Jean Marie Weidner

With her family at her bedside, Jean Marie Weidner gently passed away on August 2, 2026. Jean was born in Byrnedale, Pennsylvania to Charles Peterson and Ella Mae Peterson (nee Keough). She spent most of her childhood in Coolspring, Pennsylvania and graduated from Punxsutawney High School in 1946. She married William (Bill) Weidner on August 14, 1947. They were married for 57 years.

Jean and Bill lived in many states while Bill pursued his career in newspaper production and printing. While in Florida she was Vice President of the Woman’s Club in Azalea Park, and Corresponding Secretary of the Junior Woman’s Club in Orange County. When she lived in Stamford, Connecticut, Jean earned an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development from Norwalk Community College (1980) and served as a teacher and Director at Gray Farms Nursery School from 1975-1980. Jean attended St. John’s Lutheran Church in Stamford and served as President of the Women’s Association as well as serving as a 3 time delegate to the New England Synodical Conference of Lutheran Churches in America. Her other volunteer activities included helping as a Red Cross Emergency Driver in Stamford, serving as an advocate for the elderly in Hertford, NC, and more recently supporting the needs of the homeless population as a member of the women’s church group at First United Methodist Church, Gonzales, LA. Jean was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary.

Jean was an avid storyteller, especially about her family and growing up in Pennsylvania. Her stories were a lesson in the history and social traditions of the many years of her life. In her teens, she worked one summer picking cherries in Erie, PA at a farm next to a German POW camp. It was also not unusual for Jean to break out in song. Among her favorites was Yellow, Yellow Daffodil which she sang sweetly and with such joy that you couldn’t help but join in. She loved Bingo and spent a month with her daughter Cathy on-line touring parts of the US and stopping along the way to play Bingo.

Jean was predeceased by her parents, her 4 siblings and her husband Bill. She is survived by her son Gary Charles Weidner (Donna), and her daughter Cathy Jean Vittoria (Tom), as well as grandson Shawn Salzarullo (Ryan). She is also survived by 3 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren, as well as 4 nieces and nephews.

A memorial will be held for Jean on August 14 at First United Methodist Church, 224W Constitution St., Gonzales, LA. Visitation will be at 10:00 am followed by a memorial service at 11:00 am and a reception following the memorial. Burial will be at Brockport Cemetery in Brockport, PA at a later date.

Funeral arrangements are being made by Church Funeral Services and Crematory. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to First United Methodist Church, Gonzales, LA.