Celebrating the Life of Jean Rounds Gerace

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Jean Rounds Gerace, who left us peacefully on May 9th, 2025

Jean Louise Rounds was born August 7th, 1933 in Washington, D.C., to Samuel and Maude Rounds. When she was a young child her family moved to Henderson, N.Y., where she lived until graduating from Henderson Central School. Jean lost her oldest brother Jack to WWII, which had a profound impact on her life and family. Jean dedicated her early years to her passion for horses, spending her free time training harness racers with her mentor, Ward Nutting.

Jean left Henderson to attend college, majoring in Elementary Education at Buffalo State Teachers College in Buffalo, N.Y. While there she met and married Donald Gerace. After a brief time living in Puerto Rico, where Don was stationed in the Army, they began their teaching careers at Alfred Almond Central School in Almond, NY. They were married for 20 years, and together they had one child, Deborah Gerace.

Following a divorce, Jean moved back to Henderson, where she taught 3rd grade until retiring from teaching with 30 years of service. Jean cherished the hours spent fishing on the lake with family, visiting her parents, and caring for her beloved pets. Jean particularly enjoyed the time spent with her daughter and their horses, Penny and Pharo.

Upon retirement in 1988 Jean moved to Land O Lakes, FL, to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. She continued to substitute teach, and enjoyed working at Walmart as a greeter, but the joy of her life was being there for her daughter and grandchildren. She always made herself available to drive her grandchildren to their various activities and was their biggest supporter in everything they did.

A devoted mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, Jean is survived by her daughter Deborah Gerace, granddaughter Jessica McIntyre, grandson Jeremy Weeks and his wife Anastasia, granddaughter Maisha Reynolds and her husband Evan, great grandson Raiden Weeks, great granddaughter Lily McIntyre, and great granddaughter Alessandra Weeks, her nephew James Rounds and his wife Jane, her niece Joy Gilbo and her husband Norman, her niece JulieAnn Rico Gerace, and her nephew and Godson Joseph Rico. Jean was preceded in death by her mother Maude Rounds, father Samuel Rounds, brother John (Jack) Rounds, brother James (Jim) Rounds and his wife Sally Rounds, and her beloved niece Robin Rounds Whittemore.

We will forever remember Jean's warmth and kindness. Although Jean may no longer be with us in body, her spirit will continue to guide us and will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 16th, at Our Lady of the Rosary in Land O Lakes, where we will gather to celebrate Jean's remarkable life and bid our final farewell. There will be a viewing and visitation from 12-1, and a memorial mass at 1PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the animal charity of your choice, a cause close to Jean's heart.

Jean’s ashes will be interred in Henderson, NY, at a date to be determined.

Rest in peace, dear Jean. The warmth of your love will be with us always.