Jean Shuster

Jean Smith Shuster, nearly 94 years old, died peacefully on September 27th, 2018 surrounded by family at the home of her daughter and son-in law, Kim Shuster-DuBois and Rick M. DuBois in Mechanicsburg.  They had served as her loving caregivers for the previous three years and the family is grateful for their devoted service to Jean.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Shuster in 2010; her son, Stephen H. Shuster in 1980 and son-in-law, W. Michael DuBois in 1981.

Jean was the daughter of Edna C. Crawford and George Howard Smith born 8 weeks prematurely on October 9th, 1924.  She was raised on their dairy farm in Beechwoods, PA. and was the last survivor of their five children, Margie McConnell, Shirley Kornman, George, and Dallas Smith.  Jean met the love of her life, Steve Shuster  at the then, Indiana State Teacher’s College, where Jean earned a bachelor’s degree in math and chemistry.  They raised their eight children in Greensburg, PA.  Both worked for the Greensburg-Salem School District.  Jean earned her master’s degree in counseling at IUP in 1974 while raising her family. She then worked as a high school guidance counselor at GS Senior High School. There, she piloted a work-study program for 65 students who wanted to enter the workforce, finding jobs with local employers willing to sponsor them as part-time employees.  This program was credited with keeping students in school to earn their high school diploma while giving them work experience. She was also the advisor for the Black Student Affairs Club.  For many years, she was a member on the Westmoreland Youth Commission. Jean was a long-time member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where she sang in the choir, helped start a weekday pre-school program in their previous location and later served as a lay pastor, elder, deacon, Sunday school teacher and youth advisor.  After retirement, Jean frequently visited elderly church members as a lay pastor that were homebound, in local nursing homes and hospitals.

First and foremost she was a mother and educator living her life with compassion, tolerance, patience, humor, hope and optimism which impacted the lives of many.  She was always willing to reach out and help anyone in need.   She was a warrior of love and kindness and will be deeply missed by all who knew her, but especially her family.

Jean leaves behind six daughters, Lynn Shuster of  New Cumberland, Keith Papp Shuster and husband John Papp of Nokesville, VA, Jeanne Morrow and husband Fred of New Bloomfield, Lee Stiteler Shuster and husband Norman Stiteler of Northfield, MN, Kim Shuster-DuBois and husband Rick of Mechanicsburg, and Jan Shuster and husband Peter Lewis of Norvelt; one son, Jon Shuster and wife Lynnette of Cranberry Township; 25 grandchildren: Kelly Broscious (David), Joel DuBois (Kathryn), Kimberly Shaffner (Mike), Christopher Jamieson (Taylor); Michael (Ramsey), James (Anni), Kelemen (Bree), Andrew (Jenn) and Leanna (Andrew) Papp; Ian and Alyse (Liam) Morrow; Lisa Galeano (Luis), Malena (Jonathan), Gabriela (James), Peter, Alexis and Dietrich Stiteler; Emma Lambert (Austin), Michael and Jordan DuBois; Lia (Eric), Dana and Ty Edmunds; Jakob and Vaughn Shuster; 13 great-grandchildren: Wyatt and Clara Broscious, Jonas and Sloane DuBois, Connor, Elliott, Phillip, and Reagan Papp, Kaiden and Malin Papp; Pascal Saulnier, Hugo and Julian Murphy  and Christina Robledo; and 1 great-great grandchild, Braylon Uyson.  She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and her sisters-in-law, Helen S. Buydos, Helen Conjelko and Jennenne Smith.

Friends will be received on Friday, October 6th, from 3-7 p.m. at the Kepple-Graft Funeral Home at 524 North Main Street in Greensburg.  A funeral service will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Westminister Presbyterian Church at 1120 Harvey Avenue in Greensburg, with the Reverend Donna Havrisko officiating.  Interment will follow at St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg followed by a luncheon at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Jean’s church or the Greensburg Recreation Department for Shuster Field,  520 New Alexandria Road, Greensburg, PA 15601. The family wishes to thank Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, 1220 Linglestown Rd., Harrisburg, PA, 17110 for all of their wonderful care and services as well as her afternoon caregivers Terri, Yuliya, Ashley and Katie for the loving care Jean received during her illness. For online condolences and information, please visit www.kepplegraft.com.