Mrs. Porter earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Dayton, Dayton, OH. She was an avid card player, belonging to several bridge clubs, and enjoyed teaching the game to anyone with a desire to learn. She also loved to play bingo and work crossword puzzles. Mrs. Porter also loved reading books and enjoyed going to the public library. Jean was a volunteer with the Belleville Senior Citizens AARP tax preparation group for many years and was a volunteer with the Meals on Wheels program. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Belleville, IL, a member of the Our Lady of Good Council and was a former Mothers Club member.
She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 55 years, Guy H. Porter, whom she married on August 26, 1950, and who died on July 3, 2005; a son, Lawrence C. Porter; a grandson, Tristan; her parents, Edward and Bertha, nee Hodrus, Kaeppel; two sisters, Bertha Dear and Mary Shackelford; and a daughter-in-law, Cecilia Porter.
Surviving are her four sons, Robert A. (Jan) Porter of Lemont, IL,
Gerald M. (Debra) Porter of Belleville, IL,
Gregory L. Porter of Del Norte, CO,
and Daniel T. (Shelly) Porter of Troy, IL;
a daughter, Patricia A. (David) Hodge of Warsaw, MO;
a daughter-in-law, Susan Porter of Seward, Alaska;
eleven grandchildren, Ryan, Alex, Jamie, Mike, Travis, Matt,
Sara, Courtney, Shane, Michael, and Nicole;
seven great-grandchildren, Brendan, Caiden, Caitlen, Kayla, Gavin, Lily and Elena;
a sister-in-law Dorothy Himes;
and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit with the family from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, February 1, 2018, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 1, 2018, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. William McGhee officiating.
Burial will be at Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, IL.