Jean Tedeschi Donoghue

Jean Tedeschi Donoghue passed away peacefully on September 9, 2026 surrounded by her family. Jean was born on August 25, 1950, and was raised on Crescent Street in Rockland by her doting parents, Will and Grayce Tedeschi (Woodward). She attended Rockland public schools and graduated from Rockland High School. Jean spent her childhood summers in Green Harbor, enjoying time with her numerous cousins, aunts and uncles, many of whom worked together for the family business.

While volunteering in high school at the Cardinal Cushing Centers in Hanover, Jean discovered her love for teaching students with learning disabilities and pursued a teaching degree focused on serving that student population at Anna Maria College. While attending college, Jean met the love of her life, George Donoghue, on a blind date arranged by her cousin, Judy Griffin Rowell. They both knew it was love at first sight and were married in 1972.

Upon graduating from college in 1972, she secured her first job teaching at Holbrook High School, where she taught until her first child was born in 1975. Three years later, George’s work took the family to Virginia for five years. In Virginia, she formed a strong friendship with the Rhodes family that she treasured for her whole life.

After Virginia, the family moved back to Massachusetts and built a home on Shrine Road in Norwell. The home they built always felt like Jean’s forever home, as it was where she raised her children. Jean and George reveled in the joys of their marriage, their love for each other and prioritized their family and home life above all. The family enjoyed going to the lake, ski trips and gardening at their home. After George passed away in 1998, Jean moved to the beach in Humarock, but returned to Norwell five years later, settling on Silver Brook Lane, where she lived for more than 23 years.

While she volunteered to help with all of her children’s sports in Norwell, she only played and loved one sport herself - golf. She was an avid player who loved the game and treasured the camaraderie of her golf communities. She met so many friends through her passion for the game and was a member of Marshfield Country Club for 36 years.

Jean was very close with her father, Will, and visited him frequently in Florida, eventually building a home in Naples, where she became a member of Esplanade Golf and Country Club. In Naples, Jean enjoyed ten great years of golf, sunshine and fun visits from family and friends.

Jean was a lifelong hobby enthusiast. She was adept at sewing, quilting, knitting, and needlepoint and never turned down a game of cards, Rummikub or mahjong.

She leaves behind her son, Gregory Donoghue and his wife, Lisa, of Hingham, and their children, Paul and Lila; her daughter, Lesley Darling and her husband, John, and their son, Jacob, of Grafton; and her daughter, Ashley Quirk and her husband, Brian, and their children, Ginger and Will. She is also survived by her cherished brother, Ray, of Naples, Florida and her beloved nephews, Jared, Bryce and Kyle. She is predeceased by her brother, Billy. She is survived by her dear friend and sister-in-law, Ginger Fries, of Virginia.

Jean loved family trips, dinners with friends and family, and going to all the grandchildren’s sports games and events. Jean was eternally grateful for her friends, especially Susan MacDonald, Denise Royer, Betty Ann Russo, Jeanne McDavitt and Karen Vaughan, who regularly called and visited with her.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Friendship Home, PO Box 916, Norwell, MA 02061 or by visiting

https://friendshiphome.net/give/

Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 4-7 PM, at the Sullivan

Funeral Homes, 551 Washington Street, Route 53, Hanover. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, at 9 AM, at Our Lady of the Angels Parish, 392 Hanover Street, Route 139, Hanover. Burial to follow at Holy Family Cemetery, Rockland.