Jeanette Christensen Chester passed away peacefully at the Penn Yan Homestead in Penn Yan, N.Y. surrounded by her family December 7, 2017. Jeanette called Penn Yan her home since 1952. She was 85.
Open calling hours for Jeanette Chester will be held at St. Michaels’ Church Saturday, (December 9) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A funeral mass will follow. Burial will be for immediate family only. A reception will be held at Top of the Lake Restaurant at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Michael’s school in Penn Yan, NY.
Jeanette, “Pete” to everyone, was born in Bath, N.Y., the youngest daughter of John and Elizabeth Petersen. Pete attended Notre Dame High School in Elmira, N.Y. and graduated from the Jean Summers Business School in 1952. She moved to Penn Yan where she vacationed as a young girl. She worked for the Foster Hatch Medical Group for many years. Later, Pete went to work for Yates County Social Services where she worked until her retirement in 1992.
Pete was an Elmira girl, but Penn Yan and Keuka Lake were her home. Pete loved Benton Center, St. Michael’s Church, the New York Yankees, Buffalo Bills and Syracuse Orangemen. A regular at Penn Yan Mustang football and lacrosse games, Pete supported her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with a loud voice, a loving spirit and hot chili after the game. Pete was a Cub Scout Den Mother, volunteer for many years at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital and St. Michael’s Church. Along the way she got her wish, a house in the country and a St. Bernard dog.
Pete married Ron Christensen of Penn Yan in 1953, raising three sons on Benton Hill. Ron died in 1978. In 1991, Pete met the second love of her life, Joseph Chester of Penn Yan, and they wed soon thereafter. Pete and Joe were inseparable. Pete and Joe enjoyed retirement to the fullest, filling their years with traveling, visiting family and friends and steady support to St. Michael’s church.
Pete is survived by her husband, Joseph Chester; sons Michael (Patricia) Christensen of Penn Yan, N.Y., Gregg (Chris) Christensen of Sabattus, Maine, and Tim (Joan Nelson) Christensen of East Greenbush, N.Y.; grandchildren Martin Christensen, Brian (Kacie) Christensen, Preston (Michaela) Christensen, Jennifer (Mike) Clancy, Linda Christensen and Arlo (Brittney) Christensen, Dylan Christensen and Peter Christensen, great-grandchildren Conor and Erin Clancy and Fiona Christensen; and several nieces and nephews. Pete was predeceased by her first husband, Ronald; and sisters Marianna Schweikhard and Theresa Rover.
