Celebrating the life of

Jean Zeleski

30 Aug 1942 - 27 Jul 2022

Family and friends

Jean loved to take photos and tell personal histories. Of her own work in writing family histories Jean has said the following: "This writing helped shine a light on the present and how important it is to live fully every moment, to look with loving eyes at what contrast has brought into our lives, to be joyous as the solutions unfold and to honor our relationship with our self and with others. ... more

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1950

Carissa Zeleski Jean as a girl, recognizable by her lovely smile...

Ann B. Carissa, you look so much like your mom in this photo - in all of them, actually! Aren't you lucky!

Carissa Z. Yes indeed! Some of these younger age pictures I hadn't seen and was struck by the resemblance.

1960

Carissa Zeleski Jean played the french horn in the Medford High School band.

1960

Carissa Zeleski Jean and the family she grew up in- John, Arlita and Jim

1966

Carissa Zeleski A family gathering

1968

Carissa Zeleski Placing 3rd in the Miss Sacramento contest! She had fun with this but her true passion was teaching.

Carissa Z. She always talked about the fun of this experience, and how her passions always went more towards a teaching career

Gail K. I remember being in the audience and how proud I was of Jean. I was a child of twelve and she was such an adult. I was in awe.

1968

Carissa Zeleski Jean teaching 6th grade!

Gail K. Jean was a great educator, but not just of children. She kept us all on our toes!

1969

Carissa Zeleski My mom always told me that beauty comes from bringing out your natural self.

Gail K. That hair! And the Jean smile. . .

Jul 1971

Carissa Zeleski When she talked about her travel experiences, she talked about learning about differences. The objects she brought home from those trips still hold magic for me.

Gail K. I hadn't realized she was so well traveled. If I had known, I would have asked more questions. Jean never boasted about anything.

Dec 1971

Carissa Zeleski Engaged to be married, having fun in San Jose.

Dec 1971

Carissa Zeleski At the Royal Villa Apartments- the social center of the school district.

1972

Carissa Zeleski The first sighting of her signature pigtails

Gail K. Love it! Wish I had known him more. And there's that smile again.

1972

Carissa Zeleski This was an early photography project by Jean. She picked this hobby back up again several years later.

Gail K. I would like to know more about the subject matter. Who is at the base of the tree? How old was Jean when she took this?

Carissa Z. That's my Dad! She would have been around 30 years old. She said she found the strong chemicals in photography difficult to handle, but was ...

8 Jul 1972

Zelda Zeleski I love this picture of my parents with Jean and John on their wedding day.

8 Jul 1972

Carissa Zeleski The wedding party!

1974

Carissa Zeleski This is the first Christmas in the Rocklin house

Jan 1978

Carissa Zeleski Carissa's Baby Shower

Ann B. What fun to see the "old days" again. I know Judy was waiting for her to cross into the Great Unknown.

Gail K. I have never seen this photograph. That's my mom next to her. It will always be such a great memory of how the two of them enjoyed each ot...

Jul 1978

Carissa Zeleski This was one of her favorite photographs.

Gail K. It's lovely, but who are these two?

Carissa Z. Good question! That is me as a little baby, and my grandfather on my father's side. I realize now that she probably took the photo and the i...

1980

Carissa Zeleski She loved summers in New York. She commented on the feeling of belonging she had there.

Gail K. Please remind me of why she lived in New York at that time.

Carissa Z. We traveled in the summers to New York to see my Dad's extended family- lots of fun memories.

23 Dec 1986Mechanicville, NY, United States

Carol Zeleski Visiting for Christmas NY 1986. Also a picture from Duke and my wedding. It was a pleasure being together for a Christmas. Yearly visits were treasured.

Carissa Z. I love these photos- these were my childhood adventures, but I see how much dedication and nurturance it must have taken to get us all acros...

25 Dec 1990

Carissa Zeleski She taught me the meaning of Christmas was the joy of giving.

I was lucky enough to have Jean as a "bonus mommy" from the time I was 12 years old via my friendship with my "sister", Carissa. The Zeleski house was a place of love and acceptance where it was ok to express yourself, be different, and speak your mind. I knew we could say anything to "Carissa's mommy" and she would still love and help us if we ...

Christianne Klein1992

Everyone remembers their childhood home address and phone number. Even decades later, I remember the Zeleski family address and phone number. I have to say, there were many years I spent more time there than at my own home. Your light shined on so many. Thank you Jean for being the mom I needed ❤️ I will miss you dearly, and will hold the kindnes...

Kay Clark1996

2003

Carissa Zeleski After she retired, Jean rekindled old friendships and made many new ones. She once said that this artwork reminded her of her dear friendships.

2008

Carissa Zeleski She looks so relaxed! In Hawaii with Judy and Ann

Ann B. We had a great time after we had all retired and really learned the meaning of how to relax. I remember watching the sea turtles swimming th...

Carissa Z. That sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing that memory.

12 Oct 2008Co Galway Ireland

Dympna Fahy I met jean in 2008 at our family reunion in Co Galway, Ireland where we the Irish cousins reconnected with the Zeleski family. Jean recorded every document and photograph and later compiled the family story. It was obvious she loved doing this for her family. She is pictured at the Irish homestead with Zelda, Pat, Patricia Walsh (RIP) and Brendan Byrne. She was so generous in continuing to keep contact over the past 14 years, showing us her growing family with pride and love. Sleep well Jean. 'Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam uasal'

Carissa Z. Thank you for posting this special picture and the blessing. She managed to turn the family history into an adventure.

