Obituary of Jean Margaret Hanzl

It is with deep and abiding sadness that the husband of Jean Margaret Hanzl (nee Murphy) announces that “Jeannie” died softly, surrounded by the love of her husband John (Zeke) her son John and daughter-in-law Amy on Tuesday October 6, 2020  at 2:30 P.M. in her home on Hilton Head Island SC. 
 
Jeannie was born in Floral Park NY on March 20, 1931 to Margaret and Albert Murphy.  She attended Sewanhaka High school on Long Island where she was Captain of the “Sewanhaka Rockettes.  After graduating, she moved to New York City and worked for a number of years as a secretary for several advertizing agencies.  She met her husband-to-be Zeke by chance at the Port Authority Bus Terminal , they rode together to New Jersey and were married four years later.  They subsequently had two children, Elizabeth in 1964 and John in 1965.  
 
The Hanzls moved to northern Vermont in 1971.  They raised dairy goats, Zeke worked for the State and Jeannie became a full-time mother, cheese maker and entrepreneur…she opened a yarn shop in her home and also taught students knitting, spinning and weaving.  She then opened two yarn shops in Hardwick VT. Although their children left to begin their own lives the ties among the family grew ever stronger. Now including two grandchildren, Ben and Charlie.
 
Jeannie lived a loving, full, and interesting life.  After Beth and John entered adulthood and left home, Jeannie and Zeke sold their Craftsbury VT home and settled finally in Shelburne VT. They also travelled extensively for business and pleasure throughout Europe and England..  Jeannie and Zeke sold the Shelburne home and began travelling in their motorcoach finally buying a lot in the Hilton Head Island Motorcoach Resort and settling there.
 
Jeannie was predeceased by her parents, Margaret and Albert , her brother “Buddy” and sister, Dorothy and more recently by their daughter Beth.
 
A memorial service will be held at a later date.  Memorial donations may be sent to Hospice Care of the Low Country, PO Box 3827, 7 Plantation Park Drive, Unit 4, Bluffton, SC 29910