Tribute
MACRAE, Jean:
Party person, gym enthusiast, animal lover, generous giver and passionate supporter of her family and friends, Jean (AKA the Witch of Waikanae) climbed onto her broomstick on the evening of Wednesday 11 February 2026 and soared to the skies, just four days short of her 94th birthday (or her 49th, as she would have it).
Waving Jean goodbye is hard, especially for her children Malcolm and Rowan, partners Shell and Janet, grandchildren Tim, Sam, Grace and Ross, Emily and Rob, Alexander and Nicky, Connor and Parker, and great grandchildren Stevie, Bruce, Caspar and Ivor, but we know she was ready to take flight and experience life on the next level. She was also looking forward to linking up with many loved ones who had the audacity to make the journey before she did.
Our unending gratitude to Jean’s many dear friends, and also to the wonderful team at Arvida Waikanae Lodge, whose passion and professionalism helped Jean see that while some things were no longer possible for her, so many new things became possible with a little bit of help and a lot of empathy.
We plan to celebrate Jean’s amazing life at one of her Happy Places – Relish Café, Elizabeth Street, Waikanae – on Monday 9 March at 11:00am. If you would like to be part of that celebration, please email info@wfhome.co.nz by Friday 6th March, so Jean can fly over your place beforehand to make sure you’re behaving according to her standards.
Fly well, our darling Mum, Jean, Grandma Jean, Gratma Jen and GG. We will always love you.
One reply on “MACRAE, Jean”
We will miss your weekly visits and hearing all about your adventures. Lucy will miss you too. Thanks for all the biscuits. We’re not doing good, we’re doing well. Much love, the team at Animates, Coastlands