Jean Aikens

Jean Aikens, 76, of York, passed away on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at the Hospice & Community Care Center of Mount Joy.

Jean was a 1964 graduate of the former William Penn Sr. High School, York. She would go on to work as a bus driver while raising a family, employed by Central York School District in the 80s and early 90s. Deciding to work for herself, she started Not Just Candy, a candy, nut and gift shop, with stands at Central and Eastern Markets in York, and at markets in Shrewsberry and Thomasville. In between careers she would go back to school, earning an associate degree in Business Administration from PSU – York Campus (1997). Jean had a warm heart and always did what she could to help others. One of the most apparent acts of love came in the form of becoming a foster parent to several young girls throughout the years.

She danced and twirled baton in her youth, and she would take up cross-stitching and sewing as time went on. Jean entered her cross-stitch work in multiple York Fair competitions, and as a talented seamstress, she would create elaborate Halloween costumes for her kids and custom outfits for family over the years. Phenomenal on a pair of roller skates, this hobby continued all her life; she actually met her late husband through a traveling roller skating group that they had both joined. She was a longtime member and past president of the Ladies Auxiliary at American Legion Post 799, Pleasureville, where she thoroughly enjoyed making a difference in the community; the Keystone Girls State Scholarship Program was especially important to her. She supported her grandchildren in all they did, attending 100s of concerts, recitals and swim meets as they grew. She was a wiz in the kitchen, and if the TV was on, it was tuned to The Cooking Channel. In recent years, she enjoyed Harry Potter and playing Bingo, as well as line dancing at Central Penn Fitness & Aquatics, Harrisburg. Though she will be missed terribly, her family is comforted in knowing that she’s with her husband, Paul, who passed just eight months ago.

Surviving Jean are her children, Nicole Hunt (Sean) of York and Marc Kepler of Pittsburgh; and grandchildren, Ashley, Megan and Katelyn. In addition, she leaves behind step-children, Susan Sederes (David) of York Haven, Jennifer Burnett (Bill) of Sicklerville, NJ, and David Aikens of Dover; six step-grandchildren; and the father of her children, Daniel Kepler of York. She was preceded in death by her husband of 18 years, Paul W. Aikens; her mother, Frances Small; and a sister, Patricia Hess.

A memorial service will be held at 2PM on Sunday, September 18, 2022 at Parthemore Funeral Home & Cremation Services, New Cumberland. A visitation will take place from 1PM until services begin in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Jean’s name to Hospice & Community Care Center, Mount Joy – 4075 Old Harrisburg Pike, Mount Joy, PA 17532.