Jeanette Stoneman
January 31, 1962 ~ August 21, 2023
Born in:
Brigham City, Utah
Resided in:
Hamden, Connecticut
Jeanette Stoneman, beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on August 21, 2023 at the age of 61 after a 17 month battle with glioblastoma. She was born on January 31, 1962, in Brigham City, Utah, to the late Mark and Dianthia Lee Hall Taylor of Glenwood, UT. Jeanette was preceded in death by her brother Allen and her Father-in-law Jack Durant Stoneman of Spanish Fork, UT.
Left to cherish her memory is her loving husband, Gary Stoneman of Hamden, CT, and their children: Gwen (Joshua) Yates of Paramaribo, Suriname, along with their children Charlotte, Henry, and Ben; Eric (Trena) Stoneman of Rexburg, ID, and their children Collin and Cade; Joshua Stoneman of Rexburg, ID; Luke Stoneman and Matthew Stoneman, both of Hamden, CT. She is also survived by her siblings: Mark (Linda) Taylor of Ogden, UT; Jacque (Mikel) Moses of Blanding, UT; Jesse (Cindy Kay) Taylor of Nixa, MO; and Lori Charging Whirlwind of Minneapolis, MN; as well as her mother-in-law, Eva Pearl Okelberry Stoneman of Spanish Fork, UT.
A lifelong passion for reading began at a young age for Jeanette, leading her on a journey of intellectual curiosity and discovery. She graduated from Richfield High School as a National Merit Scholar, a testament to her dedication to learning. Her academic pursuits led her to earn a BS in Psychology from Brigham Young University. In her early adulthood, she embarked on a transformative church mission in Fukuoka, Japan, where her path intertwined with that of Gary. Their connection blossomed into love, and they were married 1986 in Manti, Utah, embarking on their eternal journey together.
Jeanette’s thirst for knowledge and growth then led her to Texas, where she earned her Doctorate of Psychology from Baylor University. Subsequently, her postdoctoral work at the Yale Child Study Center brought her to Connecticut, a place she and Gary have called home ever since. She was a member of the Yale Medical School faculty for more than 15 years and had a fulfilling career as a clinical psychologist. Jeanette’s true devotion was raising her five loving children. She found joy in hiking alongside Gary, sharing laughter while riding roller coasters with her kids, and maintaining an ever-present stack of books on her nightstand, a testament to her enduring love for reading.
Jeanette will forever be remembered for her boundless compassion, selflessness, courage, and love of life. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing her.
A memorial service to honor and celebrate Jeanette’s life will be held on Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 11:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 990 Racebrook Rd, Woodbridge, CT. Friends and family are invited to attend and pay their respects. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to your local women’s shelter.
Services
Celebration of Life: September 2, 2023 11:00 am
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
990 Racebrook Road
Woodbridge, CT 06525
Sending much love to the Stoneman family. Jeannette was one of the first people we met upon moving to Ct. She was always so willing to help and make us feel welcome. She was fun loving and kind. She will be greatly missed.
Marc and Wendy Conner
You and your family have my sincere condolences. From my family to yours. May God continue to walk with you and remind you of all of the good, fun and excited times that you had with Jeanette.
Forever Praying for you. Kelly Santos Your Admin at PVH Corp.
My prayers and sincere condolences go out to you and your family in this time of loss.
Barry Kresen
Dear Gary and Fam:
We are so devastated by the passing of Jeanette. She was a light to all that knew her and a good friend. Words fail to describe her humor and quiet strength. My heart goes out to you,Gary, because I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you, you were so perfectly matched.
Our kids have such happy memories playing with Eric, Josh and Luke. God bless you all with good friends who can lift you up during this difficult time
Jeanette really changed the way I parent and approach life. One time I was chatting in her kitchen and she said, “I raised my kids to always be yes kids. The Stonemans will always say yes when it comes to service and helping their fellowmen.” I wanted to be the kind of mom that strove to encourage her children to serve, learn, and grow as Jeanette did. Sending lots of love.
Sending love to the Stoneman family. I’m so grateful for Jeanette and her kindnesses that helped me through my baby years. Her gentle, thoughtful advice helped shape how I take care of my mental health, my faith, and my family. Big hugs to her wonderful family.
