Jean Lorraine (Mellema) Caraccilo, 75, passed away December 24, 2025 after a courageous battle with glioblastoma, family and friends at her side. Jean was born in Syracuse in August 1950. She spent her early life in Jordan, NY before moving to Syracuse. She graduated from Westhill High School and later attended Cazenovia College. Jean was administrative assistant to four deans at the then School of Information Studies at Syracuse University. She volunteered at Geneva Hayden’s after school program for years and found her true calling as a teaching assistant at Van Duyn Elementary. Jean taught there for 19 years and was much-loved by her many students.She loved reading and gardening and the annual trips to the coast of Maine. She had a talent for setting artfully arranged tables filled with color and charm while entertaining and cooking for friends and family. Jean also loved SU Basketball and a well-balanced, hoppy IPA.

Jean is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Steve Caraccilo, her sisters, Barbara Mellema and Kim Mellema (Robert Reid), her sister-in-law Ann Mellema, her nieces Sarah (Brett) Barker and Sam (Aleks Jarosz) Mellema, brothers-in-law Fran (Gail) and Kevin (Kitty) Caraccilo, sisters-in-law Karen Rose (Lenny), Linda Zambanini (John), Marcia O’Donnell (Mike), Mary Caraccilo-Murphy (Brian) and Louise Macri (Tom) and her many cousins, especially Kate Egling and many other nieces and nephews and great nieces. Jean was predeceased by her parents Raymond L. and Barbara J. Mellema, and her brother Ray D. Mellema, her brother in law Clayton Williams.

As was Jean’s request, there will be no service. A celebration of life is planned for a future date.

It would honor Jean's memory if you make a donation to the American Brain Tumor Association or the National Brain Tumor Society, or any cancer-research program of one’s choosing.

Jean loved heartfelt writing that touched deeply and shares this poem:

"Be still, my soul, and steadfast.

Earth and Heaven both are still watching

though time is draining from the clock

and your walk, that was confident and quick,

has become slow.

So, be slow if you must, but let

the heart still play its true part.

Love still as once you loved, deeply

and without patience, Let God and the world

know you are grateful.

That the gift has been given." --Mary Olive