Jean Isabel Gooden nee Harlock
09/09/1932 - 06/11/2025
Died suddenly at Cotswold Care Home in Stroud at the age of 93.
A keen dancer and performer in her youth in Cuffley and a member of the Wood Green Operatic Society, Jean left school at 14 and began working for Associated Newspapers on the Daily Mail in London and later in Manchester.  She was the youngest Advertising Manager in Fleet Street in the 1950's and the first woman to hold that post.  She met Peter in 1956 when she was moved back to London and they were married in 1958, moving from Cheapside on the edge of Windsor Great Park to Ascot after having Belinda in 1963.  Michael followed in 1964.  Jean returned to work for the Bracknell News and then the Reading Newspaper Group before retiring in her early 50's to move to Holt in Norfolk, where she and Peter threw themselves into the birding world and Jean gained a huge circle of new friends, including the infamous Sodits.  They proudly enjoyed their grandchildren, Isobel, Gabriella, Archie and Karem, and loved having them to stay every summer, and in recent years Jean became a great-grandmother to Ruby and Dexter.  Peter's health sadly continued to decline and he died in 2014.  Jean continued to live in Holt until Covid hit the nation in March 2020.  She moved to live in Gloucestershire with Belinda and Andrew until earlier this year, slowly having her memories stolen by Alzheimer's. Mike visited very recently with Sue, Peter's god-daughter, and had a happy final time with her.  Jean's release was unexpected and both merciful and quick. Everyone always talks about Jean's beautiful smile. She was a gentle, kind and caring friend, with a strong christian faith, and brought up a loving family who were very proud of her.  She had an amazing capacity to connect with people and Peter adored her -
He kissed her
good morning
like she was
the reason
the sun decided
to shine.
Alfa Holden