Jeanne Kaye-Eleck
Jeanne Kaye-Eleck passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family on November 18, 2025.
Born with a creative spirit and an open heart, Jeanne devoted her life to art and the people she loved. Through her work as an art teacher in Darien she shaped generations of young artists and inspired countless students. For nearly five decades, she filled classrooms with imagination, encouragement, and the joyful messiness of making things by hand. Her students remember her not just as an art teacher, but as a guide — someone who recognized the spark in every child and helped them believe in their own ability to create something beautiful. As head of the Art Department for the district she mentored other art teachers and championed their learning and professional development. Through her work she touched many lives.
Jeanne found her truest peace outdoors. She felt most at home among trees, along quiet trails, and in the presence of horses, whose grace and strength she admired. She was a passionate advocate for animal welfare, especially equine rescue. As gentle as she was, her spirit was bold and determined when she felt compelled to take action. She often stood up in the face of injustice and fiercely advocated for what she believed in.
At home, Jeanne was a loving wife, a supportive stepmom, a proud grandparent, a tender sister, a loving aunt, and a loyal friend whose warmth made people feel seen and safe. She had a gift for adding artful touches to even the smallest moments of life.
Jeanne’s legacy lives on in the countless canvases, classrooms, and memories she leaves behind. She will be remembered for her creativity, her gentleness, her fierce compassion for animals, and the deep love she poured into her family and her community.
Honoring Jeanne’s wishes, her family will gather privately to celebrate her life in the gentle, peaceful way she preferred.
In honor of her love for horses, donations may be made to HORSE of CT (horseofct.org/donate), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
We will only need to look to the natural world to see Jeanne’s spirit continues to color the world — softly, boldly, and beautifully — just as she did.
