Jean Birch

Jean Birch, a longtime resident of Marstons Mills, Massachusetts, died on December 27, 2023, at Norwalk Hospital, Norwalk, Connecticut, while visiting family. Jean was born on August 26, 1931, in Montreal, Quebec to Alexander Rowat and Marion Alice (Schoolcraft) Rowat. She was raised in Montreal, Massawippi and Lennoxville, Quebec. She graduated from Lennoxville High School and then became a nurse, graduating from Montreal General Hospital School of Nursing in 1952.

She married Kenneth Birch, who met Jean after emigrating to Canada from England, in September 1952. They enjoyed 42 years together, living first in Sherbrooke and Bromont, Quebec. The couple then moved to the United States in 1965, settled with their young family in Sandwich, Massachusetts in 1970. They moved to Marstons Mills in 1979.

During their marriage, Jean and Ken ran a wholesale gift company on the Cape and managed numerous craft fairs during the 1970s and 1980s. The couple was fortunate to travel extensively together with trips to Asia, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and throughout the United States. They also spent many winters in Florida with friends. After Ken’s passing, Jean continued to travel to Europe and the Americas up until the last couple of years.

Jean had many hobbies throughout her life. She was an accomplished artist who made wonderful paintings on metal surfaces. She was known for being actively involved with running the annual holiday fair at West Parish of Barnstable Church in Marstons Mills, which was near and dear to her heart, and for designing and selling beautiful, unique small Christmas trees at the fair, which she decorated by hand. Jean was also an extremely accomplished card player and especially loved her weekly bridge games with family and friends. She was also a great fan of her beloved and cursed Boston Red Sox and the Bruins, rarely missing a game.

Jean is survived by her son, Michael Birch of Derry, New Hampshire; her son, Timothy Birch and his wife, Catherine, of Wilton, Connecticut; her grandson, Alexander and his wife, Francesca, of Escondido, California; and her grandson, Christopher, and his partner, Tatiana, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was predeceased by her parents, husband, brother, David, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jean and Jimmy Bolter, and brother-in-law, Christopher Birch. Last, but not least, Jean was blessed to have a niece and many nephews she connected with frequently and many good friends. She had a knack for making and keeping friends and is survived by many on the Cape, in Canada, England and throughout the United States, who loved her dearly and cared for her.

A Memorial Service will be held at West Parish of Barnstable Church, West Barnstable on January 8, 2024, at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, any donations should be made to the West Parish of Barnstable Church Memorial Fund in memory of Jean.