Jeanne Crandall, 89, Minister, Musician, Church Founder

Jeanne (Bither) Crandall of Barrington passed away on Sunday, Dec. 8 at her home. She was 89. 

She was raised in Houlton, Maine, where she lived until enrolling in Zion Bible Institute, from which she graduated in 1945. It was at Zion that she met her husband, Dr. N. Benjamin Crandall, and together they entered Christian ministry after being married in 1945.

Together they founded Calvary Christian Church in Brooklyn, NY. The small church grew to a membership of 3,000 and relocated to Staten Island, NY, where it was renamed International Christian Center. The couple had a vision for the world and travelled extensively in Gospel ministry.

A gifted musician, Crandall chaired the music department at Zion Bible Institute, which relocated to Barrington following her husband's election as president in 1985. She assumed many other duties for the school as well.

While president, her husband also served as pastor of Zion Gospel Temple in East Providence, where she directed the choir and played piano and organ.

Crandall was the loving and devoted mother to Douglas Crandall, pastor of Zion Gospel Temple, daughter-in-law, Sandra, and the late Karen Ianelli; grandmother to Michael Crandall and Kimberly Leach; great-grandmother to Michael Jr., Jacob, Noel, Luke, and Isabella; and dear sister of Joyce Greener, Harold Bither, and the late Paul Bither.

A funeral will be held on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Zion Gospel Temple, 90 Leonard Avenue, East Providence. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 am, with a Celebration of the Life and Ministry of Jeanne Crandall beginning at 11 am. Interment will follow at Springvale Cemetery in East Providence.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Zion/Northpoint Alumni Scholarship Fund. Quinn Funeral Home is handling her arrangements.