Jean Catherine Wulff, 89, of Jacksonville, Florida passed peacefully into the loving embrace of her Lord moments before dawn on September 11, 2022 after a courageous, 11-year battle with cancer and other maladies.

Jean demonstrated a strong will to live, even miraculously surviving a prolonged hospitalization with COVID in 2020. She often expressed hopes of making it to her 90th landmark year, but God in his mercy called her home at a time when she was suffering in her struggle to remain alive.

Although Jean passed away exactly eight months to the day before her 90th birthday, she did live to see the 90th anniversary of the start of her life in the womb. The "gift" of Jean's life in the womb was celebrated with "90th" candles on a bakery confection, flowers and other presents brought to her in the hospital.

Jean was born on May 11, 1933 in Lorain, Ohio, a small town outside of Cleveland on the shores of (Great) Lake Erie. Baby Jean arrived as an answered prayer to her parents George and Mary Young, a hardworking Scottish couple who immigrated to the United States in pursuit of a better life in the early 1920s.

George worked in the steel mills in Lorain, Mary was active in benevolent organizations and was employed to help during the war effort. George and Mary cherished Jean as their "pride and joy" and raised her in a loving home where she never witnessed vice or discord. Although of humble means, they provided her with an upbringing that fostered cultural development, education and travel. As a teen she journeyed to Scotland on the famed ship RMS Queen Elizabeth for an extended visit in her parents' homeland.

From her early childhood to adulthood, Jean participated in various forms of dance and music. She became an accomplished Scottish Highland dancer who garnered dozens of awards, trophies and medals in regional competitions and later taught the dance style for a while.

Jean graduated from Lorain High School in 1951, where she played cello in the school orchestra, participated in theater and held office in the Y-Hi Sweater Club. Jean went on to pursue her nursing degree at the School of Nursing at City Hospital in Cleveland, a strict, dormitory-style nursing program common in the days when nurses wore all white uniforms and starched cotton caps.

While attending nursing school, the lovely and vivacious Jean was crowned May Queen of her senior class at a school dance. Jean graduated in 1954 and became a registered nurse in early 1955. She kept her RN license active for over forty years until after retiring in the mid-1990s.

Jean met Allan Wulff of Cleveland, Ohio on a blind date while she was a nursing student. The two "only children" bonded, started going steady in 1953, and wed on September 25, 1954. The couple honeymooned on a romantic road trip to the subtropical paradise of Florida, whetting their desire to eventually settle in the Sunshine State. They would enjoy 55 years of marriage before Allan passed away in 2010 at the age of 80.

Jean and Allan spent the first ten years of their marriage in Canton, Ohio starting their family. After the birth of their youngest of four children, the couple left Ohio in 1965 in order for Allan to advance in his sales and marketing career. The family resided briefly in Clearwater, Florida; Greenbay, Wisconsin; Richmond, Virginia; and New Orleans before finally returning to Florida and settling in Jacksonville in 1970.

Jean worked as a nurse (at nights and weekends when the children were young and later fulltime) to help support her family throughout most of their marriage. Her financial contribution enabled the couple to purchase nice homes in which to raise their family in all the states they lived. As her nursing career evolved Jean gravitated towards a specialty in psychiatric nursing.

After moving to Jacksonville, Jean worked at University Hospital (now University of Florida Shands Hospital) both on the psychiatric floor and in the Community Mental Health Center for over ten years, earning her a pension from the State of Florida. While at University Hospital she received several employee commendations, including "outstanding attendance," "excellence in documentation" and was voted first runner-up for a merit education award.

Jean left University Hospital to work at the Renaissance Center, a rehabilitation facility for individuals with emotional disorders, as a medications nurse and a rehabilitation counselor, and worked in the Community Living Program where she planned activities and field trips for the clients. She worked with the agency for about 13 years until retiring in 1995.

