Jean Bove Kabbert
April 17, 1931 - May 22, 2026
Service: Thursday, June 4, 2026, 11 am; Divine Grace Parish, St. Ferdinand Church
Jean Kabbert, beloved mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2026, at the age of 95. She joins her husband, William, and her sons, Bill and Rick.
Jean is survived by her brother, John Caton; daughters, Alice Dibble (Tim) and Cecilia Livengood (Travis); and three cherished grandchildren, Sarah, William, and Michael.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jean met her beloved husband in Denver, Colorado where they wed in 1952. The first in her family to attend higher education, Jean achieved a bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, New York and a Master’s in Education from the University of Pittsburgh.
Jean lived a life rich in creativity, compassion, and devotion to family. For many years, she was a respected educator within the Pittsburgh City School District, where she inspired generations of students through her passion for the creative arts and her belief in the power of self-expression. A visionary teacher and leader, she proudly partnered with the Pittsburgh Department of Education and Harvard University to develop the city’s first honors program curriculum, leaving a lasting impact on both students and fellow educators. Earlier in her career at Swissvale High School, she taught French, sharing her love of language and culture with warmth, grace, and enthusiasm.
She was known not only for her creativity and dedication, but for her remarkable ability to encourage confidence, imagination, and individuality in every student she taught. Teaching was never simply a profession for Jean – it was truly her calling, and her influence extended far beyond the classroom walls.
Outside the classroom, she expressed her love most fully through family and food. A devoted and loving mother, she created a home filled with warmth, laughter, tradition, and unconditional love. An exceptional cook known especially for her Italian specialties, she believed there was no greater gift than gathering loved ones around the table. Sunday family dinners were sacred in her home — a cherished tradition filled with stories, laughter, connection, and togetherness.
Jean will be remembered for her creativity, intelligence, generosity, strength, and unwavering devotion to those she loved. Her legacy lives on not only in the classrooms she shaped and the students she inspired, but around every family table filled with love, laughter, and the traditions she held so dear. “Fare thee well. We love you more than words can tell.”
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Ferdinand Church, 2535 Rochester Road, Cranberry Township, PA on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 11:00 am. A reception will immediately follow at the parish’s Oldenski Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota.
