Jean "Jeannie" Renee Farrington (Triantafillou)

Saginaw, Michigan

Jean “Jeannie” Renee Farrington fell asleep in the Lord at age 72 on October 18, 2024 after a five-year battle with breast cancer. She spent her final days at her home in Saginaw, Michigan in the loving care of her husband George Triantafillou, her son Nicholas Triantafillou, and her sister and best friend Mary Rose Farrington.

The firstborn daughter of Eugene and Doris Farrington (née Mariucci), Jean was born on March 18, 1952 in Iron Mountain, Michigan. Jean married George, the love of her life, at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Saginaw, Michigan in 1988. Two years later, they gave birth to their pride and joy, Nicholas, their only child.

Long before reaching her full 72 years, Jeannie had an old soul. From an early age, she cared deeply about family, tradition, church, education, food, and motherhood. Jeannie joyfully lived a life of service, always thoughtful, always kind, always willing. She particularly delighted in creating memories and opportunities for others.

In her professional life, Jean was a dedicated educator. After graduating from Kingsford High School and Western Michigan University, she spent a 38-year career as a teacher, counselor, and principal for the Carrollton, Traverse City, and Saginaw public school districts. Jean continued to hone her craft throughout her career, earning two Master's degrees from Central Michigan University. Jean spent much of her career at the Saginaw Career Complex, where she worked tirelessly to create opportunities for students. Countless students benefited from her work to accredit programs so that students received college credit for their high school work, to place students in internships and jobs with local businesses, and to fundraise so students could show off their professional skills at national competitions. She also loved training teachers.

Jeannie was equally dedicated to her family and friends. She will be remembered by every family member, from near and from far, down to the newest born great-grand-nieces and nephews, for her many holiday gatherings. She continued many traditions and created many memories, from pumpkin carving to singing around the piano or the campfire, always accompanied by a home-cooked feast and dessert spread prepared with love and joy. Jeannie's giving heart reached relatives and friends, young and old, several times a year with an individually-decorated box filled with homemade cookies, cakes, and other treats: a gift that made every recipient feel special. Jeannie's love of making people feel special only began with family and spread into her community. She touched the lives of many individuals, who may not otherwise have known there were people like her, who loved unconditionally without prejudice or fear, and who wanted to help others: to give them hope for their future, to empower them, and to make them feel special.

Above even her extended family and her work, from the moment she saw the positive pregnancy test, Jeannie’s greatest joy was being a mother. Never one to sit still or rest, she worked tirelessly to support and create memories for her husband and son, from marathon sessions together baking or building jigsaw puzzles, to cheering on the Michigan Wolverines, to planning family trips. Jeannie loved traveling with her husband and son: visiting family; criss-crossing the US to spend time at MLB stadiums, zoos, beaches, and museums; and exploring cities and countryside across Europe. She loved their family conversations, sharing their joys, their sorrows, their stressors, and their excitement. She loved their hours playing board games and three-handed cribbage. And maybe most of all, she loved group hugs with her husband and son.

Jeannie also maintained a strong faith. Although cancer and the Covid-19 pandemic often conspired to keep her participation virtual, she was an active member of the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. She regularly attended through livestreams and supported the church's community outreach with care and love.

Jeannie is survived by her husband George, her son Nicholas, her father Eugene, her brother, three sisters and their spouses, Ed and Jodie Farrington; Cynthia and Doug Caudell; Diane and Charles Newby; and Mary Rose Farrington and John Freeman; her brother- and sister-in-law Gust and Marty Triantafillou; and by many nephews, nieces, grand-nephews/nieces and great-grand-nephews/nieces. While they all miss her terribly, they take comfort knowing that she has gone to be with her loving mother Doris alongside the Lord.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Oncology and Radiation teams at Covenant and University of Michigan Medicine and to the staff of Covenant VNA Hospice for their kind and compassionate care of Jean during her five-year battle with cancer.

Visitation and viewing will be held 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at W. L. Case and Company Funeral Directors, 4480 Mackinaw Rd, Saginaw, MI 48603, where a Trisagion (Memorial) Service will take place at 7:00 p.m. Her funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 28, 2024, at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Saginaw, MI. Fr. Timothy Cook will officiate with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery. For friends and family who cannot attend in person, the funeral service will be broadcast live at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church YouTube Page.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may consider a contribution on Jean's behalf to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or Covenant VNA hospice.

Please share your condolences and memories with the family at the visitation, the service, or online at https://www.casefuneralhome.com.