Obituary of Jean A Lee

Jean A. Lee (a.k.a. “Jeanne”), of Forest Hills, New York, outlived parents, siblings, husband, and daughter to pass away peacefully in her sleep, in her own bed, the way she wanted, on her own terms, on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the age of 98. Two weeks prior to her death, Jeanne was still queen bee to those who loved and served her, engaging in animated conversation with visitors, grazing on mini-meals her son J. Rodger Lee prepared for her throughout the day, and navigating independently in her “Ladies' ONLY Room,” the new name she gave her bedroom suite to bar men from entering.

Jeanne was born on April 13, 1927 in Brooklyn, New York to parents William W.D. Lee and Chan Jung Sao. Even though Jeanne was orphaned at a very young age, she forged her path in early life with the support of a loving uncle (her father’s Brother Harry “Gong, Gong” Lee) and her paternal grandmother, who cared for Jeanne and her four siblings until adulthood. Throughout her life, Jeanne’s sheer willpower, determination and big heart were her hallmarks. Perhaps losing her parents at such a young age led Jeanne to feel a special affinity with children because she went on to become unofficial mom and grandmother to a multitude of kids, slipping them $1 bills folded into butterflies and bags filled with yummy treats like gummy worms, chips and cookies. Children knew they were adored when they were in Jeanne’s presence.

Jeanne married her life-long love, John Suey Jong Lee, and settled in Forest Hills, New York. She chose the neighborhood for its top-notch reputation and convenience. Both Jeanne and John came from large families – she with 4 siblings and he with 11. Jeanne was proud of John’s accomplishments as an engineer, and she threw herself into providing a loving and spotless home for her family.  In 1957, they welcomed their first child, daughter Lorraine Sue. Lorraine’s developmental limitations altered their lives forever, and Jeanne became a fierce advocate for the rights and safety of her daughter and others who faced adversity in life. She taught Lorraine to be careful and self-sufficient and to clearly communicate her wants and needs. Son J. Rodger Lee joined the family in 1962 and shared an enviably close bond with his mother. They finished each other’s sentences, and Rodger inherited Jeanne’s refined tastes, propensity for speaking their minds, and a love of socializing and entertaining. There was never a dull moment when Jeanne and Rodger were in the room.

At 5 feet and 95 lbs., Jeanne was a master class in determination and resilience. There was almost nothing she did not have an opinion on. Jeanne was often the most petite person in any group, but she had a commanding presence, and conversations typically revolved around her. A fashion model in her youth, Jeanne’s confidence and talents won her a promotion from giftwrapper to saleswoman in the posh Fifth Avenue Gucci store, where she specialized in small leather goods. Her desire for order and decorum, and her canniness for reading people certainly played a role in her work success. In Jeanne’s world, everything had to be handled a certain way, with structure and cleanliness the top priorities. There were a lot of “shoulds” and “should nots” in her rulebook. Toilet seats should be put down before flushing, people should dress appropriately for each occasion, the kitchen sink should not be used for handwashing. When Jeanne’s mother-in-law visited her house, the elder lady, who lived modestly, marveled at how each family member was assigned his/her own toothbrush, rinsing cup and washcloth. Jeanne directed her mother-in-law to her own set, as well! She was keen on people-watching, evaluating style choices and mannerisms, many times criticizing, occasionally emulating. She was a person of creativity and action and relished being involved in whatever shenanigans younger people got into. Although Jeanne wore classic, high-quality clothing, she always looked contemporary because she tapped into how young people dressed. Her youthful energy also extended to the dance floor, where she was always the first to join a line dance - Electric Slide, Macarena, Chicken Dance – she knew them all and executed them with flair.

Competitive by nature, Jeanne was an admired cook and homemaker who set aside food for favored relatives and friends to take home after gatherings. Those who asked for one of her recipes suspected that Jeanne may or may not have omitted an ingredient or two so that her specialties could never quite be replicated outside her kitchen.

After Jeanne retired, she found many ways to channel her energy and artistry. She was an active member and volunteer at two senior centers for many years: Forest Hills Senior Center and Newtown Italian Senior Center. While Jeanne likely first became involved in art as a way of helping Lorraine improve her hand-eye coordination, it was at the senior centers that Jeanne studied painting more in depth and churned out artwork for family, friends and her own enjoyment.

Jeanne enjoyed getting around on foot and public transit all her life, but her outings dwindled as she entered her 90s. When movement grew more difficult because of advancing age, she would heave a sigh of relief and cry: “Thank you, Jesus!” whenever she successfully climbed the steep stairs into her house.

Jeanne liked to fuss over many things and people, but she rarely complained about her own physical pain, even as her illness advanced. She endured and recovered from a number of setbacks, including long-term ailments, broken bones and getting struck by a taxi on Queens Boulevard. Jeanne was a survivor in every sense of the word, and she did it with panache.

In her final months, Jeanne continued to give stern and exacting instructions for how she preferred to be assisted and reprimanded those who did not execute them precisely. It was clear to Jeanne that there was a proper procedure for every task, and she had no patience for anyone who deviated from it.

Jeanne is survived by her son J. Rodger Lee, of Forest Hills, and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. She was especially close to her brother Richard Lee and sister-in-law Barbara Lee’s children: Timothy Lee (now deceased), Gary Lee, Danny (Sandra) Lee, Karen (James) Thornton, all of Houston, and Diana Lee, of Las Vegas; and Richard and Barbara’s grandchildren: Brandon Lee Thornton, of Houston; Brittany (Nathaniel) Bigelow, of San Jose; and Madison Lee, of Houston. Jeanne was predeceased by her husband, John Suey Jong Lee, her daughter Lorraine Sue Lee, her brothers Herbert Lee, Philip Lee and Richard Lee, and her sister Rita Wong.  

There will be a wake 4-7 p.m., Thursday, June 12, at Fox Funeral Home, 98-07 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills, New York. Jeanne will be cremated, and a burial will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Kensico Cemetery, 271 Lakeview Ave., Valhalla, New York.     

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to one of Jeanne’s favorite charities: St. Jude’s Hospital (because of her love for children) or American Heart Association (in honor of her husband John, who had heart disease). You can do this by clicking on the Donations tab o nthe left of this page.