Jean M. Burgholzer

Jean Mary Christopher was born, an only child, to George and Lena King Christopher on August 4, 1929 in the small village of Groveton, Coos Country, Northern New Hampshire. Groveton, was a small paper mill town.  The mill was the main employer with some small businesses supporting the workers and families.  One such business was Christopher Drug Store owned and operated by her parents which sold pharmaceuticals, health care products and sundries and a soda fountain where many mill workers came for quick lunches and dinners.  Jean worked many years as a waitress at the soda fountain including weekends and all holidays and had many stories to tell.   Growing up she attended Groveton Elementary and Groveton High School. 

She left Groveton to attend the University of New Hampshire in Durham where she majored in business and finance.  When people asked her father George why he was spending money to send her to college, his response was it was a gift he was giving her that she would have and could use for the rest of her life.

And he (of a fifth grade education) was a visionary because she did use that gift in many ways from her first job out of college through the business she ran with husband Frank, to managerial tax work with H&R Block to maintaining the books for son Christopher’s construction business.

After College graduation, she secured a job with a property management company in Boston .  Once in Boston, she was close to a Christopher aunt, Ida Chrstopher Lavelli.  Jean joined the Lavellis frequently for Sunday dinners. Her cousin Eddie wanted a date with Jean’s room-mate Ellie, but Ellie insisted on a double date, so Eddie arranged for his best friend, Frank,  to come along.  As the story goes, there was no second date for Eddie and Ellie, but a match was made in heaven for Frank and Jean.  He proposed on December 7, 1953. 

They were married very early in the morning on a warm sunny day at St Francis Xavier church in Groveton, where the whole town turned out. And a reception was held at the bride’s parents home. Whether the town was quite prepared for the influx of Somerville folk remains an open question depending on which guest to one was speaking.

They settled on Cypress St in Somerville, in an apartment in the Bahan house,  a few houses down from Frank’s family home and very close to Jean’s aunt Ida, always liking to keep family close. And later, purchasing a house on Madison St in Somerville near city hall and finally purchasing and renovating an old 7 bedroom Victorian on School St. with a big yard and room for a pool, in 1965. 

Family and faith were the largest focus in Jean and Frank’s marriage, and it led them to 6 children, Cathy, Anne, Stephen, Christopher, Mary and Francis John.  They would be active in many church, civic and sports organizations in the city.  They were always together.  If Frank was at a coaching sports event, Jean was there cheering and serving drinks and snacks. If Jean was organizing a Blue and Gold scouting event Frank was with her.  Through scouting den mothering and Pack Master, through Holy Name breakfast meetings, street hockey league at St. Anthony’s, Somerville Little League, Babe Ruth and St Catherine CYO basketball they were in it together.

Later, teaming up with his brother Paul and sister-in-law Ann and longtime close friends Helen and Vinnie Dabenigno, many more banquets were served at St Catherine’s church in Somerville

Fourth of July and Labor Day picnics at the house and pool became large, legendary and happily remembered among family and dear and cherished friends, the Camerons, The Doolins, the Popkens, the Woodmans and members of the McMahon family.

All the while Jean and Frank managed their own freight delivery business, McDonald’s Express. Frank (later with Steve and Chris) managed the routing and delivery end and Jean worked the switchboard receiving customer calls during the day.  At the end of the day, they would sit at the kitchen table hand-writing bills of lading for the next day’s deliveries.  Jean also handled all the billing and bookkeeping for the business, where she most certainly put her college business education to good use.  Most of their children worked aspects of the business growing up as well as serving in the religious and sports activities.

After Warren and Cathy were married in 1976 Jean opined that she hoped to live to see one grandchild.  David was born in 1981 and he was soon followed by Jennifer, Lauren, Elizabeth, Michael, Jeremy, Alex, Adam, Rachel, Sarah, Hayley, Jonathan, Rebecca, Jason, Samantha, Jake, Emily, Gretchen and Erica.

Having achieved 19 grandchildren, Jean then thought it would be a nice thing to live to see one great-grandchild.  Again, the family responded and soon Nathan, Riley, Trevor, Molly,

Amelia, Ayla, Ayden, Rowan, Giovanni, Hazel, Olivia, Emmett, Lily and Ruby joined the family with another expected arrival in September of 2023.

In 1982 Jean and Frank purchased a condominium at the Seafarer in Ogunquit, Maine and spent many happy peaceful weekends there.  And they leave the property as a legacy for the next 3 generations and beyond.

Jean would light up when asked about her family and she could name each grandchild and great-grandchild and was always quick to note that she was an only child!  On the day before she passed, 28 family members were able to visit including the two youngest great grandchildren.  And her day nurse told us that after the visit she named everyone and our relationships.  It always was family first.

Jean also leaves behind:

 her Sister-in-law Ann (Paul) Burgholzer and her family,

nieces Paula, and Ellen, and nephew James Burgholzer Jr.(Jim and Peg Burgholzer) and their families.

Cousins, Doris Lavelli Duff, Virginia Lavelli Lovett and Gregg Christopher.

Cherished forever family friends Jim Cameron (Arlene) and his family, Christine Woodman (Albert) and her family, and Maine Seafarer friend, Nancy DiCarlo.

 And longtime beloved childhood friend from Groveton, Molly (Mary Jane)  Landrigan.

 Funeral procession from the George L. Doherty Funeral Home, 855 Broadway (Powder House Sq.) Somerville, Friday morning at 10am, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Catherine Church, Somerville at 11:00. Relatives and friends invited.

Calling hours Thursday 4:00 - 7:00.

 Interment Holy Cross Mausoleum.

 In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Jean's memory to St. Mary's House, 90 Cushing Ave. Dorchester, MA 02125 or to Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin Parish, 185 Summer St. Somerville, MA 02143.