Jean C. Clough

Jean C. (Shute) Clough, age 96, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on August 6th, 2025. Jean was the daughter of the late Robert and Catherine (Forsythe) Shute. She was preceded in death by her husband Llewellyn S. Clough Jr. (Bunny), and her companion of many years Donald Birch. Jean was born in Houghs Neck, Quincy, Massachusetts.

She graduated in New York, after an involuntary move for her father’s work. At 21, she left and found her home on Cape Cod with her Aunt Jessie, and met her husband, Bunny.

Jean worked at The Telephone Company in Hyannis for many years before settling in Hanover, Massachusetts. She became a stay-at-home mom, raising her two children, Valerie and Keith. Later, Jean found joy and fulfillment as a seamstress for Lillian’s Bridal Shop in Hanover. When Jean lost Bunny after 41 cherished years of marriage, she headed back down to the Cape. She had felt drawn there for many years, always telling her family that she had ‘sand in her shoes.’ She spent over 20 joy-filled years in Barnstable Village, having everything she needed within walking distance. 17 of those years were spent in a happily rekindled relationship with Donald Birch. Through paths to the post office, the store and the beach, there were people who recognized and cared for Jean, who she loved having conversations with along her way.

Jean had quite the green thumb, her home in Hanover was featured in Better Homes & Gardens magazine several times throughout the years. In later years, she planted and maintained flowers around the Hyannis rotary, loved to watch and listen to the birds, and sitting at the Cape Cod Canal to be near the water and watch the boats go by. Jean was also known to have quite the sweet tooth and would never say no to a cup of tea.

Jean adopted all the animals around her. She had several adored cats throughout the years and prioritized providing food and shelter to the cats outside her home in Barnstable, rain, snow or shine. In recent years, she became attached to Jansen and always said she would write a book about him because she had never met a dog like him. Jansen loved his nana right back.

Her grandchildren reminisce about being taken to the penny candy store on Main Street, Easter egg hunts on the front lawn, and spending holidays together at the condo in Barnstable.

She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered. Jean is survived by her sister, Marie Cunningham, two children Valerie Clough-Pitts and Keith Clough and their spouses John Pitts and Shelley Clough. She was the beloved Nana to 5 grandchildren, Kimberlee, Matthew, Stephen, Allison and Erica. She was also Nana to her fur-grandchildren, who she adored, Jansen, Sophie, Sampson and Buddy.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday August 16th, 2025, at the Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home 154 Route 6A Sandwich, MA. Funeral Service will follow at 12:30 p.m. then burial at Crocker Park Cemetery in Barnstable.