2009

Carissa Zeleski Her birthday on the Rainbow Bridge

Jul 2010Colorado Springs, CO, United States

Mercy Zeleski Jean and family at her son Mike's Air Force Academy graduation ceremony. She was so proud of his accomplishments! Jean, Mercy, Paul, Pat, John, and Zelda

Carissa Z. She always had our backs whenever we had a dream.

20 Aug 2010Sacramento, CA, United States

Carissa Zeleski Celebrating her son and her daughter-in-law! She was over the moon.

Ann B. I remember bumping into a candle and nearly setting fire to Mercy's dress as she walked down the aisle! True confession! I love this family...

Feb 2013HI, United States

Mercy Zeleski Jean found a rainbow in Hawaii during a trip with friends. Photo from Ann Brooks.

Carissa Z. She loved beauty and found it everywhere. Written on the page: "John's comment: 'Jean's my Pot of Gold at the end of the rainbow.'"

18 Sep 2013

Carissa Zeleski In Lake Tahoe

Nov 2013Fair Oaks, CA, United States

Mercy Zeleski Jean loved celebrating the holidays with the family.

2015

Carissa Zeleski One of Jean's photos. Right from the back yard on Hoffman Lane.

26 Aug 2016

Carissa Zeleski Jean. Joan. Ann. At the Crocker Art Museum. 3 old ladies trying to do a selfie!- Photo and memory from long-time friend Joan Willett

2017

Mary Elliott-Klemm Jean was so very creative and was able to take ordinary objects and see them in new ways.

2017

Mary Elliott-Klemm Jean Zeleski- a perfect friend: caring, creative, intelligent, thoughtful, always open to new ideas and learning. Jean and I both enjoyed our Photography as Art class, bonding over shared experiences and deepening our friendship while taking photographs. We both loved the class for opening our eyes to beauty in new and deeper ways. Jean's photographs often reached deep into her soul and shared the creative and gentle person we all love. I would like to share some of her work, her photos that resonated with me. I know you will enjoy them.

2017

Mary Elliott-Klemm Jean was all about beauty. Her smile always radiated the beauty of her soul. Her photos shared her eye for beauty.

7 Apr 2017

Carissa Zeleski Jean and I met in the CSUS Renaissance Society class, Photography as Art, but found when we visited outside class that it seemed we had known each other for ages. The friendship got richer as time went on. We took the opportunity to meet for lunch before class when we met at the Natomas Library; and we shared long visits by phone, talking about books, music, our interests and hobbies. And we talked about our photos. Out of 16 class members, Jean and I were the only ones who did our assignments on our own, rather than on field trips with the group. That pushed our creative boundaries and added fodder for conversations about how to approach assignments that we found vague or esoteric. No matter how uncertain we were during these discussions, I don’t recall that either of us ever failed to fulfill the assignment, and occasionally one of us was “spot on”, with the task at hand. That extra challenge was great to share. I’m missing Jean already, thinking that I owe her a call and forgetting that she won’t be answering the phone.- Photo and memory from Kimberly Smith

25 Dec 2017

Carissa Zeleski Jean in rare instance of "kicking back" during a Christmas Party- she had injured herself so she had no choice!

6 Aug 2018Sacramento, CA, United States

Roger Klemm These three portraits were taken at two different field trips for the Photography As Art class for which Jean was a member. Jean's beautiful smile will always be remembered and her goofy side was most enjoyable. She will be very much missed. Roger Klemm

22 Nov 2018

Mary Elliott-Klemm Jean was all about love and had a deep attachment to her family. Her photo of Emmy, taken 11-22-2018, is so tender.

2020

Carissa Zeleski Pushing limits of Jean's tech skills to zoom together. Getting both microphone and camera to work was harder than it looked.

7 Oct 2021

Carissa Zeleski Jean and baby Artemis!

7 Oct 2021

Carissa Zeleski Jean was a beacon to us all, after her diagnosis we came together to celebrate her and the family she nurtured.

Ann B. So wonderful to have every member of this beautiful family in this photo. Hers was a life worth celebrating.

Gail K. Sums it up in one word perfectly. She is a BEACON.

I’ve had many conversations with Jean but the one I remember most vividly was about her having children. She said it was so very important to her. At that point Carissa, Paul and Mike were already part of the family. They completed a circle of happiness for her. I’d describe Jean with the following words: positive, sincere, intelligent, thoughtful...

Zelda Zeleski2022

8 May 2022

Carissa Zeleski We had such a fun time this Mother's day. Jean loved seeing the different way we expressed the same idea with art!

3 Jul 2022

Carissa Zeleski It was hard for her to walk at this time, but Jean made it to the 4th of July weekend party.

Gail K. Thank you, Carissa, for sharing such a time line with us. This website is so appreciated. As was your mom.

26 Jul 2022

Carissa Zeleski The afternoon before she died this unfamiliar white bird lingered in the yard and then banged on the window pane before flying away.

Ann B. This is a beautiful image for me to carry about Jean's final day. Jean was truly full of grace and beauty. She was the best kind of friend a...

Gail K. This gave me chills. Unusual bird sightings at significant moments of someone's passing happen. Myy mother in law was a white dove. My m...