Jean O'Malley Obituary

(nee Furda), age 95, born 12/7/1927, passed away 10/06/2023. Jean O'Malley (nee Furda) was born on December 7, 1927 to Therese (nee Lucas) and Michael Furda in Rankin, PA. Sister to Dorothy, Richard, and Vivian. Loving cousin to Millie. Jean moved to Cleveland, OH during her senior year of high school and attended John Marshall.
Shortly thereafter, Jean met the love of her life, Walter, which included a date of teaching him how to ride a bicycle. Three short weeks later, they were married and remained so until the time of his death on July 25, 1994. Throughout their marriage, they raised eleven children and enjoyed the love and company of their grandchildren.
Jean was fearless, brilliant, funny, and incredibly loving. At a time when women in the workforce was unheard of, especially in mathematics and computer science, Jean earned a position at NASA. Once her children were raised, she worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Cleveland until she retired. She became a snowbird after her retirement, relocating to New Port Richey, FL during the snowy Cleveland winters. Jean enjoyed tracking the stock market, painting, crossword puzzles, solitaire, volunteering at Trinity Hospital in Florida, daily breakfast with her girlfriends, Sunday mass, slot machines, and traveling. She also enjoyed Englebert Humperdinck concerts, watching the Lawrence Welk Show and cheering on her beloved Cleveland Indians.
Jean was the absolute best grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed teaching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren how to crochet and bake her famous fruit cakes. She loved playing knee hockey, cars, polka-ing on the kitchen floor, and Monopoly- always selling off her property to help one of her grandchildren win. To know her was to know unconditional love.
Jean was an incredible woman with talents and dreams of her own. She encouraged that in all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She made every room brighter with her smile and her hugs were the absolute best. You never left her without an "I love you" and "I'll see you later." The world will forever be a little less bright without her. Her spirit lives on in those that took the time to know and love her. She will forever be an amazing person. To the best GG, until we meet again, we will love you to the moon and back.