Jean Elizabeth Onderko (nee O'Donnell) passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on March 12, 2025 at age 84 in her hometown of the last 21 years, Denver, CO. She was a whip-smart, funny, caring, incredibly strong woman who will be dearly missed by her husband of 61 years, Edward M. Onderko; her four daughters (Karen Onderko, Beth Vagle, Michele Onderko, and Patty Onderko); her seven grandchildren (Evan, Jane, and Camille Doherty; Ben and Adam Vagle; and Nathan and Theo Onderko); her daughter's partners (Bob Doherty, Wade Vagle, Paul Irby, and Emily Spilko); her brother William O'Donnell and his family; and the children of her late sister, Mary Ann Goffus.

Born in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1940, Jean graduated with honors from Duquesne University as an accounting major, alongside her soon-to-be husband, Ed. After Ed's ROTC military obligation in Fort Ritchie, MD, they settled in Bethel Park, PA with their first daughter, Karen. There, Jean co-founded an accounting firm with two other women and welcomed two more daughters, Beth and Michele.

Life soon took Jean and her family to live in Tokyo, Japan. Though she had never been out of the country before—and was terrified of raw fish—she embraced the challenge. She thrived there and even earned an MBA from Sophia University in Tokyo while pregnant with her fourth daughter, Patty.

Four years later, Jean and her family relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, followed by another four years in Hong Kong, and then to Columbus, OH—seamlessly resetting her family's life each time. After retirement, she and Ed moved to Denver, CO to be near three of their daughters and five of their grandchildren.

While she was trepidatious about that first move to Tokyo, she became a savvy and voracious traveler, visiting 85 countries with Ed and the kids.

No matter what city she was in, Jean dove into the charitable work that needed to be done. In Cleveland, she organized regular events at local nursing homes, was active in the city's chapter of Ikebana International, and served on the finance committee of her parish, St. Raphael's. In Hong Kong, she was the president of the American Women's Association, an influential  group of more than 1,700 expatriate women. She was chair of the Women's Board at the Columbus Symphony and was highly involved with the Columbus Art Museum. In Denver, she volunteered regularly at her grandkids' school, where she was affectionately known as "Grandma Jean." A lifelong avid gamer, she participated in dozens of bridge groups and spent countless hours playing cards and word games with her family.

She was most proud, though, of her daughters. She was a loving, devoted mother who gave them a life of options and cherished memories. Her memory is a blessing to all who knew her. A private committal service will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Stanley British Primary School in grandma Jean's name.