Birth date: Aug 31, 1927 Death date: Jan 5, 2022
Jeanne Panella Wathen was born on August 31, 1927, in Oakland, California. Jeanne was a graduate of St. Joseph’s Presentation Academy in Berkeley and attended Merritt School of Business in Oakland and the University of California, Read Obituary
We will miss our friend, Jeanne. :'( She was the ultimate professional and compassionate about her community work in the SMU Law School Legal Clinics. Jeanne taught me so much with her wisdom. We will never forget her and will continue to have the same compassion she had for legal services to the poor. The world is a better place because we had Jeanne with us. God bless her family and may your faith and happy memories sustain you. LISA MONTES, Legal Clinics Coordinator, SMU Dedman School of Law.
Jeanne was my aunt and, though I didn't have countless occasions during my life to be in her company, it was always a pleasure when I was. She and my mother were close friends and sisters during their growing-up together despite being quite different in manner and temperament. I'm thankful that she and my mom had such a loving relationship that endured throughout their lifetimes.
My memories of Jeanne are warm and cherished. She was always poised and gracious, a bit reserved, but in the most welcoming and gentle way; when I was a child she seemed to me to be almost shy, but it was just her gentle nature that I was seeing.
Her hospitality and openness were what I seemed to notice first and foremost, and her warmth and grace always showed through. She and my mother both had dispositions, founded in their upbringing I'm sure, that were positive, approachable and open to life and all it had to offer.
I regret that I didn't see her as often as life might have allowed, but I am very grateful for the memories I have of our time together and my distinct and fond memories of her and her family throughout the years.
