Obituary of Jean Mihran

Niskayuna-Jean W. Mihran passed away Thursday evening, December 8, 2011, at Ellis Hospital after a short bout of pneumonia, complicated by long term Alzheimer's. She died five days short of reaching her 85th birthday. Jean grew up in Vermont, which remained her "true home," regardless of where she lived. She worked as an ER and OR RN for 11 years after earning her nursing degree from Rutland Hospital in 1946, receiving additional training in Philadelphia, Montreal and the Mayo Clinic. She spent any free time skiing. In 1957 she married Boyd Wilson of Proctor, VT and traveled throughout the US and lived in Newfoundland while Boyd served in the US Navy. They had two children, Mark and Susan. Boyd died in 1976. When her husband Boyd retired from the Navy they moved to Vergennes, VT where Jean was very active in the community, schools and Vergennes Congregational Church. She was a business woman who owned a craft store and later designed and made stuffed toys. Her Summa Teddy-bear, named after her children, was once chosen by Parent's magazine as one of the Ten Best Toys of the year in the 1970's. In 1981 Jean married Theodore Mihran and moved to Niskayuna, NY. Jean became an avid quilter, exhibiting her quilts for more than ten years years at the Vermont Quilt Festival, as well as in Philadelphia and San Francisco, and in local shows. She also made small quilts for project Baby Love and woman's shelters. They built a vacation home on Lake Champlain enjoying all seasons with family and friends for many years. She is survived by her husband Theodore, her two children, Mark Wilson and Susan Ritchie; four grandchildren: Deborah and Emily Wilson, Zachary and Katherine Ritchie; and step-children Gregory, Joyce and Richard. She was predeceased by her first husband Boyd, her parents, Arthur and Hazel Whitcomb, her younger brother Robert, and her older sister Frances. A celebration of Jean's life will be held at the Niskayuna Reformed Church on Saturday, December17, at 11 AM. This will be preceded by a reception at 9:30 AM in the Church hall. Interment will take place later in Vergennes, Vermont. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Niskayuna Reformed Church or the Vergennes Congregational Church.