Obituary of Jeanne Kern

Jeanne Kern, of Woodbourne, passed away on December 20, 2021.  She was 70 years old.

Jeanne was born on May 3, 1951 in Queens, NY to Eddie Pepper and Joan Fujix Pepper.  She moved up to the Catskills at age 12 with her family to the Haywire Ranch in Woodbourne, NY.  Jeanne and Gary were married for 39 years and lived at “Kerns Quarters” in the Town of Neversink. 

Jeanne was an active and energetic person who loved the outdoors.  Her reason for getting up each and every day was the love of her children and her grandkids.  They were everything to her.  Jeanne rode horses with them, snowmobiled, and went ATVing and loved every minute of her time with them all.

Jeanne worked side by side for many years with her husband, Gary, at Yits Auto Body before she pursued her own dreams and started her own horse business.  Gary and Jeanne have always been a team since the day they met.  A quote from Jeanne, “Gary, you are my partner, my love, my savior…thank you for always letting me be me and pursue my dreams and for taking care of me all of these years.  It was not easy taking care of a diabetic for 49 plus years. Most of all, thank you for being the best Dad and Papa to the kids and for never giving up on any of us.  Thank you most of all for being my Cowboy and for riding thousands of miles by my side.  We have some great horses. Snuggle with my dogs and hug my horses.  They are some sweethearts!! I will love you forever and forever, we have had a great ride with NO regrets.” “Cowgirl up!”

Jeanne lived her whole life as a Cowgirl.  Not only did she spend her life from when she could walk with a horse, but she started her own business when she turned 58 training horses and riders to ride and be with horses.  Jeanne truly lived the Cowgirl Way: honest, true, hardworking, respectful, and giving.  We can all remember Jeanne being a secret Santa and giving Christmas cards to people at Shoprite with money inside, choosing a family for Christmas and shopping to make sure they had gifts under their tree.  If someone was having a bad day at the grocery store she would give them money to go out to lunch.  Jeanne mentored many young girls and taught them to ride.  This was something Jeanne loved and took very seriously.  Jeanne’s mission was to expose anyone she met to horses.  Everyone rode Jeanne’s horses; like Jeanne, those horses were honest and kind. Jeanne had a gift with horses and just could bring out the best in them. 

Jeanne leaves behind her beloved husband, Gary Kern; her children, Travis (Diana) Hartman, Lacey Hartman (Greg Willmott), Danny Kern (Kristen Fiandra), and Matthew (Anna) Kern; her grandchildren, Andrew Hartman, Austin Hartman, Aidan Lautenschlager, Emily Lautenschlager, Andrew Fiandra, Taylor Fiandra, Betty Kern, and Elsa Kern. She was predeceased by her parents, Joan Pepper Cauthers and Edward James Pepper, her sister Suzanne Pepper Worrell, ner nephew Matthew D. Kern, and her stepfather, Herbert Cauthers.

A visitation will take place on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 from 5-8 pm at Colonial Memorial Funeral Home in Woodbourne, NY.  A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 23, 2021 at 10 am at the funeral home. Social distancing guidelines as set forth by the New York State Department of Health will be in place; masks must be worn at all times. 

Donations in Jeanne’s memory may be made to the Sullivan County SPCA, 104 Rock Hill Drive, Rock Hill, NY 12775, or to St. Jude, www.stjude.org. 

Arrangements are under the care of Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 State Route 52, Woodbourne, NY 12788. For additional information, contact the funeral home at 845-434-7363 or visit the website at www.colonialfamilyfuneralhomes.com.

VIEW LIVESTREAM SERVICE-Thursday, December 23, 2021 at 10 am