It is not how long you live but how well you lived. Our dear mother, graciously did both.
On February 10, 2021, at the age of 97, Regina “Jean” (Schoen) Kearney entered God’s kingdom. She spent her final days at the Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln, MA.
Jean was born in Mt. Washington, MD to Charles C. and Cecelia (Brennan) Schoen. It is there that she learned her genteel manner.
She met her husband John J. Kearney in Providence RI when he came to visit his sister Mary. Jean knew, the moment she met him, that he was the one. After a long-distance courtship, they married and began a life in Manhattan and eventually moved to Bellmore, NY where they raised their 6 children. They lived for a while in Simsbury, CT. Upon John’s retirement they moved to East Orleans, Cape Cod and Sarasota, FL.
Jean often spoke of her desire to have a large family. Jean had unwavering faith and was a devout Catholic. She was the consummate homemaker. Always an open door to friends and the other children in the neighborhood. At dinner time our mom would ring a large bell, that meant it was time to come home. She would have fresh baked cookies waiting for us when we came home from school. She loved her family and being a mom.
Jean was a graduate of the Katharine Gibbs School and upon graduation she worked at Brown University.
In retirement Jean and John both enjoyed travelling. She enjoyed playing a competitive game of tennis, was an accomplished rug-hooker as well as an excellent gardener and cook. Jean also enjoyed water color and Japanese brush stroke painting.
Together Jean and John created and maintained award winning gardens at their Cape Cod home. Their gardens were part of the annual East Orleans Garden tour. It is here on the Cape that her family came together for “any reason at all” gatherings. This is what mattered most to her.
Jean is predeceased by her husband John, whom she shared 66 loving years of marriage. Her son David Charles Kearney, as well as her sisters; Cecilia (Peggy) Finn, Anita Bottomley and Patricia Antaya.
She is survived by her son John Kearney and his wife Elaine of Norwood, MA. Her four daughters, Anne Williams and her husband Kevin of Framingham, MA., Kathleen LeBlanc and her husband Robert of Westport, MA., Sara Nunziata and her husband Peter of Framingham, MA. And Regina LoSardo and her husband William of Garden City, NY. As well as her seven grandchildren, one great grandchild, and her sister Carla Woodworth of Attleboro, MA.
There will be a private funeral service and burial at a later date. Jean will be laid to rest next to her husband John at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Care Dimensions Hospice House, 125 Winter Street, Lincoln, MA 01773.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of the John C. Bryant Funeral Home of Wayland, MA. For condolences please visit www.johncbryantfuneralhome.com.