Living in Palm Springs, CA in 2008.
Obituary (accompanied by a photograph of Jeanne Kendrick Nau):
“It is so close to the end… and it’s wonderful!”
“I am crying in happiness” were some of her words before
she passed away peacefully at the age of 63 in her home on
September 26, 2002 after a short illness with pancreatic
cancer that began June 21st 2002.
Jeanne Marie (Kendrick) Nau, daughter of Bernice
Rose and Frank J. Kendrick, formerly of Canton, and grand-
daughter of Laura & Charles Pillot of Louisville, Ohio. She
is survived by an extraordinarily loving husband, James J.
Nau; children Teressa Syta & husband Tom, Joanne Nau
Shearman & husband Jerry, Janet Wirostek & husband Tom,
James M. Nau & wife Cyndi; grandchildren Carly & Tommy
Syta, Chandler & Delany Wirostek, Nathan & Kendrick Nau;
her father, Frank J. Kendrick; brother Bernard B. Kendrick;
and her aunts of Canton, Ohio, Lillian Stonebrook, Carolyn
McCauley, and Sister Mary Kathryn Pillot HM.
Born at St. Anne’s Hospital of Cleveland, Ohio,
she studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music where
she began her piano-organ-keyboard teaching career. In 1963
Jeanne and the family moved to Southern California where she
completed almost five decades of teaching music and touching
so many lives. Other organizations she was involved in include
Delta Omicron Professional Music Fraternity, St. Bridget of
Sweden Church, Establishment RV Club, Clefhangers Organ
Club and the San Fernando Valley Organ and Piano Teachers
Association.
A Funeral Mass was held at St. Bridget of Sweden
Catholic Church, Van Nuys on Tuesday, October 1st 2002.
Right of Committal at the gravesite and a reception followed
immediately at San Fernando Mission Cemetery and Mortuary.
Jeanne requested in lieu of flowers that donations be
made to Central Catholic High School (CCHS) Memorial Fund
(Music) in the name of Jeanne Kendrick, 4824 Tuscarawas St.
West, Canton, Ohio 44708 (330) 478-2131, or Sisters of the
Humility of Mary, Villa Marie, PA 16155, (724) 964-8920.
In the words of a grandchild when asked “Why do
you think God wants grandma?” He replied “Maybe God needs
an angel in heaven to teach all the people to play piano!”