The spirit of Jean Lillian Cesaretti Hill passed peacefully from this world on August 6, 2021. Jean lived 98 years on this earth, always calling Humboldt County home. The world has changed greatly since Jean’s birth 98 years ago. She lived through multiple wars, 18 presidents, and the technological growth that made possible television, nuclear power, space flight, personal computers, gene editing and artificial intelligence. Yet through all of these changes she remained the same kind, loving, person who was always more impressed by the accomplishments of the people she loved than by anything technology could offer.

Jean was born in Rio Dell on July 26, 1923 to John and Yolanda Cesaretti. She was the second of three children and grew up during the Great Depression. Like many families during that time, her parents didn’t have much money, but there was always plenty of love. John and Yolanda, who emigrated from Italy, were rich in love and they raised their children to value family, kindness, honesty, laughter, self-reliance, hard work and education.

Jean and her sister Melba were expected to help their Mama cook and clean for the mill workers who boarded with them, but life in the Cesaretti household wasn’t all hard work. There were picnics in the redwoods on the weekends with family and friends, matinees at the Winema Theater in Scotia, and always there were books and singing. Jean enjoyed reading throughout her life. As a young girl, she could usually be found after school perched in an apple tree munching an apple and reading until she was called to help in the kitchen. Jean had a lovely singing voice, and in her teens she and her brother Ray would sing popular songs while doing the dishes, much to the enjoyment of their neighbors.

After graduating from Fortuna High School in 1941, Jean moved to San Francisco where she lived with her aunt, Ann and Uncle, Ernie. We don’t know how it came about, but while in San Francisco she went to work as an agent for the FBI. Actually, she was a secretary, not an agent, but when asked what she did for the Bureau all she would say is that she transcribed notes and filed them. When pressed about what was in the files, she said the information was confidential, and she had been sworn to secrecy. Mom never did tell us what was in those files. With Jean, a promise made was a promise kept.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 Jean’s parents, anxious about her safety living in San Francisco, insisted she move back home to Rio Dell where she lived at home and worked in a bank while she waited out the war.

In May of 1948 Jean married the love of her life, Harlin “Pete” Hill, in St. Patrick’s Church in Scotia. Jean and Pete met at a dance, fell in love, and it didn’t take long before they realized they wanted to dance through life together. Jean and Pete raised three incredibly lucky children. Incredibly lucky because their mom and dad loved them unconditionally, shared their joys and their sorrows, and never failed to tell them they were proud of them.

After the kids grew up and left home, Jean and Pete decided it was their time to have some fun. So they built their dream home nestled in the trees overlooking Humboldt Bay, and Pete learned to play golf. They joined Baywood Country Club, and Jean learned to play golf too. She wasn’t a very good golfer, but she loved spending time with her husband. Besides having time to play golf, they now had time to travel. They took trips to Hawaii, to Jamaica, to Oklahoma for Hill family reunions, and, of course, to Cedar City, Ukiah and Saratoga to visit the kids. Jean and Pete were devoted to each other, and they were married for 49 years until Pete’s death from non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1997. Jean missed Pete for the rest of her life. However, she continued to enjoy her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She continued to travel, but now she traveled with her beloved sister Melba. She continued to reminisce about good times, but now she reminisced about her childhood with her little brother Ray and dear sister-in-law Marilyn.

When she was 85, Jean broke her right arm in three places in a car accident, and even though her arm healed, her health began to decline. As she aged into her nineties she was, thankfully, able to continue living in her own home with the support of her son Jeff, daughter-in-law Gayla, and a team of care givers, especially her primary care giver Pansy.

When Jean bid us goodbye she left behind her son Michael (Becky), her daughter Donna, daughter’s-in-law Christy and Gayla, sister-in-law Marilyn, niece Jeanette (Ted), nephews Paul (Mary), Lance (Vicki), Kirk (Lynda), grandchildren Heather (Johnny), Robin (Joshua), Michael (Leigh), Andrew (Rachael), Kevin, Daniel (Theresa), Elizabeth (Tony), and several great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents John and Yolanda, her beloved husband Pete, her sister Melba, her brother-in-law Al, her brother Ray, her son Jeff, and her son-in-law Larry.

We are blessed to have been able to share Jean’s life and the gift of her love. The dream we shared for so many years is over. Jean dreams a new dream now. Sweet dreams Mom, good night.

A celebration of life for family and friends is planned for September 5, 2021 at Jean and Pete’s home.