JEAN ARDELLE (EITELMAN) UNGER

1940-2021

Jean Ardelle Unger of Houston passed away peacefully on March 12, 2021 at the age of 80. She was born October 28, 1940 in Fort Worth, Texas to Edward and Ardelle Eitelman.

Jean received a B.A. in English and a teaching certificate from Texas Tech College. She taught junior high English after graduating. Although she ceased employment as a teacher when her first child was born, she continued to teach and mentor throughout her life.

Jean’s faith was foundational. It infused her life and informed her thoughts throughout her days. She was a long-term member of South Main Baptist Church where she served in numerous leadership and service roles, including as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. Multiple generations of kindergartners came through her classroom doors over her forty years of teaching. Every one of those children was a person full of potential and goodness for her.

In addition to spiritual concerns, her faith compelled her to love and care for people’s worldly well-being too. Her participation in FOCUS, a volunteer HIV/ AIDS care program, in the late 80s and early 90s was a prime example of this. Even though many people still feared AIDS at this time,

Jean was not deterred. She couldn’t bear the thought of these men dying alone, many of them shunned by their families. She helped with everything from the mundane tasks of cleaning to the heavy lifting of providing emotional and spiritual support. Her work with FOCUS wasn’t a one-way street though. When she developed a love of opera in the latter half of her life, it was a direct result of one of her patients sharing his love of opera with her.

Jean also taught English to adult learners through SMILE, her church’s free

ESL program. Her classes included cultural exchanges in addition to English lessons as she believed this would better prepare her students to participate and succeed in their lives here. Over the years she served as a department coordinator and eventually became one of the program’s directors.

Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband John, daughter Cathy and son David. She was also preceded in death by her brothers Edward and Raymond.

Jean is survived by her son Dan, daughter-in-law Patricia Brooke, and granddaughter Margaret of Portland, Oregon. She is also survived by her brother Barry, his wife Betty, and their children and grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to South Main Baptist Church (http://www.smbc.org/) or Operación San Andrés

(https://www.operacionsanandres.org/supportosa/donate-operacion-sanandres).