Obituary of Barbara Jean Coleman

REXVILLE: Barbara Jean Coleman, 89, of Cty. Rte. 98 passed away peacefully Sunday morning, January 21, 2024 at St. James Hospital in Hornell following a brief illness. Jean was born November 30, 1934 in Wellsville to the late Lawrence and Mary (Bieser) Ordway. On May 15, 1953 in Rexville, she married her life-long partner, Leo E. Coleman. They were married for 66 years before his passing in October of 2019. Jean was a housewife, mother and hardworking farm woman who stood by her husband taking care of the cows and calves. She loved driving the tractor bailing hay or whatever else was being done at the time. She loved to garden, planting flowers and vegetables until she could no longer do it. She was independent until the end with a little help. Jean is survived by a son, Lynn (Diane) Coleman of Rexville, two daughters, Shirley (Charles) Criss of Mt. Vista, CO. and Ruth (David) Slaght of Harrisburg, NC, a daughter-in-law Lisa Coleman of Whitesville, four wonderful grandsons, Jeremy (Sarah) Coleman, Jason (Brandy) Coleman, Justin (Alicia) Coleman and Adam (Katie) Slaght, 8 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson. She is also survived by a sister Florence Lovelady of Wellsville, brother-in-law, Kenneth Coleman of Mechanicsburg, Pa and four very special friends Dennis Whitesell, Danielle Morris-Pierce and Michael and Kitty Kirsch. In addition to her husband, Jean was predeceased by a son Leo Coleman, grandson Jared Coleman, three brothers Richard, Robert and Donald Ordway and a sister Lois Porter. The family will receive friends from 9-10 am Friday, January 26th at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rexville, where a funeral mass will take place immediately following visitation at 10:00 am. Final interment will be in St. Mary’s Churchyard Cemetery in Rexville at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions in Jean’s name may be made to the Independence Emergency Squad, c/o Dennis Graves, 1673 Graves Rd., Wellsville, NY 14895. Arrangements are in care of the H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. Funeral Home in Canisteo.