Jean B. Klein, 91, of Newtown, CT went to be with her Lord peacefully in her sleep at Danbury Hospital on March 18th, 2017 surrounded by her loved ones. From her birth in Dallas, Texas on September 26, 1925 to her beloved parents Florence and Frederick Berry, until her death on Saturday she nourished people around her with love, faith, and her love of education. She is predeceased by her loving brother Richard Berry.
She is survived by the love of her life, Henry Robert Klein (Bob), whom she met on the steps of the Baptist Church in South Yonkers during a church picnic and married on February 24, 1951 while working at Standard Oil. They resided in Woodside, L.I. before they moved to Newtown, CT shortly after the birth of their first child in 1954. She is also survived by her daughter, Elise Klein Pelletier of Newtown, and her son and his wife, Eric and Kim Klein of Newtown. She leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Nicole Pelletier of New Milford, CT, Alexandra Pelletier of Newtown, Christian and Casey Klein of Newtown and the apple of her eye, her great grandchild, Raeanne of Newtown.

Jean and Bob enjoyed many years of snow skiing in Vermont with family, friends and colleagues. They also enjoyed trips to see the world traveling in Europe when their children were teenagers and to Greece and Egypt with their close friends as well as the Bermuda with their grandchildren on numerous occasions. Cape Cod was also one of Jean’s favorites as well as the Jersey Shore where her cousin Jim and Gigi Bushnell lived and the family visited these places every summer.
Jean attended Columbia University and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science from Danbury State College (1965), Master of Science from Western Connecticut State University (1970) and a Certificate of Advanced Study Education from Fairfield University (1977). She began her lifelong love of teaching in Southbury CT moving on to Middle Gate Elementary in Newtown and finally Sandy Hook Elementary School when she became a State Wide Reading Consultant. She went on to receive the New England Reading Association Special Recognition Award in 1988 and was honored by the CT Reading Association for Exemplary Service in the promotion of literacy in 1999. Jean successfully participated in and completed the Houghton Mifflin Reading Conference at Notre Dame and became a CT PTA Honorary Life Member in 1992. Also in 1992, Newtown Youth Services presented her with The Gail Smith Award. The Connecticut Reading Association Literacy Award was presented to her in 2001 and she once again received the New England Reading Association Special Recognition Award in 2003.

After 26 years of teaching it was proclaimed that Jean “Nurtured the community’s children in countless learning experiences while cultivating a respect for freedom of expression. To commemorate her retirement and further celebrate the distinctive achievements of all teachers within the educational community then First Selectman Zita B. McMahon proclaimed the date of Jeans retirement, Friday June 12, 1992 Educator Appreciation Day”. Jean had devoted her life to giving her all to improving the reading skills of all students and was highly respected by the Newtown Public School System as well as statewide through her efforts as a life member of CARR (Connecticut Association for Reading Research). Her love and passion of reading made significant changes in the many children’s lives she touched and will be fondly remembered for many years to come by the Newtown Community.

Family, friends, and others whose lives Jean touched are invited to the HONAN FUNERAL HOME, 58 Main Street, Newtown, CT from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on Friday, March 24, 2017, to reminisce, grieve, and support each other. In lieu of flowers, it is Jean’s wish that contributions be made in her memory to the Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, Newtown, CT 06470. A memorial service at Newtown Congregational Church will be held at a later date to be announced in April.

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