Jean Caroline Hackett 1928-2026

Jean Caroline (Diepenbrock) Hackett passed away on Monday, June 8, 2026, at her home in La Marque, Texas at age 97.  Jean was born August 24,1928 to Homer and Hazel Diepenbrock in Topeka, Kansas. She grew up in Topeka with her parents and three siblings. In 1948, she married the love of her life, Stephen, and together they created a family with their five children. They moved to Texas in 1954 and settled in their forever home in La Marque in 1956.

Jean loved reading, traveling, playing cards, and watching sports.  She traveled often to family reunions and multiple locations throughout the world sightseeing. Jean was always surrounded with some form of literature that she wanted to read. She was a loyal local print newspaper recipient till her last day. Her love of reading nurtured the same passion in the next three generations to follow. Another of Jean’s beautiful characteristics was her determination to be of service.  She was active in the Queen of Peace parish for decades. She assisted in the religious education program, women’s guild, and annual festival.  She also volunteered her time at the local food pantry.  Her friendships deepened after Steve passed. She always had a friend to travel and spend her days with. If she wasn’t traveling with friends, she was with them at the local community theaters or in each other’s homes playing canasta. She was also the biggest sports fan. She would watch anything and everything if a game was on, with tennis and baseball being favorites.

Jean’s love of her family was immeasurable. She never forgot anyone, which you knew when you received your birthday card with the $2 included.  She grew her family’s love for each other with weekly calls. She was the conduit of all the news and happenings in our lives.  She always had a story to tell and usually a treat to go with it. Whether you wanted to know or not, she would tell you what she thought. Her heart was all encompassing, and she was supportive of all our endeavors. She will be deeply missed.

Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband Stephen; parents Homer and Hazel Diepenbrock; siblings and their spouses Doris (Glenn) St.John, Lois (William) Metzenthin, Robert (Janice) Diepenbrock; and daughter-in-law Mary Hackett.

Jean is survived by her five children; Thomas (Sharyl) Hackett, Patricia (Jerry) Wood, Dale Hackett, Marilyn (Greg) Derkowski, and Teresa (Jeff) White. Her six grandchildren; Sara (Cory) Hackett-Anderson, Abigail White, Kathryn (Andrew) Mckuzes, Adrienne (Paul Michael) Haley, Paul (Emily) Derkowski, and Lynn Derkowski. And five great-grandchildren; Riley, Luca, Antoni, Roman and Jensen.

Service will be Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Crowder Funeral Home in La Marque, Texas. Visitation will begin at 9:30 am. Funeral service follows at 10:30 with Pastor Kelley Vaughn presiding. Burial will be at Forest Park East cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking donations to be sent to your local food bank.

Jean’s final comment would probably be, “If people would only use their damn common sense.”