart, J. Penn Carolan Jr. Their 57-year marriage that followed involved many moves as Penn advanced in his retail career ending up in Winter Park in 1967. She has lived here ever since.
Jean was one step ahead of Google with her first job. She was the answer person at Encyclopedia Britannica. If people could not find the information needed in the Encyclopedia, she got the call and researched the question elsewhere until she found an answer.
Later, after her children were grown, she became a court reporter.
Jean often was asked for her secret to happy, active aging and she gave credit to exercise. She played tennis until the age of 97, took long walks, and played water volleyball. She also attributed her long life to a healthy diet and a supportive, loving family. And she loved her bridge and tennis buddies who kept her moving.
In addition, she stayed mentally active and did a lot of volunteer work when younger including as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader and Sunday school teacher. She loved bridge, and played two to three times a week until recently, she was a pro at crossword puzzles and devoured books-one or two a week. She volunteered at her church, Winter Park Presbyterian Church, for many years serving as a deacon and elder, and served as a volunteer driver for the “elderly” until she was in her upper 80s.
She was adored by her family. She impressed her grandchildren by helping dig worms for fishing off the dock on Lake Sue and then taking the fish off the hook when they were successful. Her coffee cake and chocolate chip cookies were much loved as well.
Jean was pre-deceased by her husband in 2001. She leaves behind son Rusty Carolan (wife Lynn) of Winter Park, along with grandsons Michael (wife Nikki) and Brian (wife Rochelle) and great grandchildren Penn, Myles, Kaden and Jo Jo; and daughter Pamela Cooper (husband Bob) of Indian Springs, AL; along with grandchildren Jesanna (husband Michael); Keir (wife Monika) and great grandchildren William, Elizabeth and Maya.