Jeanne Daines Willyerd

Jeanne was the first child born to Nolan and Janet Daines on January 18, 1952 in Grand Junction, Colorado.  At two years old she moved to Seattle, Washington, then a few years after that to San Carlos, California where she spent the rest of her childhood with her 6 younger siblings. Her favorite childhood memories were of summers on her grandparent’s farm in Paris, Idaho, that is. 

Jeanne and Eric met and began dating in high school. While Eric served a 2 year church mission in Australia, Jeanne went to Ricks college (now BYU-Idaho) for a year, then worked in San Francisco as a receptionist and switchboard operator–”Bailey, Martin and Faye! How may I direct your call?”  She loved that job and enjoyed the daily train commute with her father.  

On March 10, 1973, Jeanne and Eric were married in the Oakland California Temple, then began their life together in Pomona, California where Eric attended college. They lived in Pomona for 12 years, and all 5 children were born there. In 1986, they returned to the Bay Area and bought their Celeste court home in Union City, California.  As a mother, Jeanne kept a tidy home, expertly managed finances, tolerated a lot of pets and watched the neighbors' kids and then some. She provided a stable and memorable environment for everyone who came into her home. 

Jeanne delivered many jars of homemade jam and brown bags of fresh rolls to friends and anyone who needed a pick-me-up. She willingly served in a number of teaching and leadership callings for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. After the children were grown, Jeanne and Eric together served a year-long church mission in Rochester, New York in 2013. Jeanne loved being so close to important church historical sites, taking frequent walks in the Sacred Grove and loving how it changed with each season. 

Following their church mission, Eric and Jeanne moved from Union City and settled in Rocklin, California in 2016.  She enjoyed living near her sisters Susan and Nancy. When she wasn’t visiting grandkids, she spent her time sewing and reading. She sewed over 3,000 Days for Girls shields and hundreds of Dress-a-Dude shorts for those in need in Africa.  She loved making quilts and gifting them to new babies and friends. This year alone she had already finished 138 books. 

Jeanne was always up for an adventure whether it was a cruise or trip to Australia, Panama Canal, Hawaii, Italy and Greece, Alaska, a girls trip to Mexico or Sedona, a road trip to visit family or staying close to home to comb a beach for sea glass and get a bowl of clam chowder.  She loved being in nature hiking or with her feet in the sand and, in recent years, kayaking on Folsom lake. 

Her family will always think of her when they have warm soup or read a good book on overcast days, or when they re-heat all the Thanksgiving leftovers together in one bowl for lunch. Those who know her well would describe her as practical, resourceful, organized, occasionally spontaneous, generous, hard-working, faithful and devoted to her family. Watching her grandchildren become best friends made her so happy, and she created opportunities for everyone to get together as often as possible.

Jeanne was diagnosed with ALS in early 2022, after experiencing symptoms and conducting tests for nearly a year.  It was a difficult and sad diagnosis for her and her family. She quickly and steadily declined in abilities and health, but it was also a time of opportunity for the many people who loved her to visit, serve, help care for and say goodbye to this much loved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.  She passed away on October 16, 2023 in her home with her husband and daughter Jennifer by her side.

She will be missed by her husband, 6 siblings, 5 children and 1 bonus child, 23 grandchildren, and many other family members and friends.