Jean Marie (Fallon) Cleary
CLEARY, Jean Marie (Fallon), of Nashua, NH, formerly of Needham and Roxbury, MA, died June 1, 2024, after a long-coexistence with dementia. Jean was born June 10, 1932, in Boston to parents Michael and Elizabeth Fallon. She grew up in the Mission Hill Housing Project with her siblings Patricia (Petrosh) and Robert Fallon. Her sister Doris McMullen was raised in Canada.
While in high school, Jean began working at Boston Public Library, where she met the love of her life, Francis C. Cleary, Jr. (Frank). Jean went to State Teachers College and taught 1st grade in Cambridge and Stoughton until she and Frank were married in 1957. Jean and Frank moved to Needham in 1962, where they raised 4 children. Jean was a devout Catholic and devoted much of her time to St Joseph Parish in Needham. She taught CCD, became a lector and eucharistic minister, organized funeral masses and delivered communion to those who could not attend church in person.
Jean was an accomplished artist by way of drawing, painting, and sculpture, often donating her works to charitable organizations. Jean was also a seamstress, incredibly talented on her sewing machine. Mending her children’s clothes led to designing and sewing quilts of various colors and sizes, and her quest for more fabric became a passion. Jean always put her family and her friends first. Later in life, Jean and Frank traveled the world, visiting countries such as Ireland, France, England, Germany, Switzerland and Greece. Jean lived in the Needham house for 56 years until memory limitations required a move to assisted living in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Jean was predeceased by her parents, her siblings, and her husband Frank in 2009. She is survived by her loving children and their spouses: Jennifer and John Calabro of Merrimack, NH, Charlie and Rebecca Cleary of Bow, NH, David and Kiyoka Cleary of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA and Peter Cleary of Natick, MA. She adored her grandchildren Bill (Kayla), Teresa, Joe (Caitlin), Esther, Thomas (Rebecca), Jessica and Nicole. Her great grandchildren Jackson and Owen made her smile. Jean’s family is incredibly grateful for the outstanding care given to our mom by the caregivers at Nashua Crossings, where she resided for almost 6 years. Their dedication and kindness are greatly appreciated.
SERVICES: A Funeral Mass will be held at St Joseph the Worker Church, 777 W. Hollis St, Nashua, NH, on July 15, 2024, at 10 am. Friends and family are invited to attend. The internment and her reunion with Francis will take place privately at St Mary’s Cemetery in Needham, MA. The Davis Funeral Home, 1 Lock St, Nashua, NH, has been placed in charge of arrangements. An online guestbook is available at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com. (603)883-3401 “ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER”