After a courageous battle with pancreatic Cancer, Genevieve (Jean) Pepe peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on June 13, 2025, at her home in Guntersville. During her brief illness, as throughout her life, Jean showed strength, grace, and an unwavering belief in her faith. Born in January 1939, in Shenandoah, PA, to Mary and Walter Glodeck, Jean held a close, personal and special bond with her mother in life and afterlife and was at ease knowing she would join her in Heaven.
Following her graduation from Shenandoah Catholic High School, Jean won a scholarship and was awarded an associate degree as a Blockley Nurse from Philadelphia General Hospital. Though a registered nurse, Jean’s passion was volunteering to care for the elderly as well as our young soldiers and families while supporting her husband Mike’s 30-year Army career.
During Mike’s time in service, he was always proud and vocal in giving Jean credit for his successes and promotion to Brigadier General, and Jean always saluted and faithfully accepted her role as the sole parent during Mike’s frequent absences in service to our Country.
It was fate that Jean and Mike met on a train from Philadelphia. Mike was enroute to meet his roommate returning to school at Penn State. Jean was traveling home for a weekend respite from school at PGH. They immediately fell in love and married for 66 years. Mike often quipped that neither of them ever took a train again.
Jean has three children, Donna, Michael, and Lori; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She will be interred at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo.
