Jean Hoy Hoover of Princeton, NJ, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on October 22.
Born in 1930, Jean resided in Princeton for 61 years after moving from Lafayette Hill, Pa., in 1963. She spent many summers in Avalon, NJ, with her siblings and extended family. She attended Moore Institute of Art (now Moore College of Art) in Philadelphia after graduating from Norristown High School in 1948. There she met the love of her life, John L. Hoover Jr.
They were married and went on to have five children. A woman and mother of her generation, she stayed at home to care for her children. At age 44, she was predeceased by her husband and Jean became a tireless household manager and single mother.
As her children matured, Jean pursued her love of art and began her career as an interior designer and fashion illustrator. Her interior design work included the Nassau Inn in Princeton. Her fashion illustrations appeared in publications including The New York Times as well as local Princeton newspapers.
Jean also enjoyed her gardens and spent endless hours moving earth, rocks, plants, and shrubs to achieve just the right garden design. She was a longtime member of the Dogwood Garden Club as well as the Present Day Club. For many years Jean was an active volunteer at the Princeton Hospital and the Princeton Hospital Auxiliary. She also was an avid tennis and paddle tennis player well into her sixties. Her pride and joy was her family and “Grandy,” as she was known by her grandchildren, was the matriarch.
Predeceased are her parents, William F. and Anna M. (Gebhart) Hoy; siblings Elizabeth Gerhard, William F. Hoy, Jr., and Anne Finkbiner; and her husband John L. Hoover Jr.
Jean is survived by her five children, Curry Simmel (Scott), Stuart Hoover (Carey), John L. Hoover III, Eric D. Hoover, and Christian Hoover (Marianne); six grandchildren, Sarah A. Reynolds (Whitney), Alexandra J. Stabert (Samuel), Eric W. Hoover (Mary), Anne Cardew (Griffin), John R. Hoover (Sara), and Grace Hoover; six great-grandchildren, Callan, Eloise, Theodore, Eleanor, Wesley, and Sloane. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
A private Memorial Service will be held on Friday, November 29, 2024, at The Mather Hodge
Funeral Home, Princeton. The interment of Ashes will follow at Trinity-All Saints Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to All Access Mental Health, 819 Alexander Road, Princeton, NJ 08540 (aamh.org).