Obituary for Jean Weinert Warner
On September 15, 2023, Jean W. Warner, 92, of Drexel Hill, PA, passed away peacefully at home with all 4 sons, 2 dogs and granddaughter by her side. Jean married Richard Yost in 1953 and son Donald A. Yost was born in 1957. Remarried in 1966, Jean had three boys with husband Charles Gordon Warner, sons Bruce, Chris and David.
Jean was not only a great mom to 4 boys, but an entrepreneur, starting Hair Care Services in 1982, providing a network of hairdressers into hospitals and nursing homes and she grew the business to 60 hospitals and rehab facilities in Southeastern Pennsylvania in just 3 years. Jean ran Hair Care Services until age 90, just 2 years ago. In 1988, she attended the first annual SBA Women’s Business Summit in Washington to discuss the challenges uniquely faced by women starting businesses.
Jean was a Drexel University grad, and even before Hair Care Services, worked in a variety of interesting jobs, including selling for Rittenhouse Medical Bookstore from a bookmobile up and down the East Coast, working at the N.W. Ayer ad agency, and years later at Nise Productions recording studio in Camden where she resumed practicing her skills in advertising. She taught arts and crafts and speed reading on numerous cruise ships all over the Caribbean, including two voyages on the Queen Elizabeth 2 to England. From her time in the Caribbean in the 1970’s, she returned with a love of Reggae and Salsa music, foreshadowing its emerging influence on popular music.
Jean’s keen intellect, which continued until her death, drove all of her pursuits and interests. Her eclectic love of music ranged from classical music, with a special focus on piano and pipe organ, to disco, pop, and even rock and roll. For many years, she was a season ticket holder for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Her knowledge of literature, poetry, and the creative arts informed and inspired her children and grandchildren. An avid letter writer, her writing expanded in the 21st century to include lengthy emails and texts scrolling off the screen. Her knowledge and collection of paintings could create her own museum, and visiting art museums was a passion she shared with her family. In addition, Jean had been an antique dealer in Cape May since 2006. Her love of animals resulted in numerous pets and volunteering in animal welfare. Yet in contrast to all this, Jean was also a skilled fisherwomen, a talent she acquired from her father, and won the pool on charter boats more than once.
Jean had four sons Don, Bruce, Chris, David and grandchildren Holly, David, Spencer, Cole, Ethan, Stephanie and Eddie and great grandchildren Aliyah and Nylah. Visitation at 9 am followed by Services at 10am for Jean Warner on Friday September 22nd at Toppitzer Funeral Home at Arlington Cemetery, 2900 State Road, Drexel Hill, PA followed by burial services at Fernwood Cemetery, 6501 Baltimore Avenue, Lansdowne, PA.