Jean Hood

Jean Hood

Iowa City

Jean Hood, 92, passed away on Octy. 19, 2022, at Oaknoll Retirement Community. Visitation will be on Monday, Nov. 7, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. with a brief service at 4:30 p.m. in the Spring Building at Oaknoll.

Jean spent her childhood living with her parents Mabel and Edison McDonald and her brother Neal in Hamburg, near Buffalo, N.Y. She attended State University of New York Buffalo, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in home economics education. For three years, she taught home economics at Orchard Park Central School and then studied at Cornell University, Ithaca, where she completed her Master of Science degree. She met her husband Albert Hood at Cornell and they were married in 1955. Their lifelong adventure continued when Al took a position at Princeton University. Jean taught until the birth of their first son. Later they moved to Minnesota to follow Al’s professional career. Their last move was to Iowa City where they currently reside. Jean remained a full-time homemaker until their youngest son attended school. During her life, she also resided in Japan, Indonesia, and the Soviet Union with Al when he was on sabbaticals.

Over the years, Jean taught in the public schools as a substitute teacher, as a teacher in an adult education program, and then as the International Classroom Coordinator for the Center for World Order. In 1975 she became an Extension Home Economist for Iowa State University, serving Johnson and Washington counties. In 1980 she became the Human Development Area Specialist for the Cedar Rapids Area Extension Service. She retired in 1996.

Upon retirement she turned her efforts to volunteer work. Her favorite volunteer job was as General Manager of the Hancher Showcase, working with the many wonderful volunteers. She was active in her church as Board Secretary, Treasurer, Finance Trustee, and served on several committeesx, including most recently the Pastoral Care Committee and the Leadership Development Committee. She is a life member of the Unitarian Universalist Society. Volunteering for Project Green Fair and The Hosta Society provided many happy interactions with the other gardeners.

Most of all, she loved being wife to Albert, mother to Peter (Jennifer), Stephen (Susan), Ginger (James Halverson) and Timothy (Carrie); grandmother to Harold, Joanna, Martin; Eliot, Liza, Claire, Erik, Claudia; Alicia, Caroline, Jay, AJ; and Jack; and great-grandmother to Brooklyn and Ellie.

Flowers are declined in favor of memorial contributions directed to The University of Iowa Hancher Auditorium or to the Unitarian Society Restricted Endowment Fund.