Jeanne Eller Sebesta

Jeanne Sebesta Born Jeanne Eller on November 7, 1922, in St. Louis. Joined her husband, Don, in heaven on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2011. A Short Sketch of a Long Life. That was the title of Jeanne's memoirs, which she had written two years before her death. Her autobiography may have been short, but her 88 years of life were filled with a world of experiences. As a daughter of an executive for Van Raalte & Co., Jeanne spent a nomadic childhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Long Island, New York; Asbury Park, New Jersey; Cleveland; Pittsburgh; and Evansville, Indiana, before landing in Oak Park, Illinois, the place Jeanne always thought of as home. She shared good times with sisters Ann (Turgi) and Sue (Dunn) and cousin Steve Landregan, who was like a brother to her. Jeanne's values were shaped by her loving parents and Catholic faith (she was devoted to St. Theresa and Mother Cabrini), hardships in the midst of the Great Depression, and experiences during World War II when she drove ambulances for the Red Cross, helped at the USO, and volunteered as a Gray Lady, writing letters for wounded soldiers in Veterans hospitals. Jeanne was a versatile athlete, playing tennis, golf (she learned the game from Tommy Armour) and bowling. Jeanne married Donald J. Sebesta, a naval reserve pilot, in 1948. When Don became an FBI agent, she hit the road again as they were transferred to Houston and finally Denver in 1952. ""I shall always remember the night we pulled into Denver,"" she says in her memoirs. ""The stars were so bright and so close. The air was the freshest and most wonderful I'd ever breathed."" Jeanne and Don raised five children: Scott, Terese, Donna, James and Mark. After Don's death in 1980, Jeanne ventured out on her own, moving to what is now Centennial. During celebrations and holiday get-togethers, Jeanne's cherished home became a gathering place where she entertained family and friends with chronicles of her past and stories that celebrated her Irish and German heritage. Jeanne is survived by Scott Sebesta, Terese (David) LeFavor, Donna (Mark) Christopher, James (Karen) Sebesta, Mark Sebesta, and eight grandchildren, Bryan Renne, Stephanie Renne, Matthew Sebesta, Kate Sebesta, Nick Sebesta, Peter Christopher, Peter Sebesta and Timothy Sebesta. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to the charity of your choice. Please share your memories of Jeanne and condolences with her family by selecting the ""sign guestbook"" button.