Jean Kindstedt

Jean Elizabeth (Owens) Kindstedt, 75, of Rye, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully on Jan. 10, 2026, at Spring Village in Dover, New Hampshire, after several years living with dementia.

Born on Sept. 21, 1950, in Phoenix, Jean was the youngest child of Melvin and Agnes “Beth” Owens (Krhut). She had two older brothers, Gary and Richard. She graduated from Palm Springs High School and went to the College of the Desert in Palm Springs, California. As a young woman, she moved to Wheaton, Illinois, where she met her husband, Carl Edward Kindstedt. The two were married on Aug. 23, 1975. They had two sons, Jason Edward and Christopher Michael. After living in Illinois, they spent time living in Hopkinton as well as Derry, New Hampshire, and Kingston, New York, before moving to Rye, New Hampshire, where she lived for over 35 years.

While in Rye, she enjoyed her time as a school bus driver, substitute teacher and paraprofessional at Cooperative Middle School in Stratham. In 2006, she earned her degree in sign language interpretation from Northern Essex Community College and enjoyed providing sign language interpretation for church services and schools.

She was a strong woman of faith and an active member of Bethany Church in Greenland and Kittery. She also was part of the Durham Evangelical Church community for many years. She enjoyed many years helping with church youth group programs and left a lasting impact on many lives. She will be remembered by many for her delicious pumpkin bread and cards of encouragement.

She is survived by her husband, Carl, and two sons, Jason (Susan) of Rye, New Hampshire, and his children Amy, Thatcher and Hunter; and Christopher (Laura) of Jefferson, Massachusetts, and his sons, Tucker and Cody. Her parents and brothers predeceased her.

Family and friends will gather for a service of remembrance on Feb. 20, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Bethany Church, 500 Breakfast Hill Road, Greenland, New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jean’s memory to Make-A-Wish New Hampshire (wish.org/nh).

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