Barbara Jean St. Amand

Barbara Jean St. Amand

June 8, 1938 – April 20, 2024

Barbara Jean St. Amand died peacefully at her home of sixty years under the care of her family and hospice on April 20, 2024.  She was born June 8,1938 in Chandler Township, the daughter of Roscoe and Bertha Howard. 

Jean was raised, one of twelve kids, on the Howard family’s Chandler Hill Road farm.  She attended school at the one-room Chandler schoolhouse.  She graduated from Petoskey High School in 1956 and began her professional work as a bookkeeper at Bremmeyr-Bain Hardware.  One day after work, she accepted a ride home from the handsome guy who ran the movies across the street at the Hollywood Theatre in downtown Petoskey.  Their story is one of true love.  She married William “Bill” St. Amand in 1958. Together, they raised four daughters.  She was a sharp bookkeeper and valued employee of several local businesses.  Most importantly, she was the perfect wife, mother, and grandmother.  She scheduled her work hours around her girls’ school schedule, actively participating as PTA leader, room mother, girl scout troop leader, and band trip chaperone.  Bill and Jean served as officers of the Petoskey Snowmobile Club and would bring their girls to help work the Sunday morning pancake breakfasts.  She was a role model for devotion to family, kindness, and generosity.   She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, taking every opportunity to spend countless hours participating in their young lives.

Surviving in addition to her beloved husband, William, are their daughters Deborah (Mark) Manker, Diane (John) Rydecki, Dawn McIntyre, and Dotty St. Amand; granddaughter Bethany Jean (Dan) Jewett and grandsons Carl A. Carver, Brian K. Carver, J. Brock (Kim) Rydecki, and J. Bo Rydecki; great-grandchildren Aidan, Caleb, Ahliviah, Mason, Bryant, Bryson, and Archer; her brother Keith Howard and sisters Inis Harmon, Judy Smith, and Shirley Hiar; many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her brothers Roscoe Jr., Kenneth, Jack, and Dean; sisters Ruth Howard, Betty Pettis, and Garnet Knapp; sons-in-law Jesse McIntyre and Brian Carver; twin grandsons Nicholas A. and Carl J.; and nephews Kenneth Jr., Randy, Howard “Butch”, Roscoe III “Rocky”, and Patrick. 

Graveside services and burial will be held at 11 a.m. on April 26th at Greenwood Cemetery, 105 Cemetery Road, Petoskey, MI followed by a Celebration of Life ceremony and lunch at Chandler Township Hall, 7620 Chandler Hill Rd, Boyne Falls, MI.    Donations may be made to Friendship Centers of Emmet County, 1322 Anderson Rd, Petoskey MI 49770; The Dubin Center, 12685 New Brittany Blvd, Ft Myers FL 33907; or Lighthouse of SWFL, 35 W. Mariana Ave, N. Ft Myers FL 33903.