Jeanne Therese Demers

Jeanne Therese Demers, born June 22, 1926, in Woonsocket, Rhode Island died peacefully February 23, 2023. Her early years were spent living with her family in Montreal, Canada. The family moved to Massachusetts, and after graduating from Fitchburg High in 1944, Jeanne entered the U. S. Cadet Nurse Corps established during World War II. She attended nursing school at Cambridge City Hospital School of Nursing in Cambridge and became a registered nurse. She shared many stories of life antics in the dormitory of nursing school and tales of running through Harvard Yard to return to the dorm before curfew.

At the invitation of a family friend, Jeanne visited California where jobs were abundant and the weather was pleasant year-round. Jeanne ended up moving and marrying that friend, Norman Paul Demers in 1949. She worked as an RN at San Jose Hospital, and later at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center as a surgical nurse. She shared many stories of the operating room often during family dinnertime! Jeanne was a proficient seamstress and knitter. As a parishioner of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, she was a eucharistic minister and was very involved in many activities, including the Ladies Guild which put on a yearly fashion show fundraiser, and the sewing group who sewed and later knitted layettes for babies. Jeanne was a proud member of the “back row” at daily mass for many years. She had boundless energy and was never one to sit still for long. After Norman died in 1994, Jeanne became a dedicated volunteer at Martha’s Kitchen for over 20 years. She was also a member of the ICF (Italian Catholic Federation). She often said she was fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel to many places within the United States, Canada and many countries in Europe. She was an avid walker until the last few months of her life and took on the role of newspaper deliverer at Merrill Gardens-Willow Glen, where she lived for the past 7.5 years.

She said she wanted people to know that she tried her best in life. She will be remembered fondly by those who knew her.

Jeanne is survived by her four children, Norma Glidden (Tom Roesler), Anne Demers, Philip Demers (Karen), Marie Demers, fourteen grandchildren and their partners, and nineteen great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband and sons-in-law, Wally Glidden and Patrick O’Malley.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Martha’s Kitchen, St. Vincent de Paul Society or the Disabled American Veterans.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m., June 24, 2023, at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, San Jose.