Memorial Video
On Friday July 16, 2021, Jeanette Anne (McGowan) Kittrell, age 82 fell asleep in Jesus at UMass Memorial Hospital after a brief battle with Covid-19. She was born January 9, 1939, in Boston, MA to Frank L. McGowan and Lois M. (Warren) McGowan. Jeanette was raised by her mother and step-father Ralph Waning.
Jeanette graduated from Kents Hill School, Kents Hill, ME in 1957 and married Linwood E. Johnson in 1958. They had one child together, Linette who was later adopted by Jeanette's second husband Charles E. Kittrell when they married in 1962 and they had a son, Todd.
Jeanette graduated from Central Beauty School in Augusta, ME in 1959 and owned her own beauty salon in Vassalboro, ME from 1960 to 1980. She was an award winning hair stylist and 2nd Vice President of the Waterville Hairdressers Association.
Jeanette loved continuing her education. In 1975 Jeanette received an Associate of Arts in Sociology from the University of Maine at Augusta. In 1978 Jeanette took a risk and sold her home and business to move to Lancaster, MA to pursue her Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Counseling from Atlantic Union College which she achieved in 1982. Jeanette continued her education receiving her Master of Education from Worcester State College in 1988. She was a certified social studies teacher and held a certification as a guidance counselor in MA.
She was employed as a teacher at the Dr. Franklin Perkins School from 1982 to 1995. Jeanette started her own non-profit organization called Learning Skills Institute tutoring in grammar, math, history, and English as a second language. Jeanette also worked as a direct support staff member for several residential clients. After retirement Jeanette continued to work as a substitute teacher until age 80.
She was a faithful member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Worcester, MA. She enjoyed painting, motorcycling, camping canoeing, skiing, piano, reading and writing.
She was predeceased by her parents Lois, Ralph and Frank, and ex-husband, Linwood Johnson. Survivors include, sister Ellen Tompkins and her husband Peter of Waterville, ME, daughter Linette E. Gamache and her husband Paul of Vassalboro, ME, son Todd C. Kittrell and his partner Kerri Golen of North Oxford, MA, ex-husband Charles E. Kittrell of Myrtle Beach, SC, grandsons Lance Kittrell, Gage Kittrell and their mother Torri Kittrell all of Worcester, MA, grandsons Andre Gamache of China, ME and Sean Gamache of Vassalboro, ME and granddaughters Jane Chamberlain of Appleton, ME and Brienna Pelletier of Vassalboro, ME, two great grandsons Maty Babik and Kylian Babik of Appleton, ME, nephew Nathan Tompkins of Waterville, ME, cousins Nathalie and husband Bruce Adams of Mohnton, PA, Rosamond Dixon of Brunswick, ME and Elliot and wife Jan Whitney of Pace, FL and her dearest friend of 20 years, Ronald Durost.
There will be a celebration of life at Linette's home, 2333 Riverside Drive on 9/25/2021, from 2 to 4. Donations in Jeanette's honor can be made to Kents Hill School 1614 Main St. Kents Hill, Maine, 04349.