Eugenia A. (Jean) Wagner

Eugenia (Jean) A. Wagner, age 92, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2024, in her home, surrounded by the love of family. Jean was born on May 6, 1931, in Yonkers, New York, to Vincent and Clara (Pryzgoda) Kazmierski. She married the love of her life, Robert, on July 16, 1955, and they lived in Yonkers until Robert accepted a job transfer with Otis Elevator. They packed up their six children and their household goods and headed to Bloomington, Indiana, where they remained for the rest of their lives. A professional Registered Nurse, Jean graduated from the Cochran School of Nursing of St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, NY in 1951. Throughout her career, she provided loving pediatric nursing care for thousands of children in hospitals and cared for hundreds of elderly and disabled residents in Bloomington-area nursing homes as an RN and Director of Nursing at Fountainbleau and Hospitality House. As she approached the end of her career, she served as the corporate health and safety nurse at Otis Elevator in Bloomington, retiring in 1996. Community involvement and service was central to the life of Jean. She sang in the church choir until her mid-80s at St. Paul Catholic Center, where she was a member. At St. Paul’s she organized and coordinated Spaghetti Suppers for students. Jean knitted scores of prayer shawls for the sick and elderly, hundreds of warm hats and mittens for needy children, and layettes for Hannah House. She also served the community through her volunteer work with the Society of St. Vincent DePaul, sharing help and hope with neighbors in need, aiding with necessities like food and clothing, and connecting them with financial resources for housing, rent and utility assistance. She loved music, and there were always children dancing around the living room as she played the piano. Jean also shared her beautiful voice with the community, performing with the Sweet Adelines for many years. She enjoyed her garden and loved to feed and observe the backyard songbirds. Jean was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years, Robert; her sisters Joan Pristash and Mary Ann Supliski; and her brother Carl Kazmierski. Surviving relatives include their six children: Ellen (Joe) Miles, of Manassas, VA, Nancy Smith of Nashville, IN, Brian Wagner of Indianapolis, IN, Carl (Bobbi) Wagner of Bloomington, IN, Christopher (Susan) Wagner of LeRoy, IL, and Janine Wagner of Ellettsville, IN; thirteen grandchildren: Elizabeth Tao, Kristen Carroll, and Joelle Miles; Jeremiah Smith, Jessica Huffman, Joshua Smith, and Jonah Smith; Alex Nichols and Joseph Nichols; Maggie Parayil and Charlie Wagner; and Sam Wagner and Melody Wagner; as well as twelve great grandchildren and at least a dozen other kids who called her Grandma, along with many loving nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Sunday, January 14, 2024, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Allen Funeral Home and Crematory, 4155 South Old State Road 37 in Bloomington. A Funeral Mass will be held Monday afternoon, January 15, 2024, at 3:00 pm at St. Paul Catholic Center, 1413 E. 17th Street, Bloomington. A private burial service will be held in the future. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 5151, Bloomington, IN 47407, www.svdpbloomington.org. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory have been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com

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Eugenia A. (Jean) Wagner

May 6, 1931 - January 8, 2024