Obituary of Jeanne Babcock Carley July 10, 2025

Jeanne Babcock Carley died peacefully at home on April 2, 2025, just shy of her 95th birthday, surrounded by her loving husband and three children. She fittingly died during the season in which she was born, when daffodils bloom, birds sing, and Easter is celebrated.

Born on April 21, 1930, in Lockport, NY, Jeanne was the firstborn of Henry I and Berniece Averell Babcock. She expressed gratitude for her loving upbringing, crediting her empathy for others to her family’s care for her Aunt Lili, who had MS.

Jeanne graduated from Lockport Senior High School and The College of Wooster with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. She credited her college education and discussions on comparative religions and Bible study for being “eye opening” and developing her passion for theology and social issues, guiding her way of living and teaching others.

She met her lifelong sweetheart and husband of nearly 74 years, Harry, while Christmas caroling in Lockport, NY, in 1949. She said he “was the most wonderful thing which ever could have happened to me.” They married in 1951. Jeanne described Harry as “truly my other half”. They lived in various places, including the Midwest, Newfane, NY, Corning, NY, Dundee, NY, and Pittsford, NY.

Harry and Jeanne enjoyed traveling and spent two months living with a family in Copenhagen, Denmark early in their marriage. They took the family on a month-long cross-country train trip in 1965. The family enjoyed many camping trips with sailboat in tow. They traveled to Israel and Egypt, twice to Europe and participated in many Road Scholar trips, including taking their 2 oldest granddaughters on the Zodiac Schooner in Puget Sound.

Jeanne held several roles throughout her life, including Minister’s Assistant, Director of Christian Education, library assistant, and classroom aide. Her favorite job was working for Steuben County RSVP in Corning, NY, where she partnered senior citizens with non-profit agencies.

She showed love to her family by running a tight ship, baking the best pies and cherished Christmas cookies, creating strong traditions for birthdays and holidays and fastidiously cleaning (once using a friend’s toothbrush to clean the bathroom!) Jeanne integrated her family into a strong, loving church community at First United Methodist Church in Corning, NY, instilling values of social justice, compassion, dignity, respect, and intellectual curiosity in her children. She said her proudest achievement was “the lives and attitudes that her children are living.”

Before and after retirement, Jeanne was an active volunteer for many United Methodist and UCC churches. Her roles included serving as Chairman of the Family Life Committee, director of family week camps at Casowasco, Council on Ministries and Administrative Board and church schoolteacher. As members of Penn Yan United Methodist Church, she and Harry worked hard and succeeded at creating a welcoming statement which resulted in the church becoming an open, affirming, and welcoming congregation.

Jeanne was also involved in the AAUW and the Experiment in International Living and in the 1960’s participated in the Corning area Bi-racial committee, bringing black and white community members together in efforts to end local racial discriminatory practices.

A deep love of hers was being on the water, instilled by growing up at the family cottage on Lake Ontario. In 1967, she and Harry took the plunge and bought their own sailboat. Many grand adventures followed on Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes. They built their dream home on Seneca Lake and lived there for 23 years, enjoying being able to sail “Lollipop” from the dock in front of their house.

Jeanne and Harry were avid square dancers as members of several square dance clubs throughout their lives, loving it so much that she chose to have heart surgery at age 87 so she could “keep on dancing.” She also enjoyed gardening, gourmet dinner clubs and participation in many progressive groups. She and Harry worked hard on the successful anti-fracking campaign with the Finger Lakes Progressives. She and Harry moved to the Highlands of Pittsford in 2014 where she served on the Board of Christian Education at the United Church of Pittsford. At the Highlands, she enjoyed giving suggestions to Chef Mike (who made her special ham sauce one Easter), book study groups, gardening, the Go Green club and Mahjong.

Jeanne loved participating in book study clubs, loving philosophy and valuing the insights of authors of religious scholarship. Her faith journey led her to have “more questions than answers” and at age 90 said she was still growing and learning and becoming more progressive as she read more theologians’ perspectives.

Her advice to younger generations was to “Work for the common good. For your livelihood, do what you love though you may not be rich. Ask for help when needed, and keep active”. She wished for her grandchildren to always be learning and working for just causes.

Jeanne is survived by her loving husband, Harold (Harry) Carley, Pittsford NY; her children: Jennifer Carley, Salem OR, Stephen Carley (Debra Dudick), Beaver Dams NY and Melissa Carley Manning, Mechanicsburg PA; her grandchildren: Emilia Brasier (Tommy), Camas WA, Rachael Pechart (Stephen) of Dauphin PA and Carley Manning (Thomas Lenker), Elizabethville, PA; her great-grandchildren who brought her great joy: Aiden, Audrey, Aurora, Eden, Lucy, Alexandria and Marianna; Siblings: Carol Christie, Franklin, NC, Peggy Stenzel (Bud), Fayetteville, PA and Jim Babcock (Elaine), Concord, CA, Sister-in-law, Helen Hall, Hilliard OH. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was especially close to Diane Grimble Kowalski. She was predeceased by her parents, Henry and Bernice Babcock, sister, Linda Grimble, in-laws Paul Grimble, Ronnie Christie and nephew, Andy Stenzel.

The family expresses deep gratitude to Dr. Imran Chaudhary and staff, Nursing Assistant Samantha Ortiz, and many aides, including Nisa, Darryl, Nikki, Kathy and Carmen; end of life doula, Lauren Sample, Chaplain Andrew Schep, music therapist Kim and hospice RN, Cheryl Hosey from URMC. Per her wishes, Jeanne’s body was donated to the Anatomical Gifts Program at the University of Rochester.

A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held on May 31 at 11 AM at United Church of Pittsford, 123 S. Main St, Pittsford NY.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice in lieu of flowers.