Obituary of Jean Simeone

BURNHAM – Jean Simeone, 76, passed away at her home in Burnham on Saturday, May 28, from pancreatic cancer. Jean was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1940, the younger of two daughters of Marion Shirley Whalen and Michael Joseph Whalen. She graduated from public high school in Lawrence and from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where she studied math and physics. Jean fit several different careers between college and retirement. She first worked as a systems analyst in the Montreal area, but relocated after a few years to northern New Jersey, where she married John Simeone, Sr. and worked in New York City. In 1971, Jean embarked on a second career as an organic farmer and gardener in Burnham with her own family and family friends Rod and Pat Slater. Although Jean and John divorced in the years that followed, and Rod and Pat moved to Waterville, Jean remained on the farm, raising kids and cows and tending gardens for many years before returning to school to become a nurse. After graduating from the University of Maine at Augusta, Jean worked for nearly twenty years as an R.N. on a post-surgical floor at Mid-Maine Medical Center. But whatever career Jean was pursuing, she was always most focused on her family. From spending time with her younger cousins as a teenager, to watching her sister Anne’s five children grow up, to raising her own children, John and Tim, Jean was happiest spending time with her family and especially the children. After her own were grown, Jean was a loving great-aunt to Anne’s grandchildren and then an exceptionally devoted grandmother to Anna, Caela, Megan, and Jamie Simeone. To spend more time with her grandchildren, Jean lived for extended periods with both John’s family near Toronto, Canada and Tim’s family in Washington, D.C., until both families relocated to Burnham in 2015 to be near her. Jean remained close throughout her life to not only John and Tim, but also their wives, Lucia and Kim. As her neighbors know, Jean never lost her love of gardening. She was a familiar fixture in the rock garden in front of her house in Burnham, as well as in her vegetable garden. In recent years, she enjoyed traveling with her sister and other family members, visiting her father’s birthplace in Ireland, as well as England, France, Mexico, Alaska and much of the rest of the United States and Canada. According to Jean’s wishes, there will be no services, but there will be an informal celebration for family and friends at Jean’s home at 2 Winnecook Road in Burnham on Sunday, June 5, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Casual dress is welcome. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Pittsfield, Maine Food Pantry or the Community Christmas Project. Arrangements are under the care of Riposta Funeral Home Belfast, Me. Memories and condolences may be offered to the family at www.ripostafh.com