Jean S. Hammond

Memorial donations may be made to two organizations near and dear to Jeans heart:

Voice of China and Asia
P.O. Box 702015
Tulsa, OK 74170
https://voiceofchinaandasia.com/donate/

Foursquare Mission Press
4905 E. La Palma Ave.
Anaheim, CA 92807
http://www.foursquaremissionspress.org/giving-options/

Jean Arvilla Smith Hammond was born on July 1, 1921 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Fred W. and Helen (Stenstrom) Smith. Jean was the third of four children: Ruth, Lois, Jean and Fred. All four children helped in the familys mom & pop grocery. Living through the depression instilled in her frugality and common sense. Growing up, she enjoyed skating and tobogganing in winter, and canoeing or rowing while her dad fished in summer. She graduated Edison High in 1939.

In 1942 she came to California with her uncle Les and aunt Lorraine, usually stuffed into the rumble seat of the 1936 Plymouth roadster with her five-year-old cousin Bob. Les took her with him to work at Lockheed, and she was immediately hired there as a secretary. She met Elmer Hammond on the job; they married on October 6, 1944. To the marriage were given three children: Kathleen appeared in 1945, Ralph in 1947 and Nancy in 1949. The family moved into their first house in Rivera in 1950.

Jean and Elmer started their own business making wood patterns for metal castings. Jean kept up the paperwork, bookkeeping and made deliveries. At the same time, she cared for the kids and helped neighbors with laundry, ironing and child care. When Jean married Elmer, she also became part of a second loving family, sharing love and special times through the years.

Jeans hobbies included sailing out of Alamitos Bay, sewing, and singing in the church choir. She also volunteered at the Uptown Whittier YMCA for 22 years, teaching the Twinges in the Hinges warm-water exercise program. She retired from the program just a couple years ago, at the age of 94.

For nearly two decades, when both Jean and Kathleen became widows, they also became roommates and best friends, taking care of each other. It was within the care of Kathleen that many friends and family were able to visit Jean in her final days to say farewell and thanks for her friendship. Jean passed peacefully at home in the company of her daughter and pastor.

Jean is survived by a brother, Fred R. Smith; her children, Kathleen H. Sinnett, Ralph G. Hammond, and Nancy J. Lounder; grandchildren Scott Hammond and Cindy Naylor, and two great-grandchildren, Shannon and Sabrina Naylor.