While at the Renaissance Center she received the following accolade written in the agency newsletter announcing her as the employee of the month:

"Jean has always been respected for her professionalism, dedication, and commitment to the clients she has served. Her wide range of interests and skills have proved invaluable in many Center programs and activities. Her cheerful nature often has influenced others, and her warm smile is comforting to all she encounters. Jean has enriched the lives she has touched."

In addition to being a health professional for over 40 years, Jean excelled in many areas as a homemaker. She was a superb cook who could prepare a delicious array of classic American dishes from scratch. She also delighted in hosting lavish holiday meals that featured many elegant dishes along with the standard turkey fixings. Jean took artistic pains in setting a beautifully adorned and festive holiday table. She always aspired to make the holidays as special as possible for her family.

Jean was active in the Methodist Church for many years, first as a member of Snyder Memorial United Methodist in downtown Jacksonville and later at Crossroads United Methodist Church. She helped feed the homeless with her church mission and tidy up the sanctuary after church services. She once even volunteered with the Red Cross and traveled down to Homestead, Florida to help provide storm relief after the devastating, category-5 Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992.

Perhaps due to her idyllic childhood, Jean always remained a "kid at heart." She loved Christmas, dolls, stuffed animals, pets and amusement parks— especially Disney World! Jean became quite the Disney World fanatic over the years and ended up passing her enthusiasm for the Disney parks onto her grandsons.

It was not uncommon for Jean, Allan and the kids to visit the Disney parks a half dozen or more times a year. And just like a kid, Jean never wanted to leave the magic behind. She would linger until closing to savor every last bit of enchantment she could. Because of her ceaseless energy in walking miles to visit all the park rides and attractions, her kids called her the "Energizer Bunny."

Similarly Jean had a passion for cruising on cruise ships, guided tours and other forms of travel. Allan and Jean were fortunate to travel often in their middle to retirement years, both domestically and overseas. In addition to multiple Caribbean cruises, they went on a Suez Canal cruise and a trans-Atlantic cruise. They also toured throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.

Due to her Scottish ancestry, Jean loved all things British: British pub food, HP sauce, Scottish shortbread, Heath bars, Royal Doulton figurines, British drama series such as "Downton Abbey" and "The Outlander," and the British royal family. She grew up following the royal family and having commemorative souvenirs from their reign in her home. Jean admired Queen Elizabeth II, who was just a few years her senior, and who is regarded as one of history's most consummate diplomats. It is interesting that Queen Elizabeth predeceased Jean by three days. It is almost as if the Queen's passing heralded her own. If the Queen could make her final exit from this mortal realm, so could Jean.

The Queen's death marked the end of an era. The "Greatest Generation" who lived during World War II, and knew sacrifice firsthand, is now largely gone. Jean left the world at a time when she had concerns for the future of our society.

"Bonnie Jean" exuded a bubbly personality and was at her happiest when surrounded by people. She also displayed a hearty sense of humor. Near the end of her life, when medical appointments were her primary social outlet, she relished charming her doctors and nurses with her sharp mind and witty conversation.

Jean loved regaling hospital medical staff with tales of hospital practices from back in her day considered startling by today's standards. For example, she would share stories of how cavalier medical practitioners were about smoking cigarettes within the sterile hospital setting—even to the extent of pausing surgeries in order to take a smoke break!

As an only child Jean dreamed of having a large family. From the very start of her marriage and motherhood, she gave her all to be a loving and devoted wife and mother. She was known to be a generous and doting parent—even indulgent to a fault. She was always willing to help her family out in times of need.

Jean provided her grandsons with happy childhood memories that they may not have otherwise known. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and always yearned for their company. Jean will be remembered as a kind-hearted matriarch who was called to heaven on a designated day of honor: Grandparents' Day.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents George and Mary Young, her childhood and lifelong friend Imogene Gerhart, her husband Allan Wulff, and her firstborn son Scott. Those left to cherish Jean's memory are middle son Robert (Grace), only daughter Catherine, youngest son Craig; grandsons Jacob (Coral) and Joshua (Christy); granddaughter Olivia; great-grandchildren Nathan, Audrey, Lauren, and Colin, along with several dear friends.