Jean MacMillan Terpening
September 13, 1932 - December 6, 2023
Jean MacMillan Terpening, beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in her home on December 6, 2023. She was 91.
Jean was born to George and Margaret MacMillan in Greenport, New York on September 13, 1932. She grew up in The Eureka House on Love Lane in Mattituck, New York with her parents and siblings. Jean met the love of her life, Claude M. Terpening, while scooping ice cream at Barker’s Pharmacy & Ice Cream Parlor. As the story goes, she gave him an extra scoop of cherry vanilla! She graduated Mattituck High School in 1950, before training at Mary Immaculate Hospital where she received her Registered Nursing Degree. Jean and Claude later married at Our Lady of Good Counsel on June 25, 1955 and eventually moved to Kings Park, New York to raise their two children, Margaret “Marnie” and Christine “Chris”.
In 1984, Jean and Claude retired and moved to a home on Coolidge Street in Hollywood, Florida, where they lived for almost 40 years.
Jean enjoyed cooking, cleaning, reading, cross-stitching, the beach, shopping and attending Sunday Mass at Nativity Catholic Church. She truly devoted her life to her family. She enjoyed hosting birthday parties and holiday dinners, as well as showering her family with unlimited amounts of love.
Affectionately known as “Gram” and “Grammy”, Jean had the most beautiful blue eyes and heartwarming smile. She was a true class act and never complained. She was kind, clever, thoughtful, had a keen sense of humor, a contagious laugh, quick wit, the gift of gab, and a heart of gold.
Preceded in death by her parents, sister Anne Chapman, sister Peggy Tuthill, brother Bob MacMillan and her husband of 64 loving years, Jean is survived by her daughter Marnie Carter (Gene), daughter Chris Whelan, granddaughter Meagan Whelan (Alex VanNostrand), granddaughter Kelly Mulligan, great granddaughters Mikaela Jean and Keira Lynn, and many nieces and nephews.
On January 8, 2024, Visitation will commence at 9:00 AM at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck, New York followed by 11:00 AM Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, with Jean’s final resting place - next to Claude - at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue, New York.
She will be deeply missed but forever loved by family and friends.
Jean was born to George and Margaret MacMillan in Greenport, New York on September 13, 1932. She grew up in The Eureka House on Love Lane in Mattituck, New York with her parents and siblings. Jean met the love of her life, Claude M. Terpening, while scooping ice cream at Barker’s Pharmacy & Ice Cream Parlor. As the story goes, she gave him an extra scoop of cherry vanilla! She graduated Mattituck High School in 1950, before training at Mary Immaculate Hospital where she received her Registered Nursing Degree. Jean and Claude later married at Our Lady of Good Counsel on June 25, 1955 and eventually moved to Kings Park, New York to raise their two children, Margaret “Marnie” and Christine “Chris”.
In 1984, Jean and Claude retired and moved to a home on Coolidge Street in Hollywood, Florida, where they lived for almost 40 years.
Jean enjoyed cooking, cleaning, reading, cross-stitching, the beach, shopping and attending Sunday Mass at Nativity Catholic Church. She truly devoted her life to her family. She enjoyed hosting birthday parties and holiday dinners, as well as showering her family with unlimited amounts of love.
Affectionately known as “Gram” and “Grammy”, Jean had the most beautiful blue eyes and heartwarming smile. She was a true class act and never complained. She was kind, clever, thoughtful, had a keen sense of humor, a contagious laugh, quick wit, the gift of gab, and a heart of gold.
Preceded in death by her parents, sister Anne Chapman, sister Peggy Tuthill, brother Bob MacMillan and her husband of 64 loving years, Jean is survived by her daughter Marnie Carter (Gene), daughter Chris Whelan, granddaughter Meagan Whelan (Alex VanNostrand), granddaughter Kelly Mulligan, great granddaughters Mikaela Jean and Keira Lynn, and many nieces and nephews.
On January 8, 2024, Visitation will commence at 9:00 AM at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck, New York followed by 11:00 AM Mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, with Jean’s final resting place - next to Claude - at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue, New York.
She will be deeply missed but forever loved by family and friends.
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July 5, 1952 - October 13, 2025
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“We wept that one so lovely should have a life so brief.” — William Cullen Bryant May 5, 1971 - Oct. 8, 2025
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July 29, 1945 - October 21, 2025
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August 26, 1956 - October 19, 2025
