Obituary of Jean M. Brustrom

Jean M. Brustrom, 96, of 515 Kiantone Road, passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side, Thursday January 19, 2017. An area resident for 70 years, she was born August 24, 1920 in East Orange, New Jersey, the daughter of Tommy and Jean Bernard Thompson. She was a 1938 graduate of Lafayette High School in Buffalo and a graduate of the State College at Buffalo in June, 1942, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Prior to her retirement from teaching in 1978, she had been employed by the Jamestown Public School System as a first grade teacher at the C. V. Bush Elementary School. Her first school position was in a one room school house in Clarence, NY with all eight grades and 32 pupils. She was a member of the Kiantone Congregational Church. Jean was historian of the Town of Kiantone from 1979 to 2013 and was instrumental in the formation of the Kiantone Historical Society of which she became a loyal member. She was also a writer for the Post Journal, a correspondent for Kiantone since 1960, taking over from her mother-in-law Cynthia Cheney Brustrom. She will be remembered especially for her recipe pages and the house of the week articles. Memberships included Chautauqua County Historical Society, New York State Retired Teachers, American Scandinavian Heritage Foundation, Marvin Community House and former member of its governing board and trustee. Also, American Association of Retired Persons local and national, United Commercial Travelers Insurance, and the Chautauqua County Chapter 338 of the Air Force Association. Jean was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She enjoyed reading, music, art, flower gardening, and her pets. She is survived by a son John Mark Brustrom (Mary Grace) of Fluvanna; a daughter Justine Louise Magee (Jim) of Kiantone; three grandchildren, Catherine Shepherd (Matt), Emily Stocking (Todd), and James L. Magee, Jr. (Colleen); two great grandchildren, Lawrence Robert Shepherd and Margaret H. Shepherd. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Mark "Bud" Brustrom who died August 13, 1999; and her sister, Betty Freeman of Amherst, NY. Following Jean's wishes, no funeral service or visitation will be observed. A private graveside committal service will be held at the convenience of the family. Inurnment will be in Kiantone Maple Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Road, Jamestown, NY 14701; Kiantone Independent Fire Department, 2318 Foote Ave. Ext., Jamestown, NY 14701; or Chautauqua Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 W Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, NY 14750.