Jeanne Kay (Quinn) Mahoney

Jeanne Kay Mahoney departed to her eternal heavenly home on Saturday June 3, 2023, joining her heavenly Father and her beloved husband, Jim. She was born January 19, 1935, to Forrest E. and Margaret E. (Newman) Quinn. She was a lifelong resident of Battle Creek except for the first year of marriage where she resided in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, with her husband, who was serving with the United States Coast Guard.

She was a 1953 graduate of Lakeview High School, and on April 2, 1955, she was joined in marriage to the love of her life, James H. Mahoney, at the First Congregational Church, where she cherished her membership from the day she became a member on April 18, 1946, at 11 years old.

Before her marriage, she was employed by the Kellogg Company as a tour guide in the summer of 1953, then transferred to the Branch Accounting Department. After a year, she was given the position of Secretary to Donald Brown in the Advertising Department. While raising her children, she was employed part-time by her aunt, who owned Fales Accounting and Tax Service, doing accounting and tax work. In November of 1971, she became the assistant financial secretary at First Congregational Church until her retirement on June 30, 1990.

Despite many surgeries and her long-standing battle with rheumatoid arthritis, she remained very active within her church and community. She was a member of the chancel choir, taught Sunday school, and was an active member of the Winslow/Vore Circle, serving as president and treasurer for many years. She also served as Treasurer for the Women’s Fellowship and Town Hall Speaker Series Board sponsored by the Church. She was a life member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for over 60 years. She held all the officer positions, in addition to serving as her chapter's president several times. She held the position of Resident Agent and Treasurer for the Trust Board Corporation within the Sorority for 19 years, where she managed their investment funds, from which many, many thousands of dollars were accumulated and donated to various local and national charities. She loved and admired her sorority sisters, both past and present.

She was very active in the PTA at Lakeview Schools while her children attended there; she especially loved being room mother and helping with fundraisers. She served as secretary to the volunteer group that founded bingo games at the high school, which provided aid for both the band and athletic department.

Her friends were very dear to her, and time spent with them provided her with deep joy. Jeanne considered her friends as "sisters and brothers" as she was an only child. She loved sending cards, personal notes telling them how much she appreciated and loved them. She loved playing bridge and belonged to several groups. She served as both the bridge chairman and president on the board of the Battle Creek Women’s Social Club. She belonged to a euchre club and really enjoyed playing poker with close friends. In her "spare time," she liked to knit and do craft work. She loved to entertain and cook for family and friends. Her many kinds of homemade goodies were eagerly anticipated around the holidays.

She adored her family and loved having special parties for holidays, birthdays, and Christmas, which was the ultimate! She referred to her grandchildren as wonderfully special gifts from God. She was so proud of their attainment of excellence in their schoolwork and watching them excel in their athletic endeavors. She spent many, many years with what she referred to as "bleacher butt" watching her children and grandchildren perform in band and chorale concerts. Basketball, baseball, football, soccer, softball, and volleyball games. Swim and track meets, and tennis matches.

She is survived by her children: Reggie (Kathy) Mahoney, Susie (Dan) Labrecque, and Amy (Jim) Drikakis. Grandchildren: Jimmy (Alyssa) Drikakis , Natalie (Yazin) Atallah, Jacob (Lauren) Labrecque, Meredith Mahoney, Bryce (fiancé Abby Dougherty) Mahoney, Abbey Labrecque, Lydia (Trevor) Wyman and Madelynn (Chase) Dunn. Great-grandchildren: Aria and Levi Labrecque, Myles Wyman, Aiven Atallah, James Mark Drikakis III and Baby Dunn to arrive in December. Brother and sister-in-law: Chuck and Jean Mahoney. Nephew: Rick (Jen) Mahoney, and their twins, Finn and Grace. Niece: Heather (Thom) Shipley, and their twins Ethan (Emily) Shipley and Elijah (Katie) Shipley and special cousin Helen Wiess.

She was preceded in death by her loving parents, beloved husband of 52 years, precious granddaughter Mallory Lynn Mahoney, loving Aunt Gertrude Fales, and stepmother Juanita Quinn.

Those who wish, may contribute to The James H. Mahoney Sports Fund at the Battle Creek Community Foundation, providing scholarships to athletic camps to help children in the Lakeview Schools or to The First Congregational Church.