Obituary
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Iris Jean Stong

Date of Death: September 20, 2025

Date of Birth: May 30, 1939

Biography:

Jean (DeLay) Stong passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 20, 2025, in Brunswick, Maine. 
Jean was born in May 1939 in Michigan and, as a child, moved with her family to southern California. She attended La Sierria Academy, Walla Walla University and La Sierra University before graduating in 1961 from Loma Linda University with a nursing degree. In that same year, she married Fredrick Stong who was enrolled at Loma Linda University medical school. They remained married for 62 years until his passing in 2023. 
In 1969, she and Fred moved with two young sons to Washington state where their family grew with the addition of another son and daughter. In 1973, they moved their family across the country to settle in Brunswick, Maine where she helped Fred established the first ophthalmology practice at Parkview Hospital. They lived in and around Brunswick for the remainder of their lives. 
Jean worked as a public health nurse to help Fred through medical school. Later, in Maine, she worked as an obstetrics nurse. This led her to become a certified prepared childbirth instructor, and she taught many soon-to-be parents. She provided care and opened her home to babies waiting for adoption. Jean and Fred were very involved in their local church, and she helped organize and run a weekly program for mothers of preschool aged children as an outreach to the community. 
She was a lifelong lover of horses, enjoying the beauty of the Maine woods and coastline while driving or riding in Acadia National Park. She passed this love of horses to her daughter and granddaughters. She and Fred loved skiing and spent many Sundays with their family and friends on the slopes of Mt Abrams. She enjoyed watching high school basketball games at Pine Tree Academy in Freeport, Maine. 
Jean is survived by an older sister, Janice (Delay) Rogers, 4 children and their spouses, Jeff (spouse Darla), Daryl (spouse Kerry), Christopher, and Darcy (spouse Robert). She leaves behind her grandchildren, Victoria, Isaac, Alexandria, Eliza, Ethan and Elaina. She is also mourned by the many dear friends she and Fred made in their over 50 years in Maine.