Obituary of Jean Malach
Malach, Jean Elizabeth
August 4, 1924 - October 31, 2022
Jean passed away peacefully on October 31, 2022 at Kingston Health Sciences Centre surrounded by her loving family. Jean is the beloved mother to Peter John, Daniel Robert and Ann Elizabeth (Kathryn Kilpatrick). She will be missed by her family, her brother Fred Foster, many loving nieces and nephews including Mary Lou and Barry Frankcom and Nancy Dupuis. She was pre-deceased by her sister Marion Clark (nee Foster) and brother, Robert Foster.
Jean grew up in Ottawa and spoke fondly of her time at the Ontario Ladies College. She went onto Queen's where she received her BA in politics, philosophy and english.
Jean married in early 1944 to Vernon Walter Malach. They lived in London UK. after the war, where Jean typed Vern's university papers while he attended the London School of Economics. Jean and Vern moved back to Kingston Ontario with baby Peter in the late '40's. When Vern became ill, Jean returned to university and completed a Master's in Library Science at the University of Toronto. She raised her 3 children on her own, a remarkable feat for a single mother in the 1960's.
Jean's career as a reference/catalogue librarian spanned over 30 years. She worked at the Douglas Library at Queen's University, the Kingston Public Library, the Royal Military College and the National Defence College.
Jean loved the fine arts: art, ballet, theatre, film, literature and classical music. She adored opera and attended many over the years in London, France, the Met in New York and many in Toronto, Vancouver and Seattle. Every Saturday afternoon Jean listened to the Metropolitan Opera Matinee broadcast and all knew not to phone or interrupt her on Saturday! Jean was an avid reader, read the Globe and Mail daily, and successfully completed cryptic crosswords, including the New York Times, on a daily and weekly basis. Jean followed world politics closely and loved talking politics. She will be remembered for her unmatched knowledge of current events and her sharp wit and sense of humour.
Jean's other interests included golf, bird watching and in retirement, volunteering at St Mary's of the Lake Hospital where she made lifelong friends with other volunteers. Birdwatching took her to the US Eastern seaboard, England and Scotland with a beloved companion. Jean travelled to Tofino BC for the annual shore bird migration from 2003 to 2016.
Jean loved her friends at the Annandale condominium in Kingston where she resided from 1996 to 2019. Jean moved to Rosewood Retirement Residence in early 2020, where she made many new friends, including the incredible staff who cared for her deeply and professionally.
Jean loved her family and friends and will be missed by all.
Cremation has been entrusted to James Reid Funeral Home, Kingston. Memorial donations are appreciated by the family and can be made to the Kingston Field Naturalists.
