Jean Eng

Jean Eng

1951 – 2023

            Jean was born June 24, 1951, in Gary, IN, to George and Sylvia VanDenburgh.  She was the sixth of seven children with five older brothers and a younger sister.  Jean is survived by husband  Allen, daughter Jae Smith (Mark) and grandchildren Aidan, Jenna and Ryan of Arcadia, OK.  She is also survived by brothers Jeffrey (Linda), Paul (Elaine), Leon (Charlene) and sister Elaine Raker (Wayne), all of Crown Point, IN, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

            Jean attended St Mary’s Catholic Elementary school through eighth grade and Crown Point High School, graduating in 1969.  One of her favorite high school stories was playing point guard on her intermural basketball team. Jean loved horses and spent much of her time at Freeman’s stables across the road  from the family farm.  She had a palomino, Susie, that she cared for and even showed at the county fair.  Jean attended Indiana University Northwest and graduated in 1974 with a BS in Education and English.  She also studied Library Science and worked a few years in the University library.  She made many friends at IUN, and several became lifelong.

            Jean married Allen Eng on May 19, 1972 on the picturesque island in the lagoon at Marquette Park in Gary, Indiana.  The island just barely held the wedding party, families and friends.  This was a foreshadow of the next fifty years, where the couple’s house was frequently filled with family and friends.  Jean enjoyed company and everyone was always welcome to stop in and visit.  Their daughter Jennifer Allison (Jae) was born in 1977.  Allen’s work took them to Fort Worth, Tulsa, and in 1988 to Edmond.  When Jae’s school or athletic teams needed something Jean was always the first to volunteer.  She was Team Mom to Jae’s soccer teams through high school and into college.

            Jean especially enjoyed attending Jae’s college soccer games both home and away.  Jae’s children Aidan, Jenna and Ryan were the light of Jean’s life. She enthusiastically  followed all of their scholastic and athletic endeavors and pursuits.  In recent years when Jean’s health kept her home and mostly confined to bed she lived every day in hopes of seeing or visiting with “her grandkids.” They loved spending time with their Yaya and getting into all the shenanigans that grandkids and grandparents can manage.

            Jean was an accomplished artist and crafter.  She did everything from Ceramics to Calligraphy and did it all well.  She made dozens of hand sewn Christmas stockings for everyone in her extended family and many friends as well.  The “Jean” Christmas stockings are cherished by four generations of the VanDenburgh and Eng families.  Jean made hand painted sweatshirts for many occasions, both for family and friends and to sell at craft fairs.  She was skilled at calligraphy and hand addressed wedding invitations for generations of friends and relatives.  Her hand painted birdhouses were treasured gifts and sought after by many.

            Jean enjoyed giving gifts to family, friends, acquaintances and even people she’d just met.  She loved to shop for gifts, often saying, “this is perfect for (fill in a name.)”  In recent years, when health issues made it hard for Jean to get out she discovered QVC, Home Shopping Network and Shop HQ.  Of course she got credit cards from all three.  Of course she used them.  Gifts for everyone!

In lieu of flowers we ask that you donate in Jean’s name to the National Scoliosis Foundation, www.scoliosis.org/donate/

We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but are not able to.  To watch the service CLICK HERE to go to our YouTube page. Click on ‘Videos’, then ‘Live Streams’.