Meredith Jill (Dunn) Plant, 87, a lifelong resident of Wooster, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by family, on Saturday, August 22, 2026.

She was born on September 18, 1938, in Wooster to Charles W. and Rita (Rush) Dunn.

Jill married Gary Plant on January 25, 1958, and they celebrated 64 years of marriage before his passing on February 11, 2022. She was a 1956 Wooster High School graduate.

She worked in real estate for more than 50 years, starting with Donald K. “Curly” Gant and including induction into the Wayne-Holmes Realtors Hall of Fame. When her career began, Jill had just had her fifth child, the oldest 12, and when she finished just a few years ago, she was in her 80s with eight (now 10) great-grandchildren.

She loved her work, which she didn’t consider work, but she had many other interests — Jill would cook, eat and drink almost anything at least once; watched as a quiet, loyal fan at games played far and wide in all kinds of weather by her husband, children and grandchildren from 1955 to 2026; She was a crafty lefthander herself and never let ability get in the way of enjoying many years of golfing and bowling in leagues and was still on the lanes earlier this year.

Jill was a member of Wooster United Methodist Church, spent decades there singing with the church choir and ringing with the bell choir, and was an excellent piano player herself. She also volunteered as a poll worker with the Wayne County Board of Elections for more than 60 years; hosted inner city children in the 1960s with the Friendly Town program; served as a den mother and volunteered at Nick Amster Workshop; Whatever she did, from the time she was a young girl on Burbank Road all the way up to her final doctor’s visit, Jill did with a book in hand and one of the first things she acquired for all of her six children was a library card, and several even used it.

Although she was active from before sunrise until after sunset almost every day of her adult life, Jill will be remembered most by her family for her generosity to others, particularly someone in need. She was not one to give out pats on the back but was always there to provide, without question or judgment, a meal, a bed, a coat, a check or simply a place to come to for someone who had nowhere else, family or not, human or animal.

Jill is survived by daughters Sherry Lynn Johnson, Jennifer S. Monastra and Kristen Michelle Balliett (Aaron); sons Gary Michael Plant, Jeffery Andrew Plant and Timothy Mark Plant (Diane), as well as nephew Jason Plant (Kathleen) who was like another son to her; grandchildren Amber Miller (Matt), Ben Johnson, Nick Roach, Jay Plant (Lauren Guite), Gary Plant, Brandon Plant, Donald Plant (Erica), Isabel Plant, Madison Shank, Joseph Monastra, Gabriella Monastra, Nathan Monastra, Camryn Murray, and Garrison Balliett; great-grandchildren Logan Miller, Lennon Miller, Isaiah Johnson, Carter Bohanon, Xavier Plant, Enzo Plant, Timothy Talbott, Olivia Johnson, Fae Plant-Guite, Owen Plant-Guite; brother Charles W. Dunn Jr.; brothers-in-law Ronald Plant (Bev), Donald Plant, Billy Seith (Diane), Rick Plant and Larry Blankenship; sisters-in-law Dianne Kay Hopkins and Martha Jane Davis (Warren); cherished former daughter-in-law Nancy Robinson Berry; and many nieces and nephews she adored..

Jill left this world as she lived her life — on her terms, among her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, able to smile as they shared their goodbyes in anticipation of seeing her husband, parents, beloved Grandma Rush, and many friends and others who have preceded her.

In addition to her husband and parents, Jill was preceded in death by son-in-law, Geoff Monastra and sisters-in-law Virginia Freeman Dunn, Diana Plant and Janet Blankenship.

Funeral services will be held at 10 AM Friday, August 28 at St Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 527 Beall Ave., Wooster, with Fr. Steven Moran officiating. Friends will be received from 5-7 PM on Thursday, August 27 at McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Ohio’s Hospice for the comfort and care provided to both Jill and to her family, as well as hundreds of others over the years.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Wayne County Humane Society, 1161 Mechanicsburg Rd, Wooster, OH 44691.