It is with great sadness that we lost our beloved mother and friend, Jean Clare Sandford MacKinnon Hanlon, a long-time resident of Grande Prairie, AB. She passed away peacefully on Thursday January 18, 2024 at Prairie Lake Hospice, at the age of 84 years.

Jean was born August 27, 1939 in Montreal, QC to Mary Ann Cobb Sandford O’Brien and Robert Henry Sandford.

Jean was a nurse graduate of the Grace Hospital in Ottawa in 1960, and then moved to Montreal where she met her Gerry in 1965. Jean and Gerry were married in December of 1967 and moved to Kemptville, ON before moving to Edmonton, AB in July of 1968. They moved to Grande Prairie in 1973 and Jean stayed home with her three little ones. She worked from home as a medical stenographer for doctors in the area. In 1980 Jean changed careers to be an administrative assistant at Harry Balfour School for 26 ½ years, and semi-retired in the Summer of 2006. The school was an extended family for her. However, nothing slowed her down, she kept busy as a court runner for the SGB law office from 2006-2019.

Jean was a faithful member of Christ Church Anglican. She enjoyed writing letters and maintained her friendships with letters and phone calls. She loved being outdoors and camping, always with a big campfire and a pot of tea to share with those who stopped by for a visit. She also enjoyed traveling to the United Kingdom and Europe. She had many friends near and far who were so meaningful to her and shared many stories and memories. She met James Hanlon from Scotland, and they traveled and courted each other until they were married in September 2012.

Jean leaves the legacy of a loving family and will be sadly missed by: Ian (Sarah) MacKinnon, Heather MacKinnon Brady (Steve) Brady of Vancouver, and Laura (Ron) Brown of Grande Prairie; grandchildren: Emily MacKinnon, Dorothy (Jacob) Calvert, Meagan Brown, Loretta (Steven) Moulton, Katie Brown (Michael Riske), Preston (Amy) Brown, Garett (Jessica) Brown, Travis (Abigail) Brown, and Lisa (Tyrel) Hatch; as well as 17 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She enjoyed spending time traveling and visiting with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her mother Mary Ann Elizabeth Cobb, father Robert Henry Sandford, husband Gerald John MacKinnon in 2002, second husband James Hanlon in 2022, brother Robert Harvey Sandford, sister-in-Law Rita Louise Campeau Sandford, and nephew Richard Andrew Sandford.

Jean would be described by all who knew her as a joyful, chatty friend. She enjoyed being with family and friends. She was loved by all and she will be greatly missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring.

Memorial Donations may be made to the Post-Polio unit or Children’s Unit of the Glenrose Hospital in Edmonton (https://glenrosefoundation.com/donate-now/), or the EMS Paramedics in Grande Prairie (10710 97 St. T8V 7G6).