Jean Longfellow

Jean Longfellow obituary, Wakefield, MA

Jean Longfellow

Jean Longfellow Obituary

Visit the McDonald-Finnegan-Anderson Funeral Home - Stoneham website to view the full obituary.
Jean (MacKay) Longfellow of Stoneham, Massachusetts, 97, died on March 10, 2023 after a brief illness.
Born on February 17, 1926 in Winchester, Jean was the daughter of the late Frank D. and Margaret (McMahan) MacKay. The third of seven siblings, Jean grew up in Greenwood, Massachusetts, and was a graduate of Wakefield High School Class of 1943. She was the beloved wife of the late George Longfellow with whom she shared 36 years of marriage. Jean and George raised their sons Gary and Tom in Saugus and Wakefield. She enjoyed spending time at their vacation home on Lake Winnipesaukee and golfing with friends at the Thompson Club.
Jean worked for the Town of Wakefield Building Department, retiring in 1966 and
was a longtime member of the Wakefield Lynnfield United Methodist Church.
Jean is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Cindy Longfellow (Colorado), Tom Longfellow and Barbara Kelly (Vermont); grandchildren Sarah Longfellow (North Carolina), Brendan Longfellow (Vermont), Tara Williamson (Arizona), and Sam Longfellow and his wife, Lindsey (Colorado); great-great grandchildren Natalie, Leena, and Reed El-Assi; Joshua and Courden Williamson; and Emery Longfellow. She was also survived by siblings Billie MacKay of Stoneham, Margaret (Peggy) Cox of Reading, and Janet Thompson and her husband, Howard of Reading and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, George, her parents, and by her brothers Donald and Kenneth (Pat) MacKay, and her sister Patricia Cotty.
The family offers special thanks to the staff at Bear Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Tufts Medicine Care at Home.
Arrangements are being made by McDonald Funeral Home; a service will take place in the spring or early summer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels, c/o Mystic Valley Elder Services in Malden.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jean Longfellow, please visit our flower store.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

McDonald-Finnegan-Anderson Funeral Home - Stoneham

322 Main Street, Stoneham, MA 02180

How to support Jean's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Jean Longfellow's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more

Sign Jean Longfellow's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?