Jean Hals

Jean Hals, a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on Sept. 29 due to complications from a fall. She was 102.

Jean had a zest for life – she was compassionate, intelligent, inquisitive and, above all, a collector of friends. She was a child of the Great Depression who with her husband Lyle built family memories through budget camping trips but also adventured around the world.

She was regularly asked about her secret to longevity, a question she pretended to dislike (fooling no one). She attributed it to walking, socializing and eating well.

Jean read avidly, never missed a grandchild’s game and recalled minor details about casual acquaintances. She took pride in her own appearance and never forgot who arrived underdressed for a wedding. Inviting Jean to dinner would earn the host a thank-you card in her distinctive calligraphy with detailed praise for each dish.

Jean embodied the can-do, practical mindset of her generation. She gave handmade gifts – especially knitted sets of baby blankets and booties. She sewed her own garments, tailored clothing for her young sons and made a wedding dress for a daughter-in-law. Jean loved to look fashionable but shopped second-hand and gladly accepted stylish cast-offs. She favored all things leopard print – scarves, blouses and dresses, even oven mitts.

Jean was born in Wisconsin and spent her early years in Iowa, Montana and, finally, Minnesota as her father chased work handling horses. She put herself through college, earning a degree from the University of Minnesota and became a social worker in St. Paul. On a blind date, she met Lyle Hals and, not long after, they married in 1950.

Jean raised four boys over a span of 31 years, in St. Paul, Bay Village, Ohio and Ramsey, N.J., emphasizing family meals, beach vacations and holiday gatherings. In the era of Jell-O and TV dinners, she experimented with carob cookies and homemade yoghurt. Her umbrellas and tote bags were from her local PBS affiliate.

Over the years, Jean worked as a photographer, edited a local publication and helped a friend launch a Greek catering business. She volunteered her time settling Vietnam War refugees in New York City and tutoring English. After Lyle retired from his career at 3M, they managed a medical models business. She and Lyle visited more than 40 countries on six continents.

With age, she slowly abandoned skiing, biking, golf and tennis, but embraced walking and often logged three miles daily even into her late 90s. After arriving in Swarthmore in 2012, she developed a strong loyalty to the Phillies. The day before she died, she insisted on watching the team’s final regular season game from her hospital bed. Like a true Phillies fan, she always thought they could have played better.

Jean was predeceased by her husband Lyle and her siblings, Peg, Bill, Bob and Joyce.

She is survived by her sons, Max, John, Dave and his wife, Ginny, and Tom and his wife, Corey; eight grandchildren: Laura, Madeline, Christopher, Matthew, Russell, Colwyn, Rhys and Jasper; and three great-grandchildren: Delaney, Henley and Cooper. She is also survived by her sister, Helen Harwood, and her sister-in-law, Jan McCutcheon.

There will be a tribute to Jean’s life at the Park Avenue Community Center in Swarthmore on October 25 from 1-4 p.m. All of her friends and acquaintances are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that contributions in Jean’s memory be made to the American Heart Association, Feeding America or the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation.

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