Genevieve "Jenny" Alfriend Bryan, 94, of White Horse Village in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2023. The daughter of John S. Alfriend and Fanny Eliza Harrison, she was born June 19, 1928, in Charles Town, West Virginia. During her childhood in that small Southern town, she was known as "Jenny Wren," a lovely, strong-willed and precocious child. She skipped a grade, completing high school at 16, undergraduate studies at Mary Washington College at 19, and a Masters in Spanish at Duke University shortly thereafter. She then worked in the international department at DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware, translating Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese into English.

On a blind date in 1953, Jenny met Jim Bryan, a chemical engineer at DuPont. They married a year later, and Jenny left DuPont to raise a family. They settled in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, and had four children—Jim, Anne, Betsy, and Mary. Jenny was a devoted mother and supremely efficient household manager. The house was always clean, the flower garden weeded, the laundry folded, and a nutritious meal on the table at 6:00 PM sharp. Every spring, she managed to find time to sew Easter dresses for her daughters. She became a gourmet cook and expert knitter, and wove enormous wall hangings on a loom Jim built for her.

The community at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church was an important part of Jenny's life. She served in various capacities there, including deacon, elder, Stephen's Minister, and co-chair of the fall fund-raiser. She formed her most cherished friendships with women in a Book Club that tackled challenging intellectual and spiritual topics, and met for over forty years. She also volunteered in the local library and with Meals-on-Wheels, and became a literacy tutor.

Jenny and Jim were excellent bridge players, often winning at duplicate. After Jim retired, they travelled the world, preferring trips that fed their love of learning. They visited 45 countries and participated in at least 20 Elderhostel programs. They enjoyed summers at their Avalon, New Jersey, shore house, and later family reunions with a multitude of grandchildren and relatives at North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Jenny was an avid reader and appreciated the niceties of language. She devoured novels, especially mysteries, and handily completed the Sunday New York Times crossword methodically from the top left to the bottom right. Much as she tried, she could not resist correcting her children's grammar. If this obituary falls short, please forgive us, Mom.

In dying, as in living, Jenny was a force of nature. The last three weeks of her life were not easy, and her strength of will was an inspiration to us, her children. She was not afraid to die, and we believed her when she said she was eager to explore the great mystery of what comes next.

Jenny was predeceased by Jim, her husband of 64 years, an infant son, Thomas, and siblings John D. Alfriend and Gertrude "Lyn" Kimbrough. She is survived by four children, Jim Bryan Jr. of Tucson, Arizona, Anne Westrick (John) of Mechanicsville, Virginia, Betsy Thurston (Sam) of Marietta, Georgia, and Mary Banchero (Jeff) of San Mateo, California; eleven grandchildren, Linda, Jane, Ted, Sam, Blair, Ben, Luke, Anna, Michael, Lena, and Amy; and three great-grandchildren, Henry, Ellie and Devan.

Please join us in celebrating the life of Jenny Bryan on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 2:00 PM at Swarthmore Presbyterian Church, 727 Harvard Avenue, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Swarthmore Presbyterian Church are welcome. Condolences may be posted at www.haganfuneralhome.com .

Arrangements provided by Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Home  15 E. 4th Street Media, PA 19063

www.haganfuneralhome . com