D. Jean Meier

Jean Meier (nee Furbee), 95, born the luckiest day of the year in 1927 in Moundsville, West Virginia, passed on peacefully at home early Saturday morning, July 15, 2023. After graduating from McKinley High School in Canton, Ohio, Jean began her career at The Canton Repository Newspaper. After marrying the love of her life Robert R. “Bob” Meier, the newlyweds relocated to Wilmington, DE, when Bob accepted a job with the Dupont Company.

Jean and family eventually settled in the community of Fairfax, where Jean lived for over 60 years until moving to Forwood Manor in 2020.

Jean had two children, Richard and Vicki, and always had a beloved dog. Even as a little girl, she was always known for her fierce love of animals. After her first pup Suzy, she went on to have three more dogs, Buttons 1 and Buttons 2, and finally Muffin, who passed shortly before her. She always enjoyed time spent with her children and grandchildren’s fur babies as well.

Jean worked in the retail clothing business for over 50 years in stores such as Town and Country Casuals, Finkel’s, The Little Door, and for many years at The Wilmington Country Store until she was 80. She styled countless women throughout her life, helping them look and feel their best. Even in her later years, Jean always had an appreciation for timeless style.

Jean cared deeply for serving others. She volunteered at Emmanuel Dining Room in downtown Wilmington for many years, where she spent time distributing hot food to those in need.

Jean always loved cooking and enjoying food with loved ones. Her sweet tooth was unrivaled – she never turned down dessert, no matter how full. Tortellini soup, bread pudding, and fluffy scrambled eggs were just some of her family’s favorite dishes from Jean’s kitchen.

Beyond her never-ending love and devotion to her five grandchildren, Joseph, Julie, Stephen, Cory, and Andrew, Jean enjoyed spending time with family, friends, and traveling. Travel highlights include a road trip to attend Mardi-Gras with girlfriends, cruises to Bermuda with all five grandchildren, horseback riding and hiking down the Grand Canyon, and an 85th birthday celebration to Las Vegas to see Shania Twain and The Jersey Boys. Additionally, Jean loved spending time in Rehoboth Beach, DE, where she owned a summer home for a time, as well as many trips to Ohio to visit her beloved sister and family.

Jean is predeceased by her husband Robert R. Meier, brother Friend Furbee, and mother Lucille Furbee, and survived by her son Richard E. Meier and wife Nancy of Emmaus, PA, daughter Vicki Topel and husband Avrim of Wilmington, DE, sister Florence Fredey, nephews Howard and Bob and wife Val Furbee, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A special thank you to Jean’s loving caregivers Melanie, Ana, Ernestine, Cynthia, Rhio, and Josie.

Friends may stop by Chandler Funeral Home, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE for a Memorial Gathering on Friday, July 21, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to either Humane Animal Partners Delaware 701 A Street, Wilmington, DE 19801, The American Parkinson Disease Association, P.O. Box 61420, Staten Island, NY 10306, or Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio Street, Suite 500, Chicago, Illinois 60611.