Jeannette J. (Okarski) Bolen

Jeannette J. Bolen, age 82, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 29, 2019 with her loving family by her side.

Born in Wilmington, DE, Jeannie was the daughter of the late Anthony and Irene Okarski. She was a graduate of P.S. DuPont High School. Jeannie was a parishioner of St. John the Beloved Parish.

After marrying the love of her life, Donald, Jeannie loved being a stay-at-home mom raising her five children. She was an excellent cook and baker known for her specialties of chocolate cake with chocolate icing, her “whipped cream cake” and her jumbo jubilees cookies.

Family was the center of Jeannie’s life. She treasured hosting the holidays and her visits with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Through the years, Jeannie enjoyed traveling with Donald, especially on their trips to Europe and California.

In her leisure time, Jeannie was very artsy and enjoyed creating artificial floral arrangements for her home. She was also an avid reader, who especially loved mysteries from James Patterson and Susan Grafton. Jeannie also enjoyed watching and collecting old movies.

Jeannie was predeceased by her loving husband of 60 years, Donald G. Bolen; her parents; her sister, Alice Sosnowski; her two grandsons, Tony and Danny; and her niece, Renee. She is survived by her five children, David Bolen and his wife, Rose, Richard Bolen and his wife, Ruth, Donna Phillips, Michael Bolen and his wife, Renee, and Kathy Sadler; her eight grandchildren, Kelly, Emily, Matt, Sarah, Monica, Shannon, Kasey and Samantha; her seven great grandchildren, Stephen, Marcus, Devin, Anna, Monty, Griffin, Danielle and Anthony; and great great granddaughter, Layne. She is also survived by her nephew, Danny Sosnowski and his wife, Catherine, and their children, Jason, Kiera, and Rebecca.

Family and friends may visit from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Friday, September 6 at Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Rd., Wilmington, DE 19808, where a funeral service will begin at 12:30 PM. Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

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