Jeanne Blend Finton

Jeanne Blend Finton, 78, of 414 Hartz Ave., Meadville, died Sunday, January 29, 2012 at her residence surrounded by her loving family following a period of declining health.

She was born May 1, 1933 in McKeesport, a daughter of Clarence S. and Lula Dodds Blend.  She married Abe M. Finton August 18, 1956 and he survives.

Jeanne was raised in East McKeesport, was a 1951 graduate of East McKeesport High School, and attended Juniata College.

Blessed with a glorious soprano voice, she studied under Professor Ernest Lunt of Pittsburgh and at 16 years of age was the youngest singer accepted into the Pittsburgh Mendelssohn Choir.  She performed extensively as a soloist in the Pittsburgh area and upon relocating to Philadelphia after marriage was active as a church soloist.  She was accepted as a member of the Philadelphia Orchestra Chorus under the leadership of Maestro Eugene Ormandy.  By the time she was 25 years old, she had performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Maestro Ormandy, the Pittsburgh Symphony under Leopold Stokowski, and the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall under Leonard Bernstein.  Jeanne performed at Philadelphia’s Poor Richard Club as back-up singer to Dinah Shore and on stage with George Gobell.  She toured Europe with the Meadville Chorale in 1973, performing in Luxembourg, Paris, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.  She would later tour in the 1980s with the Juniata College Alumni touring choir to the British Isles, Germany, Italy, and Austria.

While living in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Jeanne was employed with leading advertising firms as an executive secretary.  Upon moving to Meadville in 1963 because of her love for Conneaut Lake, having spent her childhood summers at the lake, Jeanne became immersed in the community.  She was very active with the former Welcome Wagon Club, was an active member of the Junior Women’s Club and served as its first president.  An ardent supporter of school music, she was a founding member and first president of the Meadville Area Senior High School band boosters.  Jeanne performed in a number of Meadville City Hospital Charity Follies’ productions.

A former member of First Presbyterian Church, Meadville, she served on the board of Deacons and was active in the choir as a member and soloist as well as served as director of the church’s youth choir, all for many years.

Jeanne was a staff member of the Crawford County Retired Senior Volunteer Program for several years.  One of her greatest pleasures in recent years was in her role as a volunteer kindergarten reader at First District and West End Elementary Schools as Grandma Jeanne with her faithful Sheltie dog companion Angus.

In addition to her loving and devoted husband, Dr. Abe Finton, of 55 years, she is survived by three sons and their families, Dr. Dennis and Marci Finton of Meadville and their sons, Drew and Cole, Douglas and Mary Hannah Finton of Weirton, WV and their son, Morgan and daughter, Meghan, and Chris and Leslie Finton of Port Matilda and their daughters, Hannah and Sarah; a sister, Lu Keefer and her husband Paul, two nephews, David and Paul Keefer, a niece, Barbra Fograscher, all of Westerville, OH; and numerous extended family members.

Calling hours are today (Tuesday) from 1 to 3 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville and Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 870 Diamond Park, Meadville.  The funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Richard Elberfeld, church Pastor and the Rev. Gerald Murphy, United Methodist Clergyman, officiating.

Interment will be in Greendale Cemetery, Meadville.

Memorials may be made to the Conneaut Lake Bark Park, Inc., 12810 Foust Rd., Conneaut Lake, PA 16316 or Hospice of Crawford County, 464 Pine St., Meadville, PA 16335.

Share your memories and condolences at waidfuneralhome.net.