Jean M. Harrington

Jean M. (Thomas) Harrington, 84, formerly of Holden, died peacefully on Thursday, December 11, 2008 in Homestead Hall, Worcester.

She leaves two sons, James T. Harrington of Dartmouth and Edward D. Harrington III of Westfield; two daughters, Janet E. Slabich and her husband John of Paxton and Alison J. Kane Johnston and her husband F. Curtis of Hampton, NH; six grandchildren, Heather, Lindsay, Betsey, Teddy, Amy and T.J.; three great-grandchildren, Joey, Maddie and Colin; nieces and nephews. She was born on October 18, 1924 in Worcester, son of the late Percival S. Thomas, and lived in Holden most of her life.

Jean was a graduate of North High School and in 1995 at the age of 70 she graduated from Worcester State College of which she was most proud. During the 1950's and 1960's she worked as a laboratory technician in the Hematology Lab at Memorial Hospital. She was a former member of the Holden Republican Town Committee, Holden Historical Commission, Mass. Historical Commission (with the distinction of being the first woman ever appointed), Bay State Historical League, Daughters of the American Revolution, Civil War Roundtable, Shakespeare Club, and the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. She was also a former member of the First Unitarian Church of Worcester and the First Congregational Church of Holden.

Her family would like to thank her caregiver, Peg Ambrose, for all her kindness and compassion, and the staff at Homestead Hall for their great care given her during the over 2 1/2 years she lived there.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a calling hour from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 20th, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. Burial will be in Grove Cemetery, Holden. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Holden Historical Society, P.O. Box 421, Holden, MA 01520; or to the Friends of the Gale Free Library, 23 Highland St., Holden, MA 01520.

www.milesfuneralhome.com