Jeannette passed away early Monday morning, December 7, 2020, in Dover, from the coronavirus. She was 98 years of age. She was predeceased by her first husband, Ralph K. Durstein Jr., and her son Ronnie. Her second husband, Thomas J. Brown, passed away in 2016. She is survived by her son Ralph K. (“Dirk”) Durstein III (Alison), and his children with Karen Kane: Ben (Gabby), James (Anna), and Mike (Meg) Durstein, and great-grandsons Leo, Jack, and Kaden.
Jeannette was born in Greensboro, Caroline County, Maryland to John F. Stevenson and Edith Dill Stevenson, in 1922. She grew up on the family farm. She had an older sister, Mary Margaret Spence, younger brothers George and Donald, and is survived by her younger sister Ellen Scarborough of Greenville, Delaware. After graduation from Greensboro High School, she attended Salisbury State University and Goldey Beacom College. During World War II, Jeannette worked in Washington, D.C. for the Department of Interior and volunteered for the USO.
In May of 1951 Jeannette married Ralph K. Durstein, Jr. in Wilmington. The couple lived in Salisbury, Maryland and Seaford, Delaware, before settling in north Wilmington. The family were members of Concord Presbyterian Church, where Jeannette sang soprano in the choir. After the death of her first husband, Jeannette worked at the family vending business, at the Church, and later for local medical offices and gift shops. When she remarried, she moved to Lottsburg, Virginia to live with Mr. Brown at “Moonglade” on the Chesapeake Bay.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to support first responders.
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