Jean Zaranko

Jean Lois Zaranko, age 99 of Riverview, Michigan passed peacefully in her sleep on December 19, 2025. She was a faithful and caring wife to her first husband, Moscow Lambert (passed in 1953) of seven years, and her second husband, Peter Zaranko (passed in 2006) of fifty-two years. 

A devoted mother to Frank (Teresa) Lambert, Tim (Pam) Lambert, Emil (Yvonne) Lambert, and Jim (Judy) Lambert. She was preceded in death by her parents Frank and Rose Ferrante, her siblings Grace, Fran, Leanore, Louise, and Peter, her daughter-in-law, Judy, and her son, Emil. She is also survived by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren whom she adored and doted over endlessly.

Jean was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 10, 1926 to a loving (and strict) Italian family. She was born “Vincenza Lois Ferranti,” but as a teenager, she changed her name to “Jean” simply because that’s what her friends and family called her. At age seventeen, she forged her birth certificate so she could become a Rosie the Riveter at the Willow Run Bomber Plant. When hired, she refused to do any other job than to rivet the wings of bomber planes. As she said, she wanted to be a “real Rosie.” However, to her disappointment, a truant officer soon found her, forcing her out of the factory. “Come back to the factory when you’re eighteen,” her boss instructed. That she did, working long hours riveting center wings of B-24s all throughout World War II.

As she waited to catch a bus one day, an older man approached her. “Can you read these letters my son has written me?” he asked. “He’s fighting in Europe, and I can’t read very well.” So she did. Then to her surprise, the man asked another question. “Would you mind writing to my son?” Nervously, after some hesitation, she agreed. Many letters later, when the war ended, Jean and her citizen soldier, Moscow, were married in 1946.

Jean soon gave birth to four rambunctious boys, living an exciting family life until one day, unexpectedly, tragedy struck. Moscow was fatally injured at the steel plant he worked at, leaving her to be a single mother. With the help of her parents, she worked tirelessly to give her little boys the best life possible. 

Recognizing her struggles (and of course, her beauty), her sister’s widower neighbor, Pete Zaranko, mustered up the courage one day to talk to her. “I need a wife,” he remarked boldly, “and your boys need a father. We’ll learn to love each other.” Taking again yet another leap of faith, Jean married Pete in 1954. And indeed, after a short amount of time, Pete was proved to be right — they did, in fact, deeply fall in love with each other.

As Jean often stressed, raising four Lambert boys with a new husband was no easy task. Nevertheless, her boys were the pride and joy of her life, giving her endless stories and happy memories she often recounted. Not to mention, her boys ended up giving her daughter-in-laws she adored, and grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren whom she loved, constantly keeping track of their accomplishments and whereabouts. 

Cooking was her life, and she was incredible at it. She showed her love through her food, making cannoli, pizzelle, biscotti, holiday soup, lasagna, stuffed cabbage, meatloaf, and so many other delicious dishes for her family, often on a weekly basis. 

Jean had a zest for life, loved to travel annually with Pete down to Texas, and carried a sassy attitude no one could curb. She was strong willed, loved people relentlessly, treasured her pet cats, and never shied away from sharing her opinions. She was smart witted, kind, enjoyed her independence, and liked chatting with friends over the phone. Jean also was an artist, fashioning porcelain dolls, figurines and whittling wood.

Most importantly, she loved the Lord. She was a faithful member of her church (the Church of Jesus Christ), a dedicated attendee of its Ladies Uplift Circle, and donated her time and money to fundraisers. At her church’s annual soup night fundraiser, Jean’s and her good friend Rose Milantoni’s soups were always the first to be eaten. She made sure to instill her love for God to her children and grandchildren.

Toward the end of her life, she was honored by the American Rosie Riveter Association, the U.S. Congress, and was flown to Washington D.C. for a celebration of the Rosies, being featured on local and national television. 

As her final days came closer, Jean was prepared to enter heaven. She was not afraid of death. In a way, she was excited for it because she knew it wasn’t the end — it was rather the start of another adventure. 

It is impossible to summarize a life so well lived by a woman so adored by those who knew her. Known as a friend, wife, mom, grandma, and “Rosie” (the Riveter), she will be missed by all who had the pleasure of being in her company.