Jeanne Szantyr

Jeanne Naomi (Parent) Szantyr, born January 6, 1931, daughter of Rodolph and Beatrice (LaLanne) Parent of Waterbury, Connecticut, died peacefully, surrounded by family, on Sunday, May 24, 2015. Jeanne was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, attended St. Anne's grammar school and Waterbury Catholic High. She went to New York City at age 18 to pursue her nursing education at The Bellevue Training School for Nurses, the first American nursing school to be run according to the nursing principles of Florence Nightingale. Jeanne earned her RN in 1952 and remained as an instructor through 1953 while she continued to take courses at Hunter College. She far preferred hands-on nursing to instructing and returned to Waterbury, Connecticut where she spent most of her career at Waterbury Hospital. Jeanne married her lifelong love Stanley F. Szantyr in 1954. They raised their three children in Waterbury and were active in their parish and community. Jeanne moved to Lincoln, Maine in 2005 and considered this her home away from home. Jeanne is survived by her son, Mark Szantyr and his dearest, Joy Mark, of Storrs, CT; her daughter Dr. Beatrice Szantyr and her husband Dr. Mark Weatherbee of Lincoln, ME; her daughter-in-law Patricia Szantyr of Waterbury, CT; her cousin and friend for over 75 years, Joan O'Brien and her husband, Bob, of Bristol, CT; her dear sister-in-law, Theresa Gratton, of Waterbury, CT; and many nieces and nephews. She took great joy and pride in her grandchildren Beth, Craig, Adam, Bobby, Sarah and Mary. Her joy was made more complete in her great-grandchildren Billy, Tigre, Luna, and Ace. She was awaiting Ace's sibling's arrival later this year. Jeanne was predeceased by her parents, her youngest son, Craig R. Szantyr, and her husband of 46 years, Stanley. The world was made better by the "big love" that characterized our mother's life – open-handed and open-hearted. Her enthusiasm for living could be seen in the twinkle in her eye and felt in her robust, easy laughter. She so enjoyed and appreciated music of all kinds; she loved to sing and read and be read to. Jeanne loved animals (snakes not so much) and had the companionship and love of several family dogs over the years. A memorial mass will be offered at St. Mary of Lourdes Catholic Church in Lincoln, Maine on Saturday, May 30, at 11am, Fr. Miles Cyr celebrating. A later mass and burial will take place in Waterbury, CT at a time to be announced later this spring or early summer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a contribution to a food cupboard or homeless shelter in your own community. Although Jeanne loved flowers, nothing could please her more than this.