Grandmother, longtime Condit Elementary librarian, volunteer

Former Claremont resident Mrs. Doris Jean “Jill” Finegan died Saturday, June 29 at the age of 90.

Mrs. Finegan was born August 10, 1928 in Rochester, New York. She moved to Claremont in 1976 where she lived for 32 years before moving to Hendersonville, Tennessee to live with her son and his family.

She graduated cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Rochester. After college she moved to New York City, where she met her husband, Bob, a recent immigrant from Ireland. The newlyweds first lived in Rochester before moving to Claremont.

Mrs. Finegan became the first paid librarian at Condit Elementary School and stayed in that position for 22 years. She was also chairman of Claremont Public Library’s semi-annual book sale for five years, served on the board of Friends of the Claremont Library for six years, was an aide for the Red Cross blood pressure nurse at the Joslyn Center, a member of First Baptist Church of Claremont, the Joslyn Readers book club and the Red Hats Society. After retiring, she was an associate member of Children’s Fund volunteers at Condit.

Mrs. Finegan was preceded in death by her husband, W. Robert (Bob) Finegan; and a son, John Fitzgerald Finegan.

Survivors include her sons Bill, Mark and Roy Finegan; brother Ed Geier and his wife Shirley; brother Jack Geier; grandchildren Adam, Ryan, Jennifer and Liam; and stepgrandchildren Victor III, Andrew, Desiree and Julian Diaz.

There will be a service and reception in her honor at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 11 at Claremont Baptist Church, 472 N. Mountain Ave., Claremont.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Braille Institute of America at brailleinstitute.org, or by check to 741 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029.

To post tributes and share memories, friends and family are invited to visit the online obituary at hendersonvillefh.com.