Jeanene Marie Desmartin

Jeanene Marie “Nene” Desmartin (Cook) passed away on February 1, 2026, in Gainesville, Florida. Jeanene was born on August 30, 1958, in Hialeah, Florida.

Jeanene grew up in and around Homestead, Davie, and Cooper City, Florida and graduated from Cooper City High School. She married her high school sweetheart Gene Desmartin in 1976.

Jeanene spent many years managing the books for the family land clearing business, raising her kids, and taking care of the many members of her immediate and extended family.

When Jeanene and Gene built their dream home, their plans had the great room as the largest room in the house, with a giant hearth at the center. This reflects the deep joy Jeanene found in spending time with her family, and in providing them with shelter, support, fellowship, and warmth. Jeanene surrounded her family with love, and was surrounded by love; those who knew her will have many cherished memories of hearing Jeanene and her nine siblings, often trying to tell the same childhood story at the same time. Anyone who spent time with Jeanene will also have considerable familiarity with John Denver’s song catalog; she was a big fan. The Christmas season was especially beloved by Jeanene, and many have sat with her, watching the Hallmark channel, and enjoyed fresh bread or Swiss Colony treats during the season. Jeanene probably kept the chicken stock industry in business with her famous holiday cooking preparations. Whatever Jeanene had, she was willing to share. She was a source of strength, support, and wisdom for many.

Jeanene was both intensely loyal and stubborn. Once she was in your corner, she was likely there for good. The effects of her care, concern, and support will continue to be felt by those she loved. It was not uncommon that Jeanene would, no matter how tough times were, hand over a gift (likely purchased during some late night shopping on the QVC channel) with no expectation of reciprocation; she simply found joy in thinking of people and providing them with things she thought they might enjoy. Often, those gifts took the form of blankets; warmth was important to Jeanene, and even when gravely ill during recent weeks, she would ask others if they were warm.

Jeanene and Gene raised their family in McAlpin, Florida. She is deeply beloved by her children Carl (Joanne), Lori (Dustin) and Sara (David), her grandchildren Kyla, Kayla, Matthew, and Abigail, her siblings Richard, Jimmy, David, Wendy, Denisa, John, Stephen, Buck, and Gerald, and her many cousins, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Jeanene is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Gene Desmartin Sr., and her father Bert Cook and her mother Phyllis Cook.

Jeanene was also a lover of animals; her most cherished pet was Bindy, a Boston terrier with a blue eye and a brown eye.

A joint memorial service for Gene & Jeanene Desmartin will be held for family and friends on Saturday, June 13, 2026, 10:00am, at Harris Funeral Home, 932 N. Ohio Avenue in Live Oak, FL.