Obituary
Geneve "Jean" Irene (Bacon) Rolli
Life-Long Boring Resident Passes Away at 92
September 27, 1931 - April 27, 2024
Jean was born to Victor & Martha (Maulding) Bacon in Portland, OR on Sept. 27, 1931, and was delivered by her uncle, Dr. Louie Maulding. She was joined by her dear sister, Gwendolyn (Gwen) in 1934. Jean attended 1st grade at Creston Grade School and then Sandy High School.
She met her husband, Robert Rolli, in 1946. He had traveled from Wisconsin to Oregon to visit a friend whom he had met in Japan while serving in the U.S. Marine Corp. during WWII. Jean saw Bob at the little Boring coffee shop during this visit and they fell in love. Bob did not return to WI, and they were married July 30, 1948. The couple was blessed with 38 years of marriage. Jean's life was shattered when Bob passed away in March 1986.
Bob and Jean had 2 children, Roberta and Richard, who gave the couple 4 grandsons. After Bob's passing 2 great grandsons and 2 great granddaughters made Jean a great grandmother. During her children's school-age years, Jean was active in PTA, room-mother and 4H. She was also active in her community as one of the 1st members of Ladies' Auxiliary of the Boring Fire Dept, where Bob was a captain in the late 1950's. Jean was a member of Boring Rebekah Lodge for over 50 years, a member of Gresham Eagles, an Elks Lodge widow member (where Bob was a 35-year member), volunteered at Sandy Historical Society and Spring Water Trailhead Park in Boring.
Jean was employed for the U.S. Postal Service in Boring, OR in 1957 and retired in 1992, and thoroughly enjoyed her 35-year career. Throughout her employment, she cherished the many friends who came into her life.
Bob and Jean built their home in Boring on Church Road in 1962 and Jean lived there until she had to move to a care facility in 2022. She loved her home, never wanting to move nor desiring to leave Boring where she had lived 85 years.
One of Jean's fondest memories was a surprise trip from Bob to Guatemala for their 25th wedding anniversary. She also experienced having to prepare for an emergency airplane landing on a short hop to Pendleton to visit Bob.
After Bob's passing, Jean was single for 20 years and following her retirement, she found a passion for tennis where she met many new friends who remained in her life even after giving up the sport in her 80's. These friends often visited her through her time in the care facilities. During her "single" years, Jean was able to travel with friends to Costa Rica, Mexico, and Canada.
During the 80's, the TV show "Real People" came to Boring to film a segment and Jean was interviewed at the post office. She told them Boring wasn't "boring" to her. Jean was also one of the people filmed during the making of the YouTube video about the history of the town of Boring. She was one of the "go to": people to be interviewed when Dan Bosserman wrote his book about Boring.
It is well known that Jean loved to dance and at a gathering with some of her friends at the Gresham Elks Club in 2005, she met Farley Flynn, who would become her companion of 18 years. She and Farley loved spending time at the coast, took trips to Hawaii and enjoyed going to Prineville Elks Club.
Jean was nominated and crowned queen of Sandy Mt. Festival in 2012. She had some very memorable times during this year in her life. Farley was her “Suds” Bear and “Suds” drove the corvette in the Mt. Days Parade. Jean met Governor Kitzhaber during the opening of the new Sandy High School. In 2019 Jean was honored to be named the 1st Bland Marshal of the Boring & Dull Days Parade —another corvette ride for Jean; this time with her great granddaughters.
Jean enjoyed many activities: tennis, dancing, playing cards, bike riding, gardening (she called it “digging in the dirt”), Blackjack, bowling and traveling. Most of all, Jean loved spending time with her dear friends and family; it was all she needed. She loved to cook for family and friends - her home was always open.
Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bob, her parents, Vic and Marti, her dear sister, Gwen and her companion, Farley, Jean is survived by her daughter, Roberta (Rolli) Jackson (Dale), her son, Richard Rolli (Wanda), grandsons, Brent Jackson (Alena), Mike Jackson, Jeff Rolli (Jessica), Troy Rolli, great grandsons, Dylan Jackson and Austin Jackson, as well as great granddaughters, Jaylee Rolli and Josie Rolli, Jean’s life will be forever cherished by her many, many friends.
Some words to describe Jean are loving, caring, giving and fun-loving. Jean had a deep faith in the Lord and even though she may have had to put her “dancing shoes” away here on earth, we bet she is still dancing in heaven and making even more friends there. It has been said about her “the party doesn’t start until Jean gets there” — she just had a zest for life and knew how to live it to the fullest.
Jean was laid to rest next to her husband, Bob, at a private interment at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery. A Celebration of Life for Jean will be held Saturday, June 8th from 3:00 - 7:00 pm at the Mt. View Golf Course, Boring, OR. Donations can be made to Mt. Hood Hospice (P.O. Box 1269, Sandy, OR) or on the Mt. Hood Hospice website in her name.