Sr. Jean Ford SSND
ELM GROVE, Wis. — Sr. Jean Ford, 81, School Sister of Notre Dame, passed away on Feb. 12, 2020, at the Elm Grove, Wis., retirement home. She is survived by her sister, Carol (Gordon) Shepherd, and brothers, Gerald, Vernon (Sharon) and Dale (Ann) Ford, many nieces and nephews and the entire SSND community. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clayton and Beatrice Ford.
Sr. Jean grew up in Cornell and graduated from Holy Name High School. She joined the School Sisters in 1957 and earned a bachelor of science degree in mathematics and physics from Mount Mary College as well as a master’s degree in mathematics and school administration from the University of Montana and Northern Michigan University. Early in her career she taught at Catholic grade schools in Chicago, Grand Rapids, Menasha and Marshfield. She then began teaching high school math and later got into administration as principal of schools in Menasha and Marshfield. She ended her career as principal of Thomas More High School in South Milwaukee. Sr. Jean was elected to two terms to the SSND Provincial Council leadership team and was selected as Vicar of the Council. She retired in 2007 and spent her final years at the Elm Grove retirement home enjoying quilting, sewing and playing Sudoku.
Funeral services for Sr. Jean Ford will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, at the Notre Dame of Elm Grove Holy Family Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will follow with nephew, Rev. Ryan Ford, officiating. Burial will be in Elm Grove, Wis. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Notre Dame Retirement Fund, 13105 Watertown Plank Rd, Elm Grove, WI 53122.