COOPERSTOWN – Jean Hammond, of Cooperstown, entered into eternal rest Friday night, June 26, 2026, at Woodside Hall. She was 90.
Born in September, 1935, in Rochester, Jean was
the youngest of the three daughters of her parents, Santo and
Rocco.
She attended the State University of New York at
Oswego where she first met and fell in love with her future husband. She
also took several art classes including jewelry making. It
was through those classes that she discovered her enthusiasm
and love for that art form, which turned into a lifelong passion.
On June 9, 1956, Jean married Stephen Hammond who was
also known to many as Buddy. They were an
inseparable couple that so deeply loved life, people, animals,
nature, music, etc. Together, they lived deliberately and
joyously, ever engaged and bringing smiles to the faces of everyone
they met with their humor, charm, and sincerity.
For over 60 years, Jean was an expert jeweler and
displayed her unique work in a variety of venues. She occasionally
attended craft shows alongside her adoring husband where she marketed her
jewelry and Buddy dealt in antiques and books. Jean’s unique
and beautiful jewelry was cherished by the people who purchased or
were gifted the exquisite handcrafted pieces.
Her exceptional talent was evident in all the wonderful
artwork and crafts which she created through the years such
as quilting, painting, dry flower arrangements,
calligraphy, decoupage projects, tole painting, etc.
She lovingly balanced her creativity with her
close family life.
Jean was also a longtime vendor at the
Cooperstown Farmers’ Market where she greeted everyone with kindness and
warmth.
Jean is survived by Buddy’s and her three children, Matt, Christopher
and Carol (whom she referred to as Carrie), her sister, Charlotte, granddaughter,
Thea, and numerous other relatives.
All will miss her dearly.
She was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Buddy,
who died in 2018, her father, who died in 1989, her mother, who died in
1992, a son, Stephen, who died in 2009, two grandsons, Stephen and Jimi,
a sister, Nina, who died in 2022, and their last
beloved faithful canine companion, Howard, a Newfoundland Lancier.
