Obituary of Jean Beckwith Short

       Born November 4, 1918

      Jean was born in Syracuse, New York to Lillian Beckwith Hofmann and Theodore Hofmann. She grew up on Daisy Street in a quiet Syracuse neighborhood. Due to her mother’s health issues she had to move from Syracuse to Rochester with cousins named Thompsons when she was a teenager. Every weekend they would pack up the car and go to the Port Bay cottage for the weekend.

     She met her husband, Irving Francis Short when he was delivering coal to her cousins’ home. Her cousins, Jean and Elaine teased her that there was a boyfriend for her. While she and Irv were dating she said they would go out for a nickel hamburger. She felt sorry for him having to spend his money so she declined the hamburger, only to see that he ordered two hamburgers for himself. She decided that would be the last time she refused a nickel hamburger. They were married on the back lawn at Irving’s lifetime residence overlooking the lake on July 12, 1941. Their first son was born in 1942, Theodore, followed by Thomas in 1945 and Lorilyn in 1950.

     She and Irving would host parties every summer weekend for family and friends to bring a dish to pass, swim, boat, and water ski. There were many fond memories the siblings had, and all their friends were welcome anytime, including mealtime. Jean and Irv enjoyed going out on Saturday nights with their group of Webster families. They traveled extensively with Tony and Doris Stumpf to Hawaii, Florida, Texas, and many other places. Irv died of Leukemia in 1975 and Jean never remarried. She said if she couldn’t find anyone as wonderful as Irv, she didn’t want anyone.

     She was a member of West Webster Auxiliary and would go to fires with coffee and doughnuts. Irv was a West Webster Firemen. They would also march in many parades.

     Jean was always surrounded by family, and the life of the party. Almost everyone in Webster referred to her as Grama Jean. Jean died after a brief illness at the age of 105 and ½ (if she was telling her age}. She saw many changes in her lifetime and lived a good life.

     Jean is predeceased by her husband, Irving “Irv”; son, Theodore “Ted”; daughter-in-law, Carolyn. She leaves her children, Thomas Short and Lorilyn (Jack) Mastowski; daughter-in-law, Nancy Short; grandchildren, Timothy (Jennifer) and Peter Short, Heather (Marc) LaFond, Noelle Short, Scott and Matthew Mastowski; 23 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; step-brother, Theodore (June) Hofmann; nieces and nephews; many special adopted extended family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

     Friends may call 4-7 PM Friday, June 14 at Willard H. Scott Funeral Home, 12 South Ave., Webster, where her Funeral Service will be held 10:00 AM Saturday, June 15. Interment at Webster Union Cemetery. Donations in Jean’s memory can be made to the Webster Union Cemetery or the Rochester Regional Palliative Care and Hospice Department.