Jean M. Koenig

Jean Marie (Zeblisky) Koenig, age 93 passed away on Sunday, November 20, 2022 with family by her side at Belair Nursing Home in Goffstown, New Hampshire. She was born August 7, 1929, daughter of Theodore and Julia (Hauck) Zeblisky. Although she was born in the wake of the Great Depression, she enjoyed a full, loving childhood with her sister Helen and brothers Ted, Rudy, Cliff, and Joe. She attended a Catholic Elementary school in Hicksville, NY and always treasured a picture of Christ that was given to her by one of the nuns at school. As a young girl, Jean remembered learning how to do cartwheels and handstands from her father which prompted a later interest as a gymnast in high school. She played the flute in the high school marching band with her brother Rudy and had many fond memories of the activities she participated in and many friends she had at Farmingdale Public School. Jean proudly received a New York State Regents Diploma from Farmingdale Public School, Farmingdale, NY on June 23, 1944. After high school, she worked for NY Telephone and was quite proud of her work there.

In 1949, she met her husband Charles Koenig at a rollerskate rink over a soda and laughter. Throughout their lives, they both told this story so much, each time it was told, it was like their family was witnessing their love story all over again. They started their life together in matrimony on January 14, 1950, and their Seaford, NY home was soon filled with a loving family of 5 children, Jean, Gary, Linda, Roy, and Ken. They moved to Mont Vernon, New Hampshire in 1971 and spent the rest of their life together there often caring for their grandchildren. She retired from Kenmore Stamp Company, Milford, NH at 84 years old.

She had an infectious giggle, beautiful smile, and a great sense of humor. She reminisced that she once sewed the sleeves shut of her Uncle Jim's jacket. Her sense of humor was never mean spirited or at the expense of others, always innocent and pure, but still a little mischievous.

Throughout her life she enjoyed being active and gardening, but her true love was her family. Always putting everyone else’s needs before her own, she frequently hosted family gatherings and cooked large holiday meals for extended family visits with the echoes of “sit down Mom, are you gonna eat Ma, please sit down”, as she catered to every detail of the meal. She’d prepare favorite meals for her grandchildren, loved to play games and do puzzles whenever they visited, continuing to be a matriarch for her family.

Sharing a cup of tea and a slice of her homemade wild blueberry pie brought comfort to many and she loved dessert. She enjoyed getting phone calls and mail with updates on any minor or major success of her friends, relatives, children and grandchildren and her home was filled with family photos. In so many ways, Jean is the true epitome of unconditional love and unwavering support.

Finally, Jean also had a love of history; saving a treasure trove of historic newspapers, photos, and letters that were meaningful to her. In 2016, knowing her memory was fading, she shared many of these memories with her daughter Linda and granddaughter Jessica to be documented for her obituary. She giggled throughout the interview and it was always evident that she took more joy in listening to others than talking about herself. But something about that lucid day magnified the value of a human life to be remembered. Her legacy is the love she gave, the memories made and the family she built.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her son Gary Koenig (November 17, 1976), her husband Charles Koenig (July 28, 2007), her brother Ted Zeblisky (2011), her brother Rudy Zeblisky (2012) and her special nephew Phil Zeblisky (2017).

She is survived by her children Jean (Gene) Whitcomb of Hadley, MA, Linda Clarke of Binghamton, NY, Roy Koenig of Milford, NH, Ken (Lisa) Koenig of New Boston, NH, her grandchildren Patrick (Elizabeth) Clarke of Binghamton, NY, Jessica (David) Harney of Rome, NY, Faith (Jon) Cummings of Stoneham, MA, Doug (Ashley) Whitcomb of Prairieville, LA, Maelynn Clarke of Binghamton, NY, Abigail (Zack) Egbert of Eugene, OR, and Alex Koenig of New Boston, NH along with eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Helen Albert, brother Cliff Zeblisky, brother Joseph (Patricia) Zeblisky, sister in law Sophie Zeblisky and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and grand nephews.

Like many other families, the Covid 19 Pandemic has robbed us of precious time with each other. Her family never gave up that she would persevere through the challenges of these years with faith, love and support; all virtues she has instilled in all of them. Sincere gratitude to the staff at Belair Nursing Home in Goffstown, NH for the safety and loving care they provided her in the final years of her life, all of which provided the family with more time with Jean in a comfortable space.

Funeral services are private. Burial will be in Green Lawn Cemetery, Mont Vernon, NH.  In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Share Outreach, Inc., 1 Columbus Avenue, Milford, NH  03055.