Jacqueline Wecter Bryan of Western Springs, IL, beloved wife of the late Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) USMC Edward Ward Bryan.  Devoted mother of Francoise Lucienne Garcia and Catherine Danielle Whitford, grandmother of Matthew Burklund Eich, Melissa Anne Eich, Andrew Bryan Eich, and Michael Christopher Whitford.

Born in Nantes, Brittany, France, Jackie’s family lived in France, Syria, Algeria, and China where they experienced different languages, customs, cuisine, and the arts of Arabia and the Far East.  Jacqueline and Edward were married in Beijing, China, following the landing of the Allied Forces. After their wedding, Major Bryan received orders for Camp Lejeune, NC and was later transferred to Camp Pendleton, CA, and then Chicago.

Jacqueline provided a loving and secure home for her family where she cultivated an appreciation of France and continued to speak French at home with her daughters and friends.  She was one of the founding members of the “French Tea” — a group of women who met for conversational French.  Jackie and Eddie entertained many friends with gourmet meals and wonderful stories of their travels and life.

Jackie’s interests included gardening, tennis, bridge, mahjong, attending theater, symphony, and ballet productions in Chicago, sewing, and French tutoring.  She adored her scotties Betty, Bonnie, and Kilty, and raised three litters of puppies throughout the years.

Jackie possessed a beautiful spirit with a positive attitude, strength, generosity, intelligence, and love for her family and friends.  Memories of her life will be treasured by her daughters, grandchildren, and friends.