Jeannette was born in Morocco. Her father and uncle were French foreign diplomats.
Jeanne's parents lived all over, moving every couple of years. At night, she would hear the lions roar and the danger was ever present.
Her sister, Marguerite, was two years older. They loved to climb the trees in the orange groves and swim at the beach, while they were in Morocco.
During World War II, the family was back in Morocco. So was the American presence, which included George Coffin, of particular interest to my mom, Jeannette.
Marguerite was newly married to Emanuel, and the sisters would double date.
George proposed to Jeanne, and she sadly had to say goodbye to her family that she so dearly loved.
Jeanne and George Coffin married and she took the chance to work at Sears, in order to make friends and learn to drive. Jeanne loved to take photos, and with her first paycheck she bought the latest movie camera.
Quite the shutterbug, I have her to thank for the visuals in this chronicle. Soon she missed her family in France, settled in Provence at the time. Both sisters were starting their own families. Eventually, it was time to cross the pond to stay with our family during the summers.
As the families grew, the closeness was kept diligently by concerted efforts. Her father eventually moved to Kansas in his later years, and all the kids had grown. George and Jeanne had thirty-eight years of married, before he became ill.
One of Jeanne's children, the girl, was having a child of her own. At the same time, Jeanne traveled to California to see Monika, her new granddaughter, she met Harry Portman.
Jeanne had such a talent for writing, she wrote several manuscripts and novels. She loved all the latest gadgets. She was the first to get a microwave, a beta max, a computer, and a video camera. She was very insightful and could sing like a little sparrow, a
la mome piaf. She was my biggest cheerleader and I miss her with all
my heart and soul. She was over the moon optimistic and she took charge
in any situation with great fervor and success. She is in the laughing stars at night. She is my rose, unique to me in all the universe. I love you mom. Chin chin.
