Jean E. Melillo

Jean E. Melillo, 88, of Geneseo, passed away on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at Hammond Henry Hospital – Long Term Care Unit, Geneseo. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory – Geneseo Chapel. Reverend Mark Graham will officiate. A memorial visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., prior to the memorial service on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been created at the Richmond Hill Theater, 600 HK Robinson Drive, PO Box 181, Geneseo, IL, 61254. Donations can be made payable to Richmond Hill Players.

Jean was born on August 27, 1933, the daughter of Charles and Urva (Morris) Hinman, in Moline, IL. Her passion was theater, beginning in junior high school. After graduating high school, she began working and raising a family, and did not return to the theater until the 1980’s, when she was invited to help with a play at Richmond Hill Theater in 1982. In 1989, she moved to California, but returned to Geneseo in 2004 where she jumped right back into theater work. Jean was an integral part of Richmond Hill Players from 2004 – 2016. She was part of approximately 60 plays, some as an actress, but mostly as a costumer and set designer. She also was a member of the Board of Directors for the Richmond Hill Players.

Jean loved cats and volunteered at the Henry County Humane Society – Geneseo. She was an avid reader and liked collecting antique oriental artwork. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir during Sunday services.

Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Tami (Kevin) O’Neil, Santa Rosa, CA, Brian (Jean) Berry, Geneseo, IL, and Tracey Harvey, Danville, CA; grandchildren, Jason McGowen, Covington, IN, Trisha (Jason) Switzer, Williamsport, IN, Jessica (Jose) Urquiza, Geneseo, IL, Jennifer Berry, Geneseo, IL, Rachel Harvey, Browns Valley, CA, Bailey O’Neil, Santa Rosa, CA, Daniel (Allie) Harvey, Reno, NV, and Grace O’Neil, Santa Rosa, CA; nine great-grandchildren; sisters, Sandra Griffith, Colona, IL, and Cheryl Schroeder, Cascade, CO.

She was preceded by her parents, Charles and Urva Hinman, of Rock Island.