Jean E. Kreiling

Jean E. Kreiling, 83, a loving wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend passed away peacefully on June 18, 2022, surrounded by her family. Born in Manhattan on March 8, 1939. She graduated from Brooklyn College, was an English teacher & Civil Rights Activist in the 60’s and later an Anti-Overdevelopment Activist in Brighton Beach while living in Brooklyn, NY.  She had a deep love for opera, literature, and art.  She excelled in all forms of writing, and as an artist worked with various mediums including painting, sculpting and photography.  She found art in everything she saw or touched upon. 

She moved to Cranford in 2005, volunteered at The Crane Phillips House, Cranford Historical Society and The Cranford Library for many years. Where she managed marketing, wrote press releases, and created a variety of artistic displays. In 2020, she advocated alongside her dearest and best friend Betty Crawley in the petitioning, planning, and renaming of the Cranford High School Library in honor of Dr. Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe among many amazing achievement’s was an educator, humanitarian, and the first African American Baptist minister of Cranford’s first Baptist Church.

Jean also enjoyed gardening, baking sweets with her grandchildren, and spending time with her family, and friends.

She is survived by her son William,  daughter in law, Tracey, grandchildren, Samantha and Luke. As well as, relatives Mark, Carol, Megan & Tim and her many friends. She was predeceased by her parents Mable and Eino and predeceased by her beloved husband Fred Kreiling. 

A memorial service and viewing will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2022, from 1:00M – 4:00 PM at Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral home at 582 Springfield Ave., Westfield, NJ 07090. 

In lieu of flowers please feel free to send donations to:  The Cranford PAL- Will DeGregorio Scholarship Email: m-nazzaro@cranfordnj.org, or The Friends of the Cranford Library.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jean E. Kreiling, please visit our floral store.