Mary Jean (Wagner) Eden, April 17, 1925 – April 14, 2016

Mary Jean Eden, resident of Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, Md. died Thursday April 14th 2016 of a ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurism on the way to Holy Cross Hospital.  She was 90 years old.

Jean was born in the Elm Grove suburb of Wheeling WV on April 17, 1925 to the late Margaret Rentschler Wagner and Adam Louis Wagner.  Her earliest memories were of walking to Elm Grove Elementary School and playing with her favorite cousin Sara Jane.  Jean’s father and uncle owned a general goods store in Elm Grove.  She remembered sitting on the back porch of the house at Burkham Court snapping beans and shelling peas that Lou (her dad) had brought home from the store.  Jean graduated High School from Mt. De Chantal Academy and was accepted to The College of Wooster in Wooster, OH.   

During her first year at Wooster her father was struck and killed by an automobile while walking along the National Highway in Elm Grove with an empty gas can.  Losing her father was devastating and she considered leaving college to help her mother raise her two younger brothers.  But her mother, knowing how important education would be for her daughter, insisted Jean return to school.  She did return to Wooster where she was an outstanding student, selected “Queen of the May” in 1945 and graduated in 1946.

Moving to Washington DC soon after graduation, Jean took a job at radio station WQQW reading children’s stories on-air.  She was partnered on-air with a young law student, Fred Eden, who she married on December 18, 1948.  Their first child, Erik was born in 1950 and their second, Paul, in 1954.

Jean had a long and varied career in Washington, her most notable job being Administrative Assistant for the Bureau of Legal Services, first under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government and then with the DC Government.   Her job was essentially to do anything needed to keep the department running productively. It was remarked that “She knew who to go to and how to get things done!” 

This was not by chance because Jean knew how to stand her ground and be firm about what she needed but still keep the environment friendly and professional.   

Jean made such deep connections and strong, positive relationships that twenty years after retiring she still had lunch regularly with some of the friends she made then.

Nearing her 70th year, as retirement approached Jean was determined to make a successful and happy transition.  She began preparations for retirement nearly two years before the actual day.  She joined a book group, became active in AAUW and The Republican Women’s Club, quit smoking and volunteered with Voter Registration.  The year after she retired she was probably busier (and healthier) than when she worked and she maintained that busy pace for many years.

In her later years Jean developed COPD, a progressive and debilitating pulmonary disease.  But she would not be deterred from living life on her own terms.  She took the medicine, did the breathing and physical exercises, kept up with the literature, used the inhaler, accepted oxygen (even though the “damn thing never did work right”) took on a “wheelie” to help her walk (and carry around the oxygen tank) and still kept up an active social schedule right up until the morning she passed. 

Congenial, determined and quietly but fiercely independent, Jean leaves her family and friends a legacy rich with examples of a life well lived.  She will be missed.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband Fred, three brothers, Bill, Jack and Paul, brother-in-law, Alan, sister-in-law, Gerry, and daughter-in-law, Jennifer.  She is survived by two sons, Erik and Paul, daughter-in-law, Denise, sisters-in-law Jo, Sue, Joanna and June, grandchildren, their spouses and partners, Matt & Val, Lisa & Jahmaul, Adam & Arista, Kylie & Rob,  Jan & Suzanne, Phil & Brianna and Andrew & Annie, great-grandchildren, Justin, Sophia, Hailey, Esa, Taylor, Callie, Joelle, and Fiona, and great-great grandchild Carter.

A memorial service will be held in celebration of Mary Jean Eden on Tuesday, May 17th at 11:00 am in the Guild Memorial Chapel on the Asbury Village Campus followed by a reception in the Park View Club Room.  Please come and celebrate with us.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family suggests a contribution to:

American Association of University Women, Scholarship Fund

Send checks to:

AAUW Gaithersburg, Scholarship Fund

C/o Ms. Terry Medlar, Treas.

8904 Edgewood Dr.

Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Include in the memo line: In memory of Jean Eden.