Jeannette B. Buchanan

Jeannette (Jean) was born September 25, 1933 to the late George and Jeannette Beach of

Newfield, and passed peacefully on November 2, 2025 at the age of 92. After graduating from

Newfield Central School in 1951, she went to Rochester with her cousin, Sonya, to the Dental

Hygiene School at the Eastman Dental Dispensary. She often said that dental hygiene was the

only thing she ever wanted to do, and she loved her career. She worked at the Army base at

Fort Campbell in Kentucky, and then in private practice for Dr. Baldini in downtown Ithaca.

After living in Ithaca, and taking time out to raise her three children, Jean returned to full time

work at the Elmira Correctional Facility in the dental clinic. During that time, she lived in

Maplehurst Park in Horseheads, and made many friends at work and in her neighborhood. She

was very proud of her work at ECF, and shared many interesting stories with her family about

life working inside a maximum-security prison.

Having never grown up or formally worked with technology, she had a self-motivated drive to

use and understand it to keep in touch with family and friends via email. In the mid-1990s she

bought herself a WebTV, had it installed, and learned how to use it. Later her children bought

her a computer, and she took classes at Lifelong Learning, even befriending the teacher and

getting private lessons to become more proficient. She received many hours of tech support

from her favorite son-in-law, Darrell, who also taught her everything she knew about her iPad,

printing, and home network.

No matter where Jean was living, her heart was always in her home town of Newfield, and that

is where she built her retirement home. While living there she stayed involved in many ways.

She was a member of the Eastern Star in her younger years. Later she volunteered with the

Newfield Old Home Days event. She was an enthusiastic member of the Red Hats, later known

as the Ladybugs, and enjoyed attending Friday lunch with the seniors at the Fire Hall. She loved

going on day trips to plays and other venues, and made a yearly trip to the Hangar Theater

when her daughter’s family was in town.

She greatly enjoyed shopping trips, especially buying birthday and Christmas gifts for her

grandchildren. She was a chocolate lover and an excellent baker, making all of her family’s

favorites when requested. Jean was an avid crafter, making and gifting many different items

from ceramics to hand made wreaths. She was a skilled knitter, and made custom sweaters

with complicated designs when each of her grandchildren were little, and knit afghans when

they were older. In later years she loved feeding the local hummingbirds that came to her back

deck, tending her orchid plants, and using Facebook and email to keep in touch with family and

friends. She was a voracious reader, especially on the topics of faith, religion, history, and

politics. She loved playing cards, especially Old Maid with Megan and Lynne.

Jean’s faith was important to her, and she was a long-time member of the Danby Federated

Church, and later the Newfield Methodist Church where she served as a member of the prayer

chain, making calls to request prayers for fellow members in need. When she was no longer

able to get out, she made it a priority to watch services on TV, and kept up with her faith daily

by reading devotional books and magazines.

Jean’s greatest love was for her family. This extended not only to her children, grandchildren,

and great grandchild, but to their pets as well. Her grand dog Bailey always got a special

birthday card each year, and she frequently asked what Peach was up to when she called her

daughter. She cherished every phone call, card, and letter she received. Her vacations were

spent visiting her children in Virginia and California, or hosting them in her home. Jean was

fortunate to have her son, Dana, live close by and support her in innumerable ways throughout

the years. She prioritized attending as many birthdays, dance recitals, sports games,

graduations, and weddings as she could. When it was her turn to celebrate, she was thrilled to

have a surprise 80 th birthday party with all of her family in attendance. She especially loved

chatting regularly with her granddaughter Denise on the phone, and attending almost all of her

birthday parties throughout her childhood. Her daily phone calls to Lynne are greatly missed.

Jean is survived by her sons, Dana Buchanan and Mike (Jin) Buchanan, daughter Lynne (Darrell)

Cordary, grandchildren, Katie, Dennis, Michelle (Corey), Denise, Megan, and great grand-

daughter, Kinsley. Sister-in-laws, Barb Beach, and Lois Beach. Numerous nieces and nephews,

including her ever-helpful nephews, Mike and Dan Beach, and her caring and faithful nieces,

Donna Wakeman and Chris Reynolds who visited her regularly and did all the little jobs that she

could no longer do for herself. Jean was pre-deceased by her beloved younger brothers Don

Beach and Dave Beach who watched over her and helped around her house for many years.

She and Dave will be watching Lawrence Welk again this Saturday night! She will be greatly

missed by the many friends she made during life, and is now reunited with the ones who

passed before her.

In keeping with Jean’s wishes, internment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Newfield, with a

graveside service on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 11 AM, with a gathering of family and close friends to follow.

In lieu of flowers, Jean would have appreciated donations be made to the Newfield Historical

Society using the charitable donation link found on their website membership page:

http://newfieldhistoricalsociety.org/membership/

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know, dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away