Jeanette M. Hart

Jeanette Marie Hart passed away peacefully on April 30th, 2024, at the age of 78. Born in St Louis, MO in 1945 to Paul and Melissa Wilkerson, Jeanette was the youngest of four daughters. Jeanette's imagination and determination were evident throughout her life, whether she was building her own private room in the basement as a child, singing in the St. Louis Children's Choir and acquiring a piano to further her musical dreams, working and excelling as a nurse, or calling City Hall about the state of sidewalks for pedestrians and wheelchair users. Her drive and focus were only outweighed by her caring for other people. After completing elementary and middle school at St Matthew's Lutheran in Walnut Park, she went on to Lutheran Central High School followed by Lutheran School of Nursing where she graduated in 1966. Jeanette loved being a Lutheran, embracing good works in service and gratitude to God. Jeanette was a nurse to her very last day, advocating for the proper and compassionate care of others. While she was in nursing school, she met William Hart on a blind date. They eventually married, moved to New Baden, IL and had three children. While living in New Baden, Jeanette was a nurse at Clinton Manor, where she eventually became director of nursing. She was also a volunteer school nurse, a den mother for Boy Scouts, a Girl Scout leader, and an active member in the community. She loved music and lived for shows at the Muny, the opera, and the symphony. Jeanette's house was known as a place where neighbors could gather, have fun, get medical advice, or borrow a cup of flour. She was the neighbor and friend you could depend on when something was needed, even if it was just a hug. Especially for a hug, actually. She was also extremely active at church. At St. Martin of Tours Lutheran Church in Mascoutah, IL, she was a member of the Ladies’ Guild, active on the church board, and generally helped out wherever needed. When she eventually moved to Florissant, MO to a wheelchair accessible house and to be closer to her sister, she had no problem making more friends and becoming very active with her new church family at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Hazelwood. Jeanette will be remembered as a true lifelong friend, trusted colleague, beloved aunt, mother, and sister. Her family is honored and humbled at the number of friends from childhood, nursing, and neighborhood life that have reached out with messages of support and love during her final years battling health issues - you helped her smile. She is preceded in death by her parents Paul and Melissa Wilkerson and her sisters Eleanor Wilkerson and Marcella Folkers. She is survived by her sister Kathleen Rees, her former husband William Hart, her children Denise Hart (Ellen Fishbach), James Hart (Amy), Kevin Hart, and grandchildren William, Colin, Liam, Jack, and Max. A Celebration of Life followed by lunch will be held at 12:00 p.m. on May 19, 2024 at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Hazelwood. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either her home church Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd or the Mayo Clinic Foundation, which helped to partially fund the surgeries she received there.

Jeanette M. Hart

August 26, 1945 - April 30, 2024