Obituary of Jean E. Reantillo

OBITUARY FOR JEAN REANTILLO

Jean Elizabeth Reantillo passed away in Columbia, MD on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at age 91. She was born Jean Hess on July 28, 1932 to Elizabeth McIlravey and G. Russell Hess in Richmond Hill, Queens, NY. Her brother Donald died as a young child before Jean was born.

She attended Jamaica High School where she was a leader in student government and Captain of the Swim Team. During high school, she became good friends with Cleo and Vickie Reantillo, cousins who introduced Jean to Herbert Reantillo, Cleo's brother. "Jeannie" and "Herbie" were married on June 26, 1953. They immediately started their family and moved to a house in Queens Village in 1957, where they raised their five (5) children. She loved animals, especially dogs and there was always room in her heart and in the house for dogs, cats, seagulls, turtles and any other strays that needed a temporary or permanent home. Jean was a Girl Scout leader and active in the P.S. 33 PTA which led to her job as Executive Secretary of the District 29 School Board in Queens Village, a position she held for over 20 years.

Jean retired shortly after husband Herb died in 1994 and she and her much-loved dog Nikki moved to Annapolis, MD where she began a new chapter in her life and very happy to live near daughter Linda, son-in-law Joe and their 4 children. She joined the United Church of Christ of Annapolis and developed a wonderful community of friends there. She loved to travel and her travels took her from Hawaii to Greece and many places in-between. And she and Nikki or Buffy routinely drove together between NY and MD.

In 2015, she was deeply saddened by the death of her third child James Reantillo at age 56. And in 2019, she moved to Brighton Gardens of Columbia where she resided until her death.

Jean is survived by four (4) children, Susan Reantillo, Linda Penkala & husband Joe, Bruce Reantillo and Donald Reantillo & wife Carolyn; five (5) grandchildren, Doug Rubino, Lance Binning, Justin Penkala, Amanda Gonzales and Steven Penkala; and six (6) great-grandchildren, Joshua, Harper, Camilo, Olivia, Ava and Emily.

Jean died peacefully surrounded by her children and grandchildren and her Brighton Gardens family. She was much loved and will be dearly missed by all.

Visitation will take place in both MD and NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Maryland ASPCA.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital    www.stjude.org

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105

Maryland SPCA        www.mdspca.org

3300 Falls Road

Baltimore, MD 21211