Meredith-------Virginia E. “Jean” Moynihan, 92, died peacefully at her home on March 14, 2017 .Born on July 6, 1924, daughter of John and Anna (Pinka) Kolesar in Allentown, PA, Jean moved to Yonkers, NY, with her family when she was a young girl. She graduated from Yonkers High School and earned her associate’s degree at Pace Business School in NYC. Jean enjoyed city life and immersed herself in its vibrancy and culture. During a night of dancing at Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan in 1946, she met and fell in love with US Navy Seaman Joe Moynihan, who had recently returned from four years in the Pacific. They married later that year.
In 1957 Jean and Joe moved their young family from Pearl River, NY, to Gilmanton, then lived a short time in Belmont, eventually settling in Laconia. In the late 70's, they relocated to Contoocook, where they spent several years before retiring to Largo, FL, in 1985. They returned to NH in the late ‘90s to be close to their family.
Jean was an avid reader and a free-thinking woman who enjoyed lively conversation with her large family and many friends. She had a style all her own and loved to share her opinions on current events and politics. She and Joe campaigned for JFK in 1960 and they were among the guests at a political breakfast with Jack and Jackie Kennedy at the Laconia Tavern, a highlight of her NH years.Open-hearted and open-minded, Jean embraced diversity and cared deeply about the vulnerable and the less fortunate.
Jean was predeceased in 2001 by her beloved husband of 54 years Joseph A. Moynihan and is survived by their children, Priscilla Gottwald and her husband Fredrick of Stoneham, MA; Gail DiGangi of Gilford; Dennis Moynihan of Centerville, MA, and Naples, FL.; Brian Moynihan of Laconia; Joanne Moynihan of Exeter; Dermot Moynihan of Meredith and Sean Moynihan of Ipswich, MA. Jean was the devoted grandmother of Tony, Christopher, and Robert DiGangi, Meaghan Cott, Erin, Kirsten, Thomas, Gretchen and Daniel Gottwald, Brendan, Molly and Kiera Moynihan. She was the cherished great-grandmother of Harrison DiGangi, Ryker Cott and Winnie Cooper. Jean leaves her two brothers, Daniel Kolesar and his wife Lois of Sonoita, AZ., and John Kolesar of Palmer, MA. She also will be missed by her many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.Besides her husband, she was predeceased by her son-in-law Robert W. DiGangi, sister Adele Duprey and by their infant sister Alice.
There will be a celebration of her life at 11 a.m.on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, using the Carriage House Entrance. Rev. Linda Bolton will officiate and burial will be in the spring.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Central New Hampshire VNA and Hospice, 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246 or Comfort Keepers, 12 Yeaton Rd., Plymouth, NH 03264.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial please visit www.wilkinsonbeane.com.