Expressing Gratitude by Investing in Magnificat's Future

Jeanne Haflinger ’69 began her adult journey with a two-year nursing degree. She worked as a nurse for a year before she happily answered the call of adventure and joined her brother, who led a group of college students to Alaska. She spent two years with the group, backpacking and cross country skiing in Alaska and visiting other Pacific Northwestern states. It was during this time that Jeanne rekindled her love for playing piano, and she bravely decided to pursue her dream to be a classical pianist.

Having a lifetime of piano lessons behind her, she studied piano at the Chautauqua Institute and then auditioned for and was accepted by the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, where she earned a Bachelor of Music. Though Jeanne described studying piano as hard work with hours of solitary practice every day, she said, “My relationship with music energizes my life and inspires creativity. It’s a lifelong passion.”

With her family’s Danish seafaring heritage and a childhood sailing on Lake Erie, Jeanne found herself drawn to the water while living in Dallas. She returned to the Pacific Northwest and embraced Seattle as her new home. She felt more at home with the fresh salty ocean air, Cascade mountains, and a community that shared her appreciation for dance and music.

Even though Jeanne found it difficult to make a living as a classical pianist, she was introduced to the world of jazz, giving her a whole new way to understand music and express herself creatively. To make ends meet while she continued to make room for music in her life, she established a new nursing career in the insurance industry.

Retired now, Jeanne divides her time between summers on the northern Oregon Coast (Cannon Beach and Gearhart by the Sea) and winters on Vashon Island near Seattle. When she is not playing piano for her own enjoyment or sailing on the Puget Sound with her brother, she is passionately dedicated to raising puppies as a volunteer with Guide Dogs for the Blind, a commitment spanning 12 years. Jeanne jokes that she does not have a single photo of herself without a dog or guide dog puppy.

“I greatly benefited from attending Magnificat High School and can think of no better way to express my gratitude than by including Magnificat in my estate planning. My experience singing in choir under Sister Dominica influenced my decision to pursue music at SMU. I learned so much under her direction and guidance! Additionally, I have wonderful memories of all the friendships I formed at Magnificat—many of which continue to be a part of my life. Including Magnificat in my estate plan is a small way of saying thank you.”

Bequests like Jeanne’s offer a simple yet impactful way to establish your philanthropic legacy. With just a sentence or two, you can make a gift from your estate to ensure that Magnificat will continue to educate young women holistically in the spirit of Mary’s Magnificat for generations to come. If you have questions, or if you have already included Magnificat in your estate plan and have not been recognized as a member of the Sr. Bernadette Vetter Legacy Society, please contact Maggie Mroz Lamb ’84 at mlamb@maghs.org or 440-331-1572, ext. 268.