On Saturday, July 25, 2015 Jeannette Cantwell Chandler died at home one year after being diagnosed with ALS. She was 77 at the time of her death.
A native of Washington, D.C., Jeannie attended Notre Dame High School and Trinity College. She later received her M.A.I., the highest designation in real estate appraisal, and started a successful residential and commercial appraisal firm, Benchmark Appraisal Group, which she sold to Mercantile Mortgage Corporation. For over 20 years, beginning in the late 1960’s, her love for dogs led to an avocation as a Professional Handler, breeding and showing Dobermans and raising numerous champions during her successful career.
Jeannie is survived by her loving husband of 36 years, H.F. Chandler, and by her three children with her first husband, C. Michael Hendricks: Michael Francis Hendricks (Linda); Robert Carroll Hendricks (Angela); and Laura Jean Joyce (John). She is also survived by her two stepchildren, Geoffrey Allen Chandler (Connie) and Christopher Hart Chandler (Tracie) and by 12 grandchildren: Allison and Kristin Hendricks; Christopher, Timothy and Benjamin Joyce; Alex, Amanda and Adam Chandler; Christopher, Gabe and Samuel Chandler; and David Hendricks. She is survived by two sisters, Kathleen Aymard (Louis) and Elizabeth LoCascio (Joseph) and numerous other family members. She was predeceased by her parents, John “Jack” and Jeannette Cantwell; her sister, Mary Cantwell Haller; and her brother, John Cantwell.
A gifted artist, Jeannie completed all ten levels of the complex and challenging coursework in the rare art of Japanese Embroidery. Her exquisite gold-work and Japanese Embroidery pieces have won awards and her work has been displayed at the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Jeannie was also a Master Gardener. Her love for plants and flowers brought beauty to the extensive gardens at the waterfront home she and her husband shared in St. Inigoes, as well as to the Statehouse at Historic St. Mary’s City at Christmas, and to St. Cecelia’s parish in St. Mary’s City, where she celebrated her strong faith through her gift for gardening, beautifying the grounds and church on holidays and throughout the year.
From 1996 to 2007, Jeannie served as the President of the Historic St. Mary’s City Foundation, where she was instrumental in developing and leading the fundraising efforts for the reconstruction of the first Catholic Chapel in the English Colonies. She worked with archaeological experts, local, State and Federal officials, and numerous others to plan and execute the building of the Chapel, which was dedicated in a ceremony in 2009. An ancestor, Marmaduke Semmes, was one of the original settlers of St. Mary’s City and was buried on the Chapel grounds in the early 17th century, which gave the project special meaning. In honor of her efforts on behalf of historic preservation and Historic St. Mary’s City, she was awarded the prestigious Cross-Bottony Award in 2007.
The family will receive visitors at Brinsfield Funeral Home at 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, August 2nd and from 10-12:00 p.m. on Monday, August 3rd. A Funeral Mass will follow at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, August 3rd at St. Cecelia’s Parish at 47950 Mattapany Road, St. Mary’s City. A brief graveside service, at the Trinity Church River Gardens Columbarium on the grounds of Historic St. Mary’s City/St. Mary’s College, will immediately follow the Funeral Mass.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy (SMCFA), at 23918 Mervell Dean Road, Hollywood, MD 20636.
Condolences may be made to www.brinsfieldfuneral.com
Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
LIFE CELEBRATION VISITATION
Sunday August 2, 2015, 3:00pm – 5:00pm at Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel
LIFE CELEBRATION VISITATION
Monday August 3, 2015, 10:00am – 12:00pm at Brinsfield Funeral Home Chapel
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Monday August 3, 2015, 12:30pm at St. Cecilia’s Parish
INTERMENT
Monday August 3, 2015 at Trinity Church River Gardens Columbarium