Jean Ann Ward died peacefully at her home in Edgartown on Jan. 8 following a long illness. She was 68. An Island native, Jean was the first daughter of Manuel F. and Hilda M. Correllus. Jean was born in Oak Bluffs and raised on the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest, which was named after her father.

She had an interest in fashion and retail which lead her to working at Robin Hood’s Barn and Lilly Pulitzer prior to owning her own store, Great Harbor Fashions on North Water Street in Edgartown. After closing her store in the mid 1980s, she was the secretary for Gazaille & Ward, Inc., the construction business her husband established and continues to operate with his son in law. Jean was a loyal member of the nonprofit organization, the Edgartown Mother’s Club, as well as instrumental in raising funds, along with her husband, Red, for the original Edgartown Boys’ Club and the existing Martha’s Vineyard Boys’ and Girls’ Club.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Her greatest joys were raising her children and being part of her grandchildren’s lives. Jean looked forward to spending winters down in their Florida home with Red but always cherished coming back to the Vineyard once the weather was warm. She loved to travel and shared many happy memories of card playing, yahtzee and just about any board game with her friends and family. She was an avid New York Yankees fan and enjoyed watching sporting events.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 51 years, Robert (Red) Ward, and by her children, Robin Koska, Bonnie Pierce and her husband Tom, and Kevin Ward and his wife Elizabeth. She had six grandchildren: Amanda, Ryan, Taylor, Hayley, Zachary and Brooke. She is also survived by her brother William Correllus, and her sister, Judith Strimel and husband George. She was predeceased by her brother Richard Correllus and parents, Manuel and Hilda Correllus.

Visiting hours will be in the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs on Sunday, Jan. 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. A celebration of her life will be on Monday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown.

Donations may be made in her memory to the Vineyard Nursing Association, P.O. Box 399, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 or at www.cancer.org.