Jean D. Coleman

Jean D. Coleman

April 24, 1930 - February 26, 2023

Beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother for 92 years. Her legacy lives on in her children Delores (late Robert “Hutch”) Coleman and Samuel (Ellen) Coleman; grandchildren Jennifer (Tim) Hughes, Nicole (Guido) Ulin, Emily (Rashawn) Jackson, Philip C.R. Sattler, Jr., Susan Sattler, Joseph (Erin) Sattler, Heather (R.J.) Ramsey; great-grandchildren Alek and Jack Hughes, Morgan and Gavin Ulin, Nolan and Brayden Sattler, Marcy and Dylan Ramsey. She was preceded in eternal life by her parents Adolph Edward Horan and Alice Isabelle (Andris) Horan, husband of 44 years Robert Coleman, Jr. children Robert (Valerie)Coleman, III and Laura (Philip) Sattler, and brothers Edward (Jan) Horan and William Horan.

Jean, for 92 years, has been a strong, independent woman that has taught us all by her living example that you put family first and strive to do what is right. Jean was born in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania and grew up working in the family restaurant, Horan Cafe and loved to dance with her Dad. They eventually made their way to Detroit, MI. While continuing to grow up in Detroit she liked to occasionally duck out of school to visit the Detroit Institute of Arts, her favorite place, and to attend big band concerts. Two of the biggest highlights were seeing Frank Sinatra and being chosen by Kay Kyser to come up onstage and direct the Kay Kyser Orchestra! Luckily for all of us, her husband’s family followed the same path and their family also made their way to Detroit from Tennessee. If I have my facts correct, they met on a double date with other people and were using the rear view mirror to flirt with each other. They married in June of 1947. Jean was a career US Army wife for decades. She lived throughout the world to include Tennessee, New York City, Maryland, Georgia, Virginia Beach, VA; Okinawa and the Panama Canal Zone. Due to deployments she often found herself traveling or living solo with all the children, taking care of them and the home daily, sailing on ships around the world, to purchasing her second to last home on her own in 1964 in Westland while her husband was deployed. She moved to her Novi home in 2020. Her hobbies included crocheting, gardening, crossword puzzles and water aerobics. She taught us all that there’s nothing like the taste of a garden fresh beefsteak tomato! She’d also reprise her big band days dancing to Glen Miller with her grandchildren at family weddings. Through her life’s example she has taught us how to be strong and loving in adverse times. She has walked many of us through illness and loss many times, including the loss of her husband and children. We must now walk this loss without her but she has shown us the way. Life can throw hard at you but you can always come out smiling and doing the right thing! Jean’s smile was contagious. She often said “you’re better off laughing than crying”. In that spirit, her family will be celebrating her life and love.

Final arrangements, per Jean’s wishes, will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to the following causes or your charity or veterans organization of choice.

Angela Hospice, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America
 

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