Jean P. Butterworth

Jean Peters Butterworth died peacefully on November 3, 2014, at Lafayette Nursing Home in Marblehead, age 86. Jean's childhood was spent in Longmeadow, Mass; she graduated from Springfield Classical High School. In 1950 she married Richard A. Butterworth, a childhood neighbor and friend of her brothers. They settled in Marblehead in 1952 and soon found themselves sailing in the Town Class for many years on Number 16, "Rosy.” Later the whole family sailed each week. Jean was active with the League of Women Voters. She was very devoted to meeting with neighbors while reading the Great Books series. Her children remember a house filled with books and magazines.

Jean pursued an interest in watercolor painting and other art with several women in the neighborhood. They took watercolor lessons with Marion Brown and entered art in the Marblehead Festival of Arts from its beginnings 50 years ago. She was a member of the Marblehead Arts Association at the King Hooper Mansion.

Jean kept a large flower garden in the backyard and had many creative interests including print-making, vegetable dyes for yarn, playing the piano and recorder, and tap-dancing. Jean and Richard were keen bird watchers and introduced their children to the several Audubon sanctuaries in the area. Another bit of family lore is the trips and picnics to odd corners of New England rock quarries in pursuit of stones for a rock hound collection.

In their retirement years Jean and Dick were able to combine a lifelong interest in Dixieland jazz with travel to many corners of the United States. They enjoyed river cruises on the Delta Queen, Elderhostel trips, RV travel, and trips to Europe.

Jean was predeceased by her husband of sixty years, Richard, in 2010. She leaves a daughter Susan, grandson Eli, great-granddaughter Anja, son Steven, and granddaughters Anna, Edith and Mary.

A Celebration of Thanksgiving for her life will be held at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 26 Pleasant St, Marblehead, MA on Saturday, November 8 at 11AM. Family, friends and neighbors are cordially invited. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Activities Fund at the Lafayette, 25 Lafayette St, Marblehead, or to the Horticultural Therapy Program at the Lafayette. Arrangements by Eustis and Cornell of Marblehead.