JEANNE F. (GERRIOR) MARTIN

JEANNE F. (GERRIOR) MARTIN – a longtime resident of Woburn, died peacefully, October 23^rd, with her family by her side, at the age of ninety-four. Beloved wife of the late Richard A. Martin. Devoted mother of Kathleen Lane, her husband Scott of Alabama, Jeanmarie Rogers, her husband William of Pennsylvania, Richard Martin Jr. of California, and the late Michelle Martin. Cherished grandmother of Christine Lane, her husband Brendan McShane, Lauren Lane, and Juliet, Michael, and Caroline Rogers. Loving sister of the late Paul and Lawrence “Larry” Gerrior, Sr. Mary Carmel Gerrior, and Virginia Finnochetti. Dear sister in-law of Dottie Gerrior of OK and the late Henry Finnochetti. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and friends.  A Funeral Mass will take place, FRIDAY, October 27th at 10 a.m., in St. Barbara Church, 138 Cambridge Rd, Woburn, MA.  Interment to follow in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to calling hours on Thursday, October 26^th from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Lynch- Cantillon Funeral Home 263 Main St., Woburn.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Jeanne’s memory to the Macular Degeneration Center of Excellence Fund c/o UMass Medical School, for studies in Macular Degeneration.

Jeanne F. (Gerrior) Martin, a longtime resident of Woburn, passed peacefully on Monday, October 23^rd at the Hospice House in Lincoln, Massachusetts surrounded by her family, at the age of 94.

Jeanne was born in Waltham, MA to Lawrence “Larry” and Mary (O’Grady) Gerrior, she was the second of 5 children. During her early years the Gerrior Family lived in Arlington, Panama, Annapolis, Md and back to Arlington. Jeanne and her siblings always told great stories about their adventures wherever they lived. One that was a family favorite was when her father was the Naval Admiral’s chauffer, and the family had the privilege of meeting President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill.

Jeanne went to school at St. Agnes in Arlington and high school at St. Clements in Somerville. After graduation, she worked for the phone company in Arlington and saved her money to buy her first car!

1953 was the year she met the love of her life, a young sailor, Marty (Dick) Martin from a small town in Pennsylvania who was stationed at the Boston Naval Shipyard. They would marry 3 years later; have 4 children and eventually settled in Woburn, Ma. Jeanne was an active member of St. Barbara’s Parish where she taught CCD. Many friendships were made in the Rever Road neighborhood and there were lots of fun with friends for weekly card games, holiday parties, square dancing, and camping. In her later years she became a member of the Woburn Senior Center. Jeanne loved her job at Jordan Marsh where she worked for 25 years. 

Jeanne always enjoyed sewing, needlepoint, knitting and crocheting. She was always working on a granny square Afghan and many of these were donated to Project Linus, the VA hospital and the last few were donated, in her honor to the Hospice House in Lincoln, where she was compassionately cared for in her final days. Quilting became her real passion and many of her creations were prize winners at the agricultural fairs around New England. Jeanne was legally blind from Macular degeneration and would eventually work with a low vision group through the Medford Senior Center teaching others to quilt and sew.

After Marty retired, traveling became a passion they shared. Their adventures took them to Alaska, Hawaii, California, the National Parks throughout the U.S., Ireland, and adventures in their motor home all along the east coast. St Pete, Florida became a second home, and they enjoyed spending the cold months in the sunshine.

Jeanne would move to Brightview at Country Club Heights and really enjoyed her time there. She was active in the Brightview community, and she loved playing Bingo, Scategories, Word Wizard, trips to Encore Boston, a good game of Hearts, and always entered her handiwork in Brightview’s art shows. She never let her low vision stop her from doing what she enjoyed.

A Funeral Mass will take place, FRIDAY, October 27th at 10 a.m., in St. Barbara Church, 138 Cambridge Rd, Woburn, MA.  Interment to follow in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to calling hours on Thursday, October 26^th from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Lynch- Cantillon Funeral Home 263 Main St., Woburn.  In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Jeanne’s memory to the Macular Degeneration Center of Excellence Fund c/o UMass Medical School, for studies in Macular Degeneration.

A Funeral Mass will take place, FRIDAY, October 27th at 10 a.m., in St. Barbara Church, 138 Cambridge Rd, Woburn, MA.  Interment to follow in Woodbrook Cemetery, Woburn. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to calling hours on Thursday, October 26^th from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Lynch- Cantillon Funeral Home 263 Main St., Woburn.  In lieu of flowers please donations in Jeanne’s memory may be made to the Macular Degeneration Center of Excellence Fund c/o UMass Medical School, for studies in Macular Degeneration.