Stella (Soteria) Kehayas Jeon, 94, of Franklin, died peacefully Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at her home. She was the beloved wife of Nicholas Jeon who died in 1980.
Born in Dilofos, Macedonia, Greece on March 10, 1920, she was the daughter of the late James C. and Despina (Nikolaidis) Kehayas.
Stella moved to Franklin from Greece in 1926. She graduated from Franklin High School in the class of 1938, where she was class secretary. Her father, and later her husband, ran the popular Jimmies’ Store in downtown Franklin from the 1920s through the late 1970s, where many children fondly remember buying penny candy and sodas growing up.
Mrs. Jeon worked at Glen Meadow in Franklin for 27 years, retiring in 1999 as the administrative supervisor. She had also worked at the former Shawmut Bank in Boston during the 1940’s and 50’s.
Known for her warmth and zest for life, Stella was very active in the Franklin community where she had been a member of the Finance Committee, the Industrial Development Commission, the Council On Aging and the Building Committee for the new Senior Center. She was also the host of the cable TV show, the Senior Circle, was past-president of the Alden Club and chaired the Frances Eddy King Student Fund.
In celebration of her years of community work, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women named her a 2014 “Unsung Heroine”, an award presented to her in April by state and local elected officials at a special ceremony in her home. Additionally, the Town of Franklin presented her with a street sign named in her honor, which will be displayed at a drive by the Franklin Senior Center.
She is survived by; two daughters, Diana Nicholette Jeon and her husband Richard Patacsil of Honolulu, Hawaii and Deborah Jeon and her husband Richard Laufer of Bentley Springs, Maryland and two grandchildren, Hapa Jeon-Patacsil and Karenna Laufer. She was the sister of the late Jane Gussis.
Stella loved her family, friends, community, country of birth, as well as her adopted country, and generously gave of her time and talents. She will be greatly missed.
Relatives and friends are invited to her funeral service on Saturday, May 24 at 11:00 a.m. in the Franklin Federated Church, 171 Main Street in Franklin. Burial will follow at Union Street Cemetery in Franklin.
Calling hours are respectfully omitted.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel J. Cahill St., Franklin, MA 02038, the Milford Regional Healthcare Foundation, 14 Prospect St. Milford, MA 01757 or to a charity of one’s choice.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin; 131 Main Street in Franklin (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com).