HORNELL-Mary Jean Pollinger, 83, of Grand St., passed away Friday evening (March 16, 2017) at Elderwood at Hornell where she has resided for nearly the past year.
Born in Hornell on May 13, 1934, she was a daughter of the late Paul and Genevieve (Reagan) Quartz and the step-daughter of the late Mary (Quinlan) Quartz. Besides her parents and step-mother, she was also predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Bridget Quartz; her brother-in-law, John “Jack” Tobin; her sister-in-law, Carolyn Quinlan and her son-in-law, Edward Shipman.
A lifelong resident of Hornell, Jean was a graduate of Hornell High School, class of 1952 and St. James School of Nursing in Hornell.
She was employed as a registered nurse at St. James Mercy Hospital for 50 years; before she retired, the last 30 years of her career were devoted to being a pediatric nurse.
Jean was a communicant of the former St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Hornell and most recently at St. Mary’s Church in Canaseraga and St. Ann’s Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Hornell. She was also a member of the Ladies of Columbus, the Hornell American Legion Auxiliary and the St. James Mercy Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered many hours at the Aquinas Gift Shop at the hospital.
Jean lived the values she instilled in her family, to be considerate, compassionate and to always help others. She will be remembered for being a nurturing caregiver to her family, friends and patients. Jean enjoyed sewing, knitting, Bunco, doing puzzles and playing board games and card games with the kids.
Her loving family includes her husband of 59 years, Richard H. Pollinger, Sr., who she married at St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Hornell on Dec. 27, 1958; her six children, John Pollinger of Niskayuna, N.Y., Jennifer (Steve) Dumont of Groton, Mass., Brigid Shipman of Ithaca, Richard Jr. “Heinz” (Wendy) Pollinger of Hornell, Peter (Julie) Pollinger of Satellite Beach, Fla., and Joseph (Kelli) Pollinger of Arkport; her seven grandchildren, Nicole (Nathan) Soucy, Michael Shipman, Neil Shipman, Alex Pollinger, Alex Dumont, Sam and Ben Pollinger; her five great-grandchildren, Owen and Teddy Shipman, Dominic, Jackson and Julianna Soucy; her sister, Mary Lou Tobin of Hornell and her step-brother, Ronald Quinlan of Hornell; also her nieces and nephews.
The Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., in Hornell is honored to serve the family of Mary Jean Pollinger.
Calling hours are 3-6 p.m. Tuesday (March 20, 2018) at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell, where the Ladies of Columbus will conduct a memorial service at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. Friends are invited to meet her family at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday (March 21, 2018). Interment will be in Bath National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to Steuben County Rural Ministry, P.O. Box 61, Canisteo, N.Y. 14823. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
Online condolences or remembrances of Jean are welcomed at www.bishopandjohnsonfuneralhome.com.
