Jean Procyk, 92, of Princeton, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Jean was a proud, deeply rooted New Yorker. She was a woman with a sharp mind and quick tongue and would deliver the classic zinger at the perfect time of a conversation. Jean lived her life to the fullest and did not let social parameters limit her ability to do so. As such, being a woman ahead of her time, Jean was employed with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company as their first female
agent. She retired from MetLife after over 30 years of service. Knowledge and education was extremely important to Jean. Despite not having the opportunity to attend college in her youth, Jean earned her Associates Degree from Kingsborough Community College while in her 70’s.
She resided in New York City for most of her life, and had an additional residence in Bucks County, PA. She ultimately moved to Princeton to be closer to her family during her golden years. Jean was never one to have idle time on her hands, so following her retirement, she kept a busy social and philanthropic calendar to ensure she always had something to look forward to in the days ahead. She loved to play cards, especially bridge. Jean thoroughly enjoyed sharing her fondness for art and culture with her family and friends with regular outings to all of the local theaters, playhouses, and museums. As a founding member and benefactor of St. Anna’s Greek Orthodox Church in Flemington, NJ, her faith and heritage was her pride and joy. Jean also enjoyed being a volunteer Grand-Pal, reading books to kindergarten students at the Princeton Public Schools. She also loved to travel, with Greece being one of her top destinations.
Predeceased by her parents, Michael and Anna Manicatakis, her husband, Michael Procyk; her mother-in-law, Anna Procyk; her sister, Mary Manicatakis, and her nephew in law, Michael B. Zapantis. She is survived by her niece, Victoria Zapantis (Michael B. Zapantis); her great-nephew’s family, Michael J. Zapantis and Cortney T. Gray and their daughter, her great-great-niece, Olive Jean Zapantis (who bears her namesake); her great-nephew, Kristofer A. Zapantis; and her great-niece, Melanie N. Zapantis.
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at St. Anna’s Greek Orthodox Church, 85 Voorhees Corner Road, Flemington, New Jersey.
Private interment was at St. Michael’s Cemetery, East Elmhurst, NY 11370.
Visitation for family and friends was on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at A.S. Cole Son & Company, 22 North Main St., Cranbury, NJ.
Contributions may be made in Eugenia’s memory to St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church, (For donations by check, please note the memo for the Mortgage Fund), 85 Voorhees Corner Road, Flemington, NJ 08822. Donations can also be made on their website www.stannagoc.org. (For the website donations, please mark the memorial request for the Mortgage Tray.)
