Louina Jennie Field

Following a brief illness and in the loving presence of her daughter – Nancy Field Machell and her four grandchildren: Danielle, John, Megan, and Jack – Lou Field passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at the McCarthy Care Center at the age of 97.

Louina “Lou” Jennie (nee: Jones) Field was born on September 19, 1927 in Jay, Maine. She attended local schools and graduated from Jay High School. For several years, Lou recalled driving a horse and buggy to high school because she did not have a car.

Following her graduation, Lou attended the University of Maine, Farmington, where she earned a degree in teaching. Being unsure where to apply for a teaching position, Lou and her roommate closed their eyes and stuck a pin in a map. It landed on Cape Cod. That’s where they applied for and obtained teaching positions.

Initially, Lou taught elementary school students for five years in Hyannis East Elementary School. During this time, she rented a house on Spring Street in Hyannis where shecould walk to school and to her place of worship, the Federated Church of Hyannis. This is where Lou would meet her future husband, John “Jack” B. Field, Jr. They were married on June 21, 1952.

Lou left her teaching position in Hyannis when she became the mother of her son, John B. Field, III; and later returned when her daughter, Nancy, who was born in 1958, was in First Grade. She began this second stage of her teaching career at the South Yarmouth Elementary School in Dennis/Yarmouth. Later, she would earn a certificate as a Special Needs Reading Teacher in the Reading Recovery program for students with special needs, a position she held until her retirement in 1995.

Since her arrival on the Cape in 1950, Lou was an active and worshipping member of the Federated Church of Hyannis. Over the years she served as an Advisor and Chaperone to the Youth Fellowship, member and at times president of the Woman’s Fellowship, a regular volunteer at the church’s Thrift Shop, and coordinator of the summertime weekly Lobster Luncheons. In addition, Lou enjoyed working behind the scenes, helping with kitchen responsibilities for church dinners, and having a Candy Table to offer for sale her delicious home-made candies.

Along with being active in her school responsibilities, Lou was a member of the Hyannis Garden Club, where she also served as president.

Lou greatly enjoyed being with people and entertaining in her home in West Yarmouth. Using her skills and hobby as a baker, Lou created beautiful cakes for special occasions, birthdays, anniversaries, and wedding, along with 50+ different type of Christmas Cookies each December. Her cookies and homemade candies were a welcome treat for all who received them as a gift or enjoyed at a Christmas Eve Open House she hosted for many years.

Lou had a great compassion for people and very much enjoyed doing things with others. She remained as active and involved with her family and church programs as much as possible, well into her 90s.

Following her husband’s death in 1980, Lou decided to work during the summer months when school was no longer in session. For two summers, Lou worked as a clerk at The Barefoot Trader. Later, she worked for 25 years for the Hy-Line Cruises making sandwiches for their concessions.

Her favorite restaurant – where she ordered Whole Belly Fried Clams and where she enjoyed many birthday lunches or dinners – was Baxter’s.

Lou is preceded in death by her parents, Mary (nee, Stetson) and Harry Jones; her sister, Eleanor (Wilfred) Whitemore; her husband, John B. Field, Jr; and her son, John B. Field, III.

She is survived by her daughter, Nancy (David) Machell; four Grandchildren: Danielle (Tyler) Perry; John B. Field, IV; Megan Machell; Jack Machell; and five Great-Grandchildren; extended family members, and many friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025 11 am at the Federated Church of Hyannis, 320 Main Street, Hyannis.

Please consider Memorial Gifts to be sent to The Federated Church of Hyannis of Hyannis, 320 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601.