Jean Primavera

Widow of Thomas, mother of Corliss and Gary and his wife Christine, and grandmother of Stephanie and Kendra. Her parents, W. Sears Nickerson and Donna Corliss, her three sisters Elizabeth Eldridge, Dorothy Ross and Mary Marble and her daughter-in-law Donna Primavera preceded Jean in death. Numerous Nickerson and Primavera nieces and nephews; Beth Fletcher, Dana Eldridge, Richard, Debbe and Doug Ross of Oregon, survive her. Her close friend Melissa, who gave Jean and Tom unwavering love, care and friendship in the last ten years, also survives her.

Jean was a direct descendant of nine Mayflower passengers. She lived on the shore of Pleasant Bay on the land her family has occupied for nearly 350 years. She inherited her love of the natural world from her parents and Pleasant Bay, in particular, from her father.

Jean was born in 1924 upstairs at home in the Nickerson Funeral Home in Harwich Port. She was raised in Harwich, Wellesley Hills and Daytona Beach, received a degree in botany from Duke and began her career at Ft. Detrick, Maryland where she met and married Tom. Jean was the breadwinner while Tom pursued a degree in geology on the GI Bill at CU and UCONN. They raised their family in Maryland and retired to the NickShack on Pleasant Bay in 1984.

Jean was a sweet, calm and unruffled woman with a shy, dry sense of humor. She never lost her curiosity about the world around her. She continued her parents’ tradition of writing about her surroundings and family treasures she created over her lifetime. She passionately loved music and was a gifted pianist. With prompting, she would play by ear for family and friends - most recently for the residents and staff of The Terraces in Orleans.

Jean loved music, puzzles, “tootsies,” history, Jeopardy, travel, the Red Sox, books and nature – and shared and instilled her curiosity and gifts shyly in all those she touched.

Jean was a comfortable wife, wonderful mother and a trusted friend who will be missed by the many who loved her on Cape Cod and beyond.

In her memory, donations can be sent to Friends of Pleasant Bay, P.O. Box 1243, Harwich, MA 02645 or your favorite passion.

For online condolences please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com