Jean Thomas Runnells ’59

Jean Thomas Runnells ’59, of Gloucester, Mass.; Sept. 3, of cancer. She pursued her love of art by continuing her education at RISD. Once married, she and her family moved to the Netherlands, where her love of landscapes and nature grew. Upon returning to Massachusetts, she began to exhibit her work. She visited New Mexico yearly, and there she became an oblate at the Benedictine Abbey. Her paintings exhibited her deep belief that the divine is present in every detail of our lives. She was a spiritual director and a facilitator of creative play workshops. As a member of Animas Valley Institute, she searched for ways to heal our planet. She is survived by her husband, Ernie; three children and their spouses; four grandchildren; and three nieces.