Jean Wendy (Ryder) Darrow

Jean Wendy Darrow (nee Ryder) was born January 1, 1945 in Huntington, NY to Marian Evelyn (Meyer) Ryder and Edwin Fulford Ryder, Jr. Jean was the 4th of 5 children, grew up in NY and RI and loved their family vacations in Maine. She played field hockey and basketball at Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, NY where she graduated in 1962.

After high school Jean attended Mary Fletcher Hospital School of Nursing in Burlington, VT where she met some of her closest life-long friends and first husband. She graduated as a Registered Nurse in August 1965. Jean began her career as a pediatric nurse at Huntington Hospital and bought her forever favorite car - a red VW Beetle convertible.

On Jan 15, 1966 she married Fredrick Morren Blackburn, Jr at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Cold Spring Harbor, NY. After Fred joined the Navy, they lived in Pensacola, FL and then Coos Bay, OR where they had their only child Wendy Anne Blackburn in 1968.

After Fred retired from the Navy, they returned to the East coast and settled in Bradford, PA to raise their daughter. Jean continued to work in Pediatrics at the Bradford Regional Medical Center until 1980 when she transferred to the Operating Room.

Jean was an accomplished baker, seamstress and knitter and made lots of clothing and crafts for herself, her daughter, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. In 1986 Jean moved back to Vermont where she met her 2nd husband Dewey B. Darrow. Jean retired in 2012 and spent a few more years in VT before moving to Maryland with her beloved Miniature Schnauzer Fritz, to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren.

Jean was predeceased by her parents, a brother Edwin Fulford Ryder III, a sister Maryann Gibson (Ryder) Fowler, nieces Lori DePew, Amy Fowler & Betsy Fowler and nephew Dean Fowler. She is survived by her ex-husbands Fred & Dewey, sister Nanci Sue (Ryder) Bellac, brother Richard Timothy Ryder, daughter Wendy Anne (Blackburn) Hembrough, son-in-law Todd Allen Hembrough, grandchildren Cecelia Jean Hembrough, Jack Frederick Hembrough, David Todd Hembrough, Scott Blackburn Hembrough and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends may gather for a memorial service on Friday, March 15, 2024 from 2pm to 4pm at the Candle Light Funeral Home, 1835 Frederick Rd. Catonsville, MD 21228.

In lieu of flowers, donations can made in her name to Gilchrist Hospice Care ( gilchrist_info@gilchristcares.org )