Mary Jean Cavender

Mary Jean (Jeannie) Cavender passed away on June 7 at the age of 82. She was born in Salem, Oregon, on March 7, 1944, to Mary Edythe (Walker) and Noel Cedric Cavender. She spent her early years in Salem and Portland. In 1955 the family moved to Burlingame, CA, where she attended Mills High School.

Jeannie attended UCSB, where she was active in Chi Omega and earned her degree in sociology with a minor in speech. It was at UCSB that Jeannie met Ron Wolfe, and they were married in 1967, the year Jeannie also got her teaching credential. She taught first grade at Montecito Union School. When Jeannie and Ron welcomed their daughter and son, she became a devoted full-time mother. She was a wonderful mother, always present and supportive.

Jeannie was an active member of Assistance League of Santa Barbara and P.E.O. She was also a member of and lay pastor at Goleta Presbyterian Church, where she served for many years. A gifted liturgist, she wrote many prayers that spoke the heart of those she led in worship. The sacred Isle of Iona in Scotland held a special place in her heart, and she traveled there three times.

Family and friends were always central to Jeannie’s life. She loved spending time with her parents, who adored her, and was delighted when she became Grammy to her three granddaughters. She enjoyed friendships that reached back to her years in high school and college as well as new friends. She loved sitting with neighbors for coffee in the morning, having lunch with friends, sharing poetry with her poetry group, and yearly trips with the Five Fables, dear friends from high school.

Jeannie was a bright spirit whose faith, love, and strength touched many people. She was a devoted daughter, mother, and grandmother; a faithful friend; and a joyful servant of her Lord. She was dearly loved, and she is dearly missed.

Jeannie was preceded in death by her parents, Noel and Edythe Cavender. She is survived by her two children, Leigh Ann (Steve) Robinson and Scott Wolfe; three granddaughters, Meaghan and Juliana Robinson and Haven Lockett Wolfe; her brother, George (Patti) Cavender; two nieces, Lynne Cavender and Anne (Nathan) Anderson; and former husband Ron (Sharon) Wolfe.

A celebration of Jeannie’s life will be held Saturday, June 20, at 2:00 at Goleta Presbyterian Church, 6067 Shirrell Way.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Goleta Presbyterian Church (goletapres.org), where Jeannie served for so many years, or to P.E.O. International (peointernational.org) in support of education for women.

The family would like to thank all of Jeannie’s dear friends and church family who visited her over these last months, bringing light and joy to her days.