Jeanne Wallace
January 11, 1923 - December 23, 2017
Obituary
Madison
Jeanne E. Wallace passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, December 23, 2017 at St. Mary’s Care Center in Madison. She was born January 11, 1923 to Thomas Anthony and Mary Mildred (Harbort) Gaffney in Madison.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Hugh D. Wallace (1921–1994); her parents; her brother, Philip Gaffney and his wife, Joyce; Hugh’s sister, Jean Miller; his brother, Dean Wallace; and Jeanne’s brothers-in-law, Martin Kennedy, Jerome Brannan, and Philip Roth.
She is survived by her two sisters, Mary Kennedy and Ellen Brannan. She is further survived by her seven children, Daniel Wallace of Fitchburg, Mary Wallace (Paul Saeman) of Madison, Michael Wallace (Jane Shea) of Green Bay, Robert Wallace (Sally Pittman) of Oshkosh, James Wallace (Robert Monfrini and José Amaro) of Encino, CA, Lawrence Wallace (Cristina) of Austin, TX, and John Wallace (Karen) of Oregon, WI. Jeanne has thirteen grandchildren, Melody (Geoff) Threlkeld; Gabe Saeman, and Sandhya Saeman; Kylie and McKenzie Wallace; Ryan (Betsy) and Chelsea Wallace; Alexander, Samuel, and Maximilian Wallace; and Shannon, Natalie, and Micayla Wallace. She has four great-grandchildren, Tristan Threlkeld and Grant, Meta Jeanne, and Margaret Wallace.
Jeanne graduated from Central High School in Madison and received her B.A. in English from the University of Wisconsin in 1946. She taught school in Menomonee Falls, WI, and worked as a statistician for the Wisconsin State Highway Commission. She married Hugh in 1949. She and Hugh were very active, long-time members of Blessed Sacrament Parish, and Jeanne volunteered with Saint Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary. She loved dancing, singing, swimming, and the art of telling a joke. She and Hugh really enjoyed socializing with close friends from church and their dancing group. Jeanne loved to sing while Hugh played the piano. She and Hugh were very proud that all seven of their children graduated from college with strong support from their parents. She was fun loving and always tried to put a smile on everyone’s face.
The family extends their sincere thanks to the caregivers who added so much to the quality of Jeanne’s later years at All Saints Assisted Living Facility and Saint Mary’s Care Center.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 29th, at BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2131 Rowley Avenue in Madison with Father Andy McAlpin. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. A visitation will start at 9:30 a.m. at the church before the service.
Memorials may be made to the Blessed Sacrament School or the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com.
Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home
& Cremation Services
5701 Odana Road
608-274-1000