Jean Marie Lawless Theis Obituary (1924 - 2022)

Jean Marie Lawless Theis, age 97, of Erie, peacefully passed away on Monday, May 9, 2022. She was born on October 21, 1924, in Erie, Pennsylvania, daughter of the late Joseph and Margaret Lawless. She was a proud alumni of Saint Benedict Academy. During World War II, she went to a local USO dance and met the love of her life, Jim Theis, a handsome young man from Kansas stationed with the Erie U.S. Coast Guard station. They were married and after the war settled in Harborcreek to raise their family. Jean worked for a short time at the Erie City Hall Assessment Bureau, under Mayor Charlie Barber, and occasionally at Addressograph-Multigraph. She loved being a homemaker and volunteering with many organizations over the years, including the Saint James Roman Catholic Church and Saint James School, Barber National Institute, Safe Kids Erie, the Girl Scouts and the Arc of Erie County. Jean was a loyal member of the Democratic Party since she was able to vote, serving on executive boards, being a local committeewoman and a state committeewoman, and helping to run many campaign offices. She was always encouraging, supporting, and advising candidates as they entered the political arena. She was a longtime member of the Democratic Women's Council and served on their executive board. She was named the Democratic Women's Council Woman of the Year in 2003. Jean worked on numerous campaigns over the years, always willing to support the candidates in any way she could. She stayed extremely active in the party until her passing. Her most treasured role was being a Mom, Grammy, Gigi, and Great Grammy. She was always there to give a heartfelt hug, play Crazy Eights, lend a listening ear, or be a willing partner in shenanigans. She delighted in baking sweet treats for her family, and her banana bread and sugar cookies were legendary. Jean loved her family fiercely and was so proud of everyone. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jim; her son-in-law, Dave Johns; her siblings, Jim (Dorothy), Jack (Dorothy), Pat (Ann), and Peg (Al); her extended family, Ann and Len Moriarty; and her best friends, Jim and Patty Leonard. Jean is survived by her children, Patti Johns, Jim (Judy) Theis, Becky (Kevin) Ireson, and her niece, whom she raised, Kathy (Marty) Hariri; by her grandchildren, Cindy (Dan) Fields, David (Lisa) Rose, Grant Theis, Alicia Theis, and Casey Ireson; as well as several great-grandchildren, Megan, Brandon, Michael, and Brianna Fields, and Matt and Annie Rose. Jean is also survived by her longtime political best friends, Ian Murray and Mark DiVecchio; her lifelong best friend, Vickie DeCoursey; her luncheon ladies, Terry Rotunda, Irene Smerick, and Eileen Custer; and her dear neighbor, Betty Wheeler. As she always liked to say, family and friends are the greatest gifts in life. There are so many people she would have wanted listed here if possible, but she would want everyone to know she carried you all in her heart each day. She would also say, "Now get out and vote!" Friends may call at the Dusckas Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 2607 Buffalo Rd., on Thursday from 3 to 7 pm and are invited to attend a Prayer Service there on Friday at 10:45 am followed by a Funeral Mass at St. James R.C. Church, 2635 Buffalo Road, at 11:15 am. Interment will follow at Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Barber National Institute, 100 Barber Place, Erie, PA 16507, or Benedictine Sisters of Erie, 6101 East Lake Road, Erie, PA 16511, or to the Erie County Democratic Party, P.O. Box 1184, Erie PA 16501. CLICK HERE TO PRINT THIS PAGE SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA OR EMAIL