Jean Berry Klein, 91, of Newtown died peacefully in her sleep at Danbury Hospital on March 18, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born in Dallas, Texas, on September 26, 1925, to her beloved parents Florence and Frederick Berry. Her family says she went to be with her Lord and that from her birth until her death, she nourished people around her with love, faith, and her love of education.

The love of her life, Henry Robert "Bob" Klein, whom she met on the steps of the Baptist Church in South Yonkers during a church picnic and then married on February 24, 1951, while working at Standard Oil, survives her. She is also survived by her daughter, Elise Klein Pelletier of Newtown; her son and his wife, Eric and Kim Klein of Newtown; her beloved grandchildren, Nicole Pelletier of New Milford, Alexandra Pelletier of Newtown, and Christian and Casey Klein of Newtown; and the apple of her eye, her great-grandchild. Her loving brother Richard Berry predeceased her.

Mr and Mrs Klein resided in Woodside, Long Island, before they moved to Newtown, shortly after the birth of their first child in 1954.

They enjoyed many years of snow skiing in Vermont with family, friends, and colleagues. Mr and Mrs Klein also enjoyed trips to see the world, traveling in Europe when their children were teenagers and to Greece and Egypt with their close friends, as well as to Bermuda with their grandchildren on numerous occasions. Cape Cod was also one of Mrs Klein's favorite olaces, as well as the Jersey Shore where her cousins Jim and Gigi Bushnell lived and the family visited these places every summer.

Mrs Klein attended Columbia University and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Science from Danbury State College in 1965, Master of Science from Western Connecticut State University in 1970, and a Certificate of Advanced Study Education from Fairfield University in 1977.

She began her lifelong love of teaching in Southbury, moving on to Middle Gate Elementary in Newtown, and finally Sandy Hook Elementary School, when she became a statewide reading consultant. She went on to receive the New England Reading Association Special Recognition Award in 1988 and was honored by the Connecticut Reading Association for Exemplary Service in the promotion of literacy in 1999. Mrs Klein successfully participated in and completed the Houghton Mifflin Reading Conference at Notre Dame and became a Connecticut PTA Honorary Life Member in 1992. Also in 1992, Newtown Youth Services presented her with The Gail Smith Award. The Connecticut Reading Association Literacy Award was presented to her in 2001, and she, once again, received the New England Reading Association Special Recognition Award in 2003.

After 26 years of teaching, it was proclaimed that Mrs Klein "nurtured the community's children in countless learning experiences while cultivating a respect for freedom of expression." To commemorate her retirement and further celebrate the distinctive achievements of all teachers within the educational community, then-First Selectman Zita B. McMahon proclaimed the date of Jean's retirement, Friday June 12, 1992, " Educator Appreciation Day."

Mrs Klein had devoted her life to giving her all to improving the reading skills of all students and was highly respected by the Newtown Public School System, as well as statewide through her efforts as a life member of Connecticut Association for Reading Research (CARR). Her love and passion of reading made significant changes in the many children's lives she touched and will be fondly remembered for many years to come by the Newtown community.

Family, friends, and others whose lives Mrs Klein touched are invited to the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, from 4 to 7 pm on Friday, March 24, to reminisce, grieve, and support each other.

A memorial service at Newtown Congregational Church will be conducted at a later date to be announced in April.

In lieu of flowers, it was Mrs Klein's wish that contributions be made in her memory to the Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, Newtown CT 06470.