Jean Rene Gastfriend passed peacefully in her sleep on Friday, September 24, 2021 at her home in Montvale, NJ. Jean was the beloved daughter of Edward and Marilyn Gastfriend of Delray Beach, FL. She is lovingly remembered by her brother David Gastfriend and his wife Jody Gastfriend of Wareham, MA, and by her sister Felicia Berkowitz and her husband Alan Berkowitz of Harrisburg, PA. A devoted and proud mother, her memory lives on in the hearts of her son Jason Bronstein and his wife Lauren Bronstein of New York, NY, and daughter Jennifer Sargent and her husband Felix Sargent of San Francisco, CA. Jean was the adoring grandmother of their daughter, Eloise Sargent.
 
Jean attended Solomon Schechter Day School of Philadelphia and received her Undergrad and Master’s degree from Temple University. She loved teaching and served on the faculties of the English Departments at Bergen County Community College and Eastwick College. She was a committed member of Shaarei Israel of Suffern, NJ, and attended services at the Chabad Jewish Center of Suffern, NJ. She was a joyful voice in the Zamir Chorale and a devoted participant in Hadassah. She enjoyed poetry, travel, organizing friends to hike the trails of the New Jersey Palisades, and practicing and teaching yoga, completing the teacher training program of the Integral Yoga Academy. A perennial optimist, Jean never dwelled on her illness, looking forward without complaint, and instead greeting every day as an opportunity to enjoy friends, family, and the outdoors.
 
Funeral services were conducted at Beth Israel Memorial Chapel, Boynton Beach, FL and Interment at Eternal Light Memorial Gardens, Boynton Beach FL. Donations in Jean’s name can be made to the American Cancer Society or Chisuk Emuna.