GLOUCESTER: Josephine A. (Parsons) Reynault, 83, of Gloucester, passed away on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at the Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center due to complications from pneumonia.
Joine was born in Reading on Nov. 17, 1927 to Harry and Nell (Woodward) Collins. She grew up in Manchester-by-the-Sea, and graduated from Story High School, Class of 1945. She went on to LaSalle College where she received her degree in nursing. She worked for many years as an LPN on Steele 2 at Addison Gilbert Hospital. Health issues forced her to leave nursing but found her taking on many different careers.
Some of her favorites were driving the van for Senior Care (for the "Over the Hill" gang from Essex) and working as a pharmacy tech at CVS in East Gloucester. She always worked hard, but made sure she had fun while doing it.
Jo enjoyed boating with her first husband and was an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Power Squadron of the Cape Ann Flotilla No. 406. In her later years she enjoyed traveling to different places and getting together with her high school classmates. Family gatherings always held a special meaning for her. She had fun wherever she went and tried to share a laugh with everyone she met.
Gramma Jo will be greatly missed by her four children and their spouses, Carol MacNeil and her husband Dick of Big Pine Key, Fla., Lynne Cavender and her husband Bob of Gloucester, Robbie Parsons and his wife Valerie of Gloucester, and Tom Parsons and his wife Janet of Danvers; her eight grandchildren, Amy Pool and her husband Jeff of Gloucester, Bobby Cavender and his companion Catey Eberly of Essex, Michael Appleton and his wife Alyssa of Beverly, Maris Harnish and her husband Rob of Gloucester, Marc Appleton and his companion Jessica Cagnina of Gloucester, Brandon Parsons and his wife Kayleigh of Gloucester, Olivia Parsons of Gloucester, and Jonathan Parsons of Danvers; her four great-grandchildren, Ashlyn, Kayden and Zachary Pool and Maliyah Harnish; and sadly missed by her sister, Marge Craig of Bellingham, Wash., and many nieces and nephews. She will be missed most of all by her faithful pet, Dingo.
Jo was predeceased by her two husbands, Henry "Ted" Parsons and Frank Reynault and her brother, Howard T. Collins.
The family will be receiving relatives and friends on Friday, July 8th from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle St., Gloucester. Burial services will be held at the convenience of the family. Expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the Cape Ann Symphony Association, 32 Revere St., Gloucester, MA 01930 or the Cape Ann Animal Aid Association, 260 Main St., Gloucester, MA 01930.