Jean Stanula Doan: Obituary & Tribute Wall
by Ruth Doan
“Hope is the thing with feathers.” Emily Dickenson
“All birds are dinosaurs.” Jean Doan
Jean Stanula Doan Jean Stanula Doan (b 9-29-1982) of Chicago passed away on Friday, June 3, 2022 at 5:40 PM in the arms of her wife, closest companions, and her life-long furry friend, Eliot-the-Cat. Jean died of organ failure resulting from colon cancer that spread to her liver. Jean was diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer on September 15, 2021, two and a half years after asking her doctor for a colonoscopy to ensure a lifetime of happiness with her family. Her father, Jerome Stanley Stanula (deceased) died of colon cancer at the age of 53. No one was less surprised and more enraged by her diagnosis than Jean herself.
Jean is survived by her loving wife, Ruth Doan, her devoted sister Dawn Schneider, her loving mother, Terry Stanula, and her brother James Stanula. Jean is also survived by her chosen family Quinn Drew, Michael O’Malley, and a gymnasium-full of friends, all of whom believe that they are, in fact, Jean’s best friend.
Jean grew up in Orland Park, Chicago, and cultivated a true south-side appreciation for friendship, loyalty, hard work, hard drink, saving up for nice things, and making do with just enough in between.
Jean was obsessed with natural history, most especially dinosaurs, her cat Eliot, time travel, musical theater, scientific writing and liberal politics and punditry. She was an avid reader, as well as an incisive and entertaining writer. She was an incredible boss and beloved employee at Rotary International. She loved to travel and travel light (“less is more when you’re on the go”), and wrote incredible travel itineraries for our trips to London and New York City. She even wooed her future wife while on a work trip to Australia.
Jean’s intelligence, patience, and charm changed hearts and minds. She healed broken friendships, and helped people see the world as a place where more people can belong. She was a teacher. She forgave people because she had faith in who we could be next time.
“I have been here before, I am here now, I will be here again.” Roger Ebert from Life Itself
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You can also view the obituary and tribute wall on the Curley Funeral Home website