From sunrise, March 19, 1941 to sunset, Friday, April 9, 2021, God had meticulously planned the life of Jean Patricia Owens or “Trish” as she was sometimes affectionately called. She was born in Sellers, Marion County, South Carolina to the late Gladys Owens Oliver and Walter Oliver.
Jean’s story broadly unfolded at age four when the family moved from South Carolina to Hamden, where she attended State Street Elementary School, Michael J. Whalen Middle School, Hamden High School and Hillhouse High School.
After graduating high school, she went to Stone School of Business and later attended New Hampshire College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Services.
She was proud of her professional life working as a Mental Health Counselor for the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC), retiring in 2005 after 45 years of dedicated service. Jean’s special gifts of compassion, humility, sincerity and love also steered her work as a Domestic Violence Counselor through The Yale Consultation Center. Her involvement in her church was paramount to her being.
At a very early age, Jean dedicated her life to Christ and was baptized at Immanuel Baptist Church. In 1962, Jean left Immanuel Baptist Church and became one of the founding members of Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church, now located in Hamden, CT. Christian Tabernacle remained her church home until the day of her passing. Jean loved the Lord and worked tirelessly to serve Him through regular bible study, faithful service in the community and service in her church. Jean used her voice to sing God’s praises in the choir at Christian Tabernacle Baptist for 60+ years. She did not just sing in the choir, but rocked, clapped, tapped, smiled and did everything she could behind the scenes to support the choir’s work. Jean was instrumental in spearheading the first Mother-Daughter Tea which became an annual event.
She also held leadership roles in The Women’s Guild and other committees at church. She was actively involved in the State Baptist Convention, the American Baptist Convention and the State Missionary Baptist Convention. Jean was known for her love of fashion and took pride in her appearance, dazzling us with her sense of style and magnificent hats which were perfectly coordinated with her matching shoes, purses and jewelry. Her passion for life extended deep into the community.
An active member of the Dixwell-Newhallville Senior Center where she chaired the 2009 reunion committee, fashion shows, Christmas parties and other events. She was president of the Red Hatters Society, helped to organize class reunions and was a member of the Elks Lodge. Traveling was one of the things she loved to do and visited several places throughout New England, Hawaii, New Orleans and Mississippi. The Crab Fest in Maryland was a must for her each year. Jean’s zeal and love of life will be sorely missed!
Mourning her unexpected death and cherishing the wonderful memories she created are the loves of her life: her adoring daughter, Nicole Nunez (Edgar), her grand-daughters, Morgan and Avery, who brought her sunshine every day, all of North Haven, her loving brother, Carl Owens (Mary) of Hamden and long-time companion of 45 years, Raymond T. Cash of New Haven. Also, deeply saddened by her passing are her special cousins, Lillie Bethea and Lozelle Mullings who were like sisters to her, close friends, Mae Huckaby and Miriam Jackson, godchildren, Yolanda Tappin-Cox and Dajon Brown, who she loved unconditionally and a host of relatives and friends who shared wonderful memories with the family for years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Ernestine Lowery and Karen Baines Pettaway. They will greet her as she enters Heaven’s realm with open arms and hearts and she, in turn, will meet them with her radiant smile.
A Walk-Thru visitation was to be held on Monday, April 19, 2021from 9:00- 11:00AM at Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church, 782 Orchard St, New Haven, CT 06511Haven. Celebration of life will be private; Interment will be at Hamden Plains Cemetery, Hamden, CT. To leave a message of comfort for the Owens family, please visit, www.hkhfuneralservices.com.