Jeanne Blum

Jeanne McSherry Blum, age 87, of Northport, NY, died Friday, May 31, 2013 at St. Mary's at Asbury Ridge. She was born in Washington, D.C. on December 16, 1925, a daughter of the late Eleanor Cecilia McCaffrey and Charles Fredrick Schrumpf.

Jeanne graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. She attended Pennsylvania State University and then attended George Washington University to obtain her Masters in Biology. Jeanne was a Navy Wave Officer working as a liaison for the Judge Advocates Office in Washington. She met Bernard Patrick McSherry, then an agent for the FBI at the Maryland horse races, whom she married in September 1952. After living in New York City, Jeanne and Barney moved to a remote neck of land on Long Island Sound ~ Lloyd's Neck ~ where they thrived together for over 35 years. While Barney was an Attorney, Jeanne taught at Half Hollow Hills High School and was involved in many community groups including as President of the Huntington and Lloyd Harbor Historical Society. She attended Long Island University ~ CW Post ~ where she received her Masters in Graduate Education and Counseling and then taught as a Professor until recently. Along with Department Chair Dr. Carolyn Hewson, Jeanne created the curriculum for a pioneer New York State Certification of Counseling, travelling the state to psychiatric hospitals, prisons and institutions such as West Point to implement this new program which was then used as a model for certification in other states. She would arrive with her thick red hair and flashing green eyes conveying a passion to bring a new professional standard to counseling throughout the state. Throughout her life, Jeanne inspired others by aiding them to identify and pursue their goals with concrete steps that she supported all the way. She believed all things possible with determination and always encouraged to "Never Stop Dancing".

Jeanne loved big hats, hug therapy and gathering people of all ages and backgrounds together, naturally creating a festive aura that all yearned to be a part of. Her Birthday Holly Luncheon was enjoyed by many Erie women throughout the years.

Jeanne was a woman of substance, style and class. She was a blessing to us all and a lesson to the world on how to do things right ~ how to appreciate learning ~ how to remember others ~ how to be graciously courageous. ~ how to be a loving wife, a good mother and a true friend. She will be greatly missed.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband of 37 years Bernard Patrick McSherry, her second husband, Lt. Col. Donald Rehm, whom she married in 1996 and who died in 2000, and her beloved son Bernard "Brian" P. McSherry, Jr.

Survivors include her husband Howard E. Blum of Viero Beach, Fla., whom she married in 2003, her daughter Lynn Marie McBrier and her husband Dale of Fairview, a daughter-in-law Terri McSherry Lange, and her grandchildren, Brandon and his wife Corinne, Matthew and Eleanor McBrier.

Friends may call at the Burton Westlake Funeral Home, 3801 West 26th St. (at Powell Ave.) in Erie on Monday from 4 until 7pm., at which time a prayer service will be held. Additional calling and funeral mass will be held by the M.A. Connell Funeral Home, in Huntington Station, NY. Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemetery, Lloyd Harbor, NY.

Memorials may be made to Mount St. Benedict Sisterhood, 6101 East Lake Road, Erie PA 16511. Send condolences at www.Burtonfuneralhome.com.