Jeanette had such a quick smile and twinkle in her eye, but also such a deep and steady love and desire to lift those of us around her. Her support and example will live forever in my heart and I’m sending all the love to the Stoneman family as you grieve for this great loss. We love you and are praying for you ❤️❤️❤️
My sincerest condolences, Jen
I was very saddened to read about Jeanette. I want to offer my most heartfelt condolences to her husband and children and grandchildren.
As her famiIy’s pediatrician, have known Jeanette for many years both as a person and as a mother.
She was one of my favorite most warm caring mother who made my job the easiest ever.
I cannot speak warmly enough about her. Watching he interact with her children was a delight for me. I can only wish that all my mothers could learn from her as to how to do it well. Her common sense and instincts were superb and she just knew how to parent. Jeanette was a bright accomplished person in her own right as well as being a wonderful parent. However, I wanted to focus on this aspect of her life that many friends might not have experienced like I have.
She will be truly missed.
Her children benefitted and were ever so fortunate to have her as their mother.
Joseph Zelson,M.D.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Jeanette’s husband Gary and their children and grandchildren. Gary and Josh came to help me move in when I first came to Milford. My own wife was unwell at the time, so their service was so deeply appreciated. The whole family have been dedicated to service in the community for decades. As a member of the community, I join you in mourning for your loss.
I have so many memories of the amzing life of Jeanette Stoneman. From the time that we first met when she was engaged in her internship at the Yale Child Family Clinic and I was delaying the completion of my dissertation (for too long), I felt we were simpaticos: 2 of the only Mormon Psychologists in the state of CT. And we were in the same student branch and then ward. I specialized in working with adults and teenagers. She was the person to go to with questions on young children and teens. Her children were the best friends of my children. Jeanette and Gary were the best Sunday School teachers I ever experienced this side of Scott Strobel. Gary went hiking with me on a quite difficult 50-mile hike, with very little preparation, when I needed a second adult and the person I had counted on hiking with us had to bail. There was never a time in which Jeanette and Gary didn’t treat us with an attitude that indicated we were valued and loved. And based on the comments listed, we were not the only ones they imparted this to.
One of my favorite stories about Jeanette is, of course, the story of her being the woman at Girls Camp who confronted a black bear which had come into the girl’s camp tent sites after Jose Chandri left some fish he had caught inside his tent. There was video of her charging the bear banging pans together to get the bear to depart. She was always the brave one to do the right thing.
One such time occurred when there was a bill in CT to require church leaders to be mandated reporters when they learned about child abuse. The New Haven Stake leadership had, mistakenly (IMO) decided they should lobby against the bill because they feared that it would make it difficult for them to take child abuse perpetrators through the path of repentance and they felt that these matters might be better handled through Church discipline. The problem is that Church leaders are not properly trained to conduct an investigation when these unfortunate incidents occur. Jeanett took it upon herself to contact Stake leadership and counsel with them as to why such an approach was a problem. When she was done counseling with the Church leadership, they changed their mind and no longer opposed the bill. Since one of my tasks in life was to interview the children of a Bishop who had sexually abused several young men under his stewardship, many of them occurring after allegations had been previously made but nothing was done because there was only one corroborating witness to what was alleged, I appreciated the boldness she had in identifying a problem and counseling, with love, leadership to make a more enlightened decision. She spoke truth to power. I am certain there are many others who Jeanette provided with this type of counsel to save their lives and/or make their lives much better.
But my most compelling memory of Jeanette is the story she once told in a talk in Sacrament meeting in which she talked about a difficult time she had during her mission to Japan, a time when she was struggling with difficulty having any success, learning the language, and missing her home. Jeanette told the story of herself sitting in a closet crying and reading English versions of the Ensign. She reported this story as one of the most meaningful of her mission because she gained a testimony that she was loved by God and grace and peace could be provided to one when they were at their lowest.
Now, with Jeanette being gone, and with the devastating event that happened to her in the last years of her life, many of us are in that same metaphorical closet. A world without Jeanette in it is a loss. We, too, are in need of that grace and that peace. May we who are in such a place obtain the same solace she received. Knowing who Jeanette was, it was something she would have willed for all of us. Knowing who she was, we are all strengthened by her example. I will always remember her and how welcome I would always feel in her presence.
Jeanette’s smile is always in our memory. Mandy, my two sons and I still remember the good time when we had a dinner together in Hong Kong. She will be deeply missed by all of us.
Angus