Jean H. Kobman

Mary "Jean" Kobman (née Schulten) of Maineville, Ohio passed away surrounded by her family on Sunday, April 9, 2023 at the age of 91.  Beloved wife of the late Edwin "Bud" Kobman, Jr. Loving mother of Deborah Mahon (late Robert), Robert (Eileen), Jeffrey (Connie), Douglas (Becky) and Jennifer Mitchell (Philip).  Dear grandmother of Bob, Chad (Jennifer), Michael, Quinn (Sarah), Michelle (Rob), Katelyn, Meg, Logan and Griffin. Great-grandmother to nine loving children.  Cherished daughter of the late Lawrence and Sylvia (née Kassenbrock) Schulten.  Preceded in death by siblings Audrey Harris and Lawrence Schulten.  Caring aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.  Visitation will be held at St. Philip the Apostle Church, 944 E US-22, Morrow, OH 45152 on Friday, April 14, 2023 from 10 am until Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 am.

 

Mary "Jean" Schulten was born on June 6, 1931 to parents, Lawrence "Pete" and Sylvia, joining older sister Audrey. Larry was born nearly a decade later and completed the family. As they would be for the remainder of her life, her family and her faith were important parts of her identity from the beginning.

Along the way, she became known as Jean. Residing much of her life on the westside of the city, Jean attended St. William Grade School and Seton High School. She went to work after finishing high school in 1949. Around that time, she met her husband Edwin "Bud"  at a nearby corner store in Price Hill and eventually married. After their wedding at the then St. Monica Cathedral in 1953, they started a family in which children Debbie, Bob, Jeff, Doug and Jen, took center stage. Her family expanded with the marriages of her children and Bob, Eileen, Connie, Becky and Phil joined. That family grew even more when she became a grandma during the eighties as grandchildren, Bob, Chad, Michael, Quinn and Michelle, arrived. She had the pleasure of additional grandchildren joining the family when Katelyn, Meg, Logan, and Griffin were born in the 2000s, too. Her family continued to multiply and she was a proud great grandmother to 9 children as well. Jean did her best to keep up with everyone’s birthdays and accomplishments, showing up to school events, sports, and activities to support her loved ones.

In addition to enjoying time with her numerous Card Clubs, seniors groups, volunteering and her many long time friends, Jean loved to travel and have new experiences. She prioritized family and friends, visiting where they’d settled outside of Cincinnati and never missed an extended family reunion. But it didn’t stop there, taking the opportunity to visit many exciting places during her world travels through the years.

From her, we learned many life lessons. She modeled empathy and easy forgiveness. She taught independence and the importance of not taking more than you can handle, but she encouraged asking for help when you need it. She taught us about “Carol’s Rules” which meant to be flexible and how to “row your own boat” which meant you can only control yourself, not worry about what someone else‘s actions. She may have let a “don’t you want to…” slip once in a while, but she tried to let us figure out life our own way. She modeled the importance of faith and Catholicism, attending Mass and receiving the sacraments regularly. When asked about death once, she said, “You can be sad for a little while that I am not with you anymore, but be happy for me that I have hopefully met God and been reunited with those who have gone before me.” She shared, “I talk to your grandpa all the time and you can talk to me in your heart, too.”

Daughter, sister, granddaughter, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, child of God. While we may have known her in different ways, we all are better for knowing her. And though we may be sad for a time, let us be happy she is now reunited with God and a continued part of the communion of saints.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Dynamic Catholic Institute, 5081 Olympic Blvd., Erlanger, KY 41018 or to St. Philip Apostle Church, 944 US-22, Morrow, OH 45152.