Jean Mary Hastie, 89, of Cazenovia, passed away peacefully Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020, at the family home with her children by her side. She was born Feb. 22, 1931, in the village of East Rochester, Monroe County, N.Y., a daughter of the late John E. Horn and Elsie Bernice Horn. Upon the passing of her parents at an early age, Jean grew up in Albany, N.Y., under the care of her Aunt Eugenia Smith.
She met her future husband Alexander Livingstone Hastie at St. Lawrence University while in the “H” Section of the registration line for Freshman Biology. Jean and Alex married on June 20, 1953 and initially made their home in Syracuse, moving to Cazenovia in 1968, where they raised their eight children.
Jean was very active in the community. She was a longtime volunteer for the St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary and served as a founding board member of the Madison County ARC as well as a James E. West Fellow and former den mother to the Boy Scouts of America; Clara Barton Society member of the American Red Cross. Jean was also the District Commissioner of the Cazenovia Pony Club, where she made many friends as she traveled with her late husband Alexander to various horse shows.
Jean loved animals. No vacation to the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida was complete without a drive-through Lion Country Safari where she enjoyed taking her grandkids to the Giraffe Feeding Exhibit, Lory Bird Aviary, Koi Fish Pond and Petting Zoo. At home in Cazenovia, bird feeders are a favorite stop for Cardinals and Blue jays. She shared her home with Buster, a pitbull rescue she called her protector; Sadie, her adored cairn terrier and Freddie, the 22-pound ragdoll cat who followed her from room to room.
Jean is survived by her eight children, Andrew (Heidi) Hastie, John (Debra) Hastie, Karen Hookway, Pat (John) Dickerson, Jean Margaret Hastie, Joan Hastie, Beth (Jeff) Silfer and James Alexander Hastie; 19 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. Jean was preceded in death by Alexander, her husband of 62 years.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at Michael E. Brown Funeral Services, 2333 Fenner Road, Cazenovia. Funeral services are private with burial in St. James Cemetery in Cazenovia. Contributions in memory of Jean Mary Hastie may be made to a charity of one’s choice. To leave a message of sympathy for the Hastie family, please visit michaelebrownfuneralservices.com.
