Jean Flaherty Burchett
In the house where Jean and Chuck Burchett lived in West Jordan, there was a giant sycamore tree. This tree and its branches held generations of children who climbed in it, hid behind it, made swings in it, and created magical worlds in their imaginations as they gazed at the sky through the leaves. This tree, the constant for all, was unassuming, strong, and beautiful. Just like Jean.
Jean Flaherty Burchett, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, friend and devoted wife, passed away peacefully in her home on February 10, 2023, at the age of 94 years. She spent the week very selflessly preparing her family for the inevitability of her death. When she was sure we were ready, she quietly slipped out of this world to join the love of her life, Charles (Chuck) Burchett, in Heaven with all her other loved ones who have gone before. Chuck and Jean are survived by their children, Tom (Rose), Jerry (Cynthia), Ken (Veola), Jim, Dean, Annie, Jeanmarie (Hung), 16 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
Jean was a kind caretaker by nature whose warm and affectionate personality will be remembered by all. She was quietly efficient and had a competitive streak and a dry sense of humor. She loved jigsaw puzzles and Scrabble and wasn’t above peeking at the dictionary to get ahead in a game. She was incredibly strong and resilient, all the while pouring out warmth and unconditional love.
Jean was born on January 16, 1929, to John and Fern Flaherty in Boise, Idaho. She had six siblings: Nell, Margaret, Marietta, Jack, Joe, and Mikki. She spent her childhood in Boise and summers in Laurel, Nebraska with her aunt Alta and her grandparents.
In high school, she met Charles, a handsome young man who was on the basketball team. In the spirit of their shared devotion to God and the Catholic Church, Charles gave Jean a rosary on their first date. That was the beginning of their life together as dedicated members of the Catholic Church, committed to their faith, to God, and to each other.
Charles and Jean were married on April 18, 1949. Together, they raised 7 children and were married for almost 70 years until Charles passed away on March 1, 2019. They rarely fought or argued and were a model of a happily married couple- enjoying their later years in life camping and traveling in a motorhome and even working as campground hosts near Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Jean was the kind of person who would quietly be in the background, making sure that everything that needed to get done was done. She supported Chuck as he launched his career in the Air Force Reserves and later as an air traffic controller, following him as they were relocated and taking care of the children and the home with grace and strength. In her true humble and grateful way, she later said of Chuck, “We had a good life, thanks to him, he wasn’t afraid to take the risk and prayed his way through all the training and the tests.”
When their first born, Tom, was young, he had several surgeries on his hand, and somehow, she took special care of him while caring for little Jerry too. Jean had to travel across the country to Georgia to where Grandpa was stationed via train. They moved from Boise to Georgia to California with young children in tow, and later moved to Spokane, Washington and then to Salt Lake City. The strength it required for her to support Chuck’s busy career, raise all the children, take care of the home speaks to her resolve and perseverance- all powered by love for her family.
Jean was the ultimate caretaker. Her mom had severe arthritis and was confined to a wheelchair. After Jean’s mother suffered from a stroke, Jean cared for her mother even while having children of her own. Tom recalls when the stroke happened and remembers the strength that his mom showed as she had to call the ambulance, spending time at the hospital, and hosting visitors all while navigating the details and heartbreak of placing her mother in a nursing home. She was also a caretaker for her brother Joe. True to her spirit, Jean kept everything organized and running, pouring out love and care for the entire family, without expectation of recognition or praise.
Jean was a quiet hero: her son Dean remembers being about 10 years old while the family was living in West Jordan. It was winter and getting dark out, and something caught his attention in the snow. He dug out the tiny dark object which turned out to be a kitten. He took the kitten inside, and Jean warned him that it might not survive. For the next several hours, he watched her work to revive the kitten. He fetched the eye dropper and followed all of Jean’s instructions as her assistant. She warmed something on the stove and for half the night, worked to bring the little kitten back to life. Over the next several days, Jean nursed the little kitten back to life, and Dean remembers this as a true miracle.
A natural teacher, Jean helped care for many grandchildren, taught religious education (CCD) to children at her local church, and was always good at entertaining children with puzzles, games and toys. She was a natural at good parenting- she had a special basket and would walk around the house picking up items that the children left out. To get their things back, the kids had to do a chore. Today, this would be called “positive discipline”. Many of her family members followed in her footsteps and went into the field of education and/or raised children of their own.
Most of Jean’s grandchildren have memories of Grandma rocking them in the rocking chair and the soothing comfort of her rocking and soft humming. She was always the one who could offer gentle, unassuming advice about caring for children, home remedies, or just about anything else.
Always focused on gratitude and with an ever-present positive attitude, even in her last months as cancer spread through her body, she always remarked on how lucky she was to have such a loving and supportive family. When any of us commented on how strong she was, she would always say how blessed she was for her family and a good life- humbly shifting any attention from herself to all the things she had to be grateful for.
We have included a picture of Jean’s hands just after she passed, not coincidentally in the shape of a heart. Those beautiful hands, how many diapers they must have changed, dishes they’ve washed, and heads they’ve stroked. We are all so grateful to have had her hands to comfort us throughout the years. We were lucky to have the chance to return the favor in these last months with her.
To Dean and Ann, the family extends our deepest gratitude for your daily care, love and advocacy for Mom and Grandma since her diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer five months ago. We appreciate the time, work, and love that you gave to help ensure she could stay at home just as she wished. Her passing was gentle on her and on all of us because it happened in the way she wished it would be. Many other family members surrounded her in the last months, bringing food, comforting objects, and just stopping in to visit.
Cancer is always a difficult journey. In our case it was made much easier by the care and expertise of the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Huntsman at Home team. We extend our deepest gratitude.
Anyone that knew Jean Flaherty Burchett would say that she made people feel nurtured, cared for, and comforted by her. Our world was a better place because she was in it, and her kindness, compassion, and support will be remembered by all and will inspire us to be better people.
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou
Jean is survived by the following children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren:
Tom and Rose Burchett and children:
Monica Brinkerhoff (Corey Ellison) and children: Olivia and Max Brinkerhoff, stepchildren Jackson and Lucy Ellison
Matt (deceased August 13, 2018) and Heather Burchett and son, Griffin
Dom and Jill Burchett and children: Ivy, Tommy, Allison, Ruby, and Maddie
Gina and Prema Zipp and children: Nitai and Nimai
Jerry and Cynthia Burchett and children:
Sarah and Zack Gondek and children: Miles and Charlie
Mary Burchett
Laura and Jeremiah Sasala and children: Jerry, Matthew, and Noah
Emily Burchett
Ken and Veola Burchett and children:
Stephanie and Philip Schmitz and children: Samantha (Roy) and Stanton
Michele and Keith Foust and children: Gabrielle and Alexa
Brian and Emma Burchett and daughter Julia
David and Amy Burchett and children: William and Jonathan
Jim Burchett
Dean Burchett
Ann Burchett-Hilliard and daughter Hailey
Jeanmarie Burchett Gee and Hung Gee and children: Preston (Layla) Burchett, Lillian, and Sofia
A Celebration of Life for Jean will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15, at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East. Guests are encouraged to use the parking and entrance on the north side of the building. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, February 16 at 11:00 am at St. John the Baptist, 300 East 11800 South, Draper. Jean will be laid to rest at Eastlawn Memorial Hills, 4800 North 650 East, Provo, following the Mass.