Obituary for Jean A. Guidone (Smith)
Jean Guidone peacefully left the loving embrace of her husband for the welcoming arms of her Savior on September 6, 2019, after a valiant battle with cancer. She was 57. Her devotion to fighting for her life for her family and friends was rooted in her firm faith in God, which supported her throughout her struggle and ultimately gave her peace.
The third of four daughters, Jean was born to the late William and Joan Smith, in Bloomington, Indiana. She moved with her family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1963. Her strong faith began as a child after responding to the saving message of Jesus Christ at a Leighton Ford Crusade. She loved reading the bible and praying ever since.
Early in life Jean pursued training in ballet and participated in high school athletics. She loved walking outdoors in any season, swimming in the ocean, and learning. She was an avid reader. Jean graduated from Riverside High School and from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a degree in nursing. She began her career as a registered nurse at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago. There she attended Moody Bible Church and eventually met the love of her life, Joe Guidone. They recently celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary.
Beyond her delight in marrying Joe, Jean was blessed to marry into Joe’s large and loving Italian family and fully embraced each member of his family as her own. She also enjoyed Joe’s extraordinary cooking. Her greatest joy was becoming a mother to Stephen and Andrea and watching them grow into adulthood. She treasured her marriage and children. Despite the pain of coming from a broken home, she was committed to praying for her children and encouraging them to pursue a relationship with Christ.
Jean loved family gatherings, vacations with relatives, and especially weddings. She loved to dance and her laughter could always be heard from the next room. She eagerly looked forward to the future weddings of her children, as well as the experience of becoming a grandmother. She will be dearly missed by all of her loved ones, who lost her too soon.
Throughout her life, Jean enjoyed a close relationship with her mom, Joan, and the two enjoyed taking seminary extension classes together, traveling to the Caribbean island home of a friend, serving as Teen Missions volunteers and summer trips to Ocracoke, North Carolina. She and Joe cared for Jean’s mother in their home for five years after a massive stroke left Joan completely dependent on their loving care. Jean also arranged for her father William to receive end of life care at the Veteran’s Hospital where she worked.
As Jean battled her aggressive cancer in Wisconsin, she studied and sought out cutting edge immunology treatments. This took her journey to the west coast and included treatments in San Diego and Mexico. In doing so, she helped advance the research and treatment for others in the future. She would especially want to thank her host family in Mexico, Jeff Weigle and Claudia Linares who opened their home and hearts to her, as well as Maria, Eileen, “Cadillac”, and Yun, whose friendship encouraged and helped Jean tremendously. She would assure you that her personal relationship with God was strengthened during her months there as she experienced His love more than ever. She would also want to thank the many supportive friends and family members who have prayed, encouraged her and donated to her cause.
Jean is survived by her husband, Joe, her children, Stephen and Andrea (and future son-in law Heath Roberts), her sisters, Susan (Jim) Courter, Sharon (Jerry) Rabe and Nancy (Mark) Holdeman, brothers-in-law Jim (Nancy), Ray, Ed (Jill), David (Kristin), and sister-in-law Grace Guidone, as well as many beloved cousins, nephews and nieces. She is preceded in death by her parents and pre-born son, Caleb, who welcomed her in heaven.
Please join us as we celebrate her life Saturday, September 28, at Hartson Funeral Home, located at 11111 W Janesville Rd, Hales Corners, WI. Visitation with the family will begin at 9:30 am with the funeral service at 11:00am. A brief graveside service will follow at Chapel Hill Cemetery, 4775 S 60th St, Greenfield, WI.
If you wish to send flowers, the family asks that they be sent directly to Hartson Funeral Home.
The third of four daughters, Jean was born to the late William and Joan Smith, in Bloomington, Indiana. She moved with her family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1963. Her strong faith began as a child after responding to the saving message of Jesus Christ at a Leighton Ford Crusade. She loved reading the bible and praying ever since.
Early in life Jean pursued training in ballet and participated in high school athletics. She loved walking outdoors in any season, swimming in the ocean, and learning. She was an avid reader. Jean graduated from Riverside High School and from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a degree in nursing. She began her career as a registered nurse at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago. There she attended Moody Bible Church and eventually met the love of her life, Joe Guidone. They recently celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary.
Beyond her delight in marrying Joe, Jean was blessed to marry into Joe’s large and loving Italian family and fully embraced each member of his family as her own. She also enjoyed Joe’s extraordinary cooking. Her greatest joy was becoming a mother to Stephen and Andrea and watching them grow into adulthood. She treasured her marriage and children. Despite the pain of coming from a broken home, she was committed to praying for her children and encouraging them to pursue a relationship with Christ.
Jean loved family gatherings, vacations with relatives, and especially weddings. She loved to dance and her laughter could always be heard from the next room. She eagerly looked forward to the future weddings of her children, as well as the experience of becoming a grandmother. She will be dearly missed by all of her loved ones, who lost her too soon.
Throughout her life, Jean enjoyed a close relationship with her mom, Joan, and the two enjoyed taking seminary extension classes together, traveling to the Caribbean island home of a friend, serving as Teen Missions volunteers and summer trips to Ocracoke, North Carolina. She and Joe cared for Jean’s mother in their home for five years after a massive stroke left Joan completely dependent on their loving care. Jean also arranged for her father William to receive end of life care at the Veteran’s Hospital where she worked.
As Jean battled her aggressive cancer in Wisconsin, she studied and sought out cutting edge immunology treatments. This took her journey to the west coast and included treatments in San Diego and Mexico. In doing so, she helped advance the research and treatment for others in the future. She would especially want to thank her host family in Mexico, Jeff Weigle and Claudia Linares who opened their home and hearts to her, as well as Maria, Eileen, “Cadillac”, and Yun, whose friendship encouraged and helped Jean tremendously. She would assure you that her personal relationship with God was strengthened during her months there as she experienced His love more than ever. She would also want to thank the many supportive friends and family members who have prayed, encouraged her and donated to her cause.
Jean is survived by her husband, Joe, her children, Stephen and Andrea (and future son-in law Heath Roberts), her sisters, Susan (Jim) Courter, Sharon (Jerry) Rabe and Nancy (Mark) Holdeman, brothers-in-law Jim (Nancy), Ray, Ed (Jill), David (Kristin), and sister-in-law Grace Guidone, as well as many beloved cousins, nephews and nieces. She is preceded in death by her parents and pre-born son, Caleb, who welcomed her in heaven.
Please join us as we celebrate her life Saturday, September 28, at Hartson Funeral Home, located at 11111 W Janesville Rd, Hales Corners, WI. Visitation with the family will begin at 9:30 am with the funeral service at 11:00am. A brief graveside service will follow at Chapel Hill Cemetery, 4775 S 60th St, Greenfield, WI.
If you wish to send flowers, the family asks that they be sent directly to Hartson Funeral Home.