Dedicated homemaker who traveled Europe, U.S. as Army officer’s wife
LYNNFIELD — Jean Elizabeth (Keating) Serio of Lynnfield, dearly beloved wife of Brigadier General Frank E. Serio, passed away on the evening of November 9, 2014 after a gallant 16-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 82.
She was born on April 1, 1932 at the Whidden Memorial Hospital of Everett and was the only child of Catherine and George Keating. Jean was a 1950 graduate of Chelsea Senior High and was a nursing student when she married Lieutenant Frank Serio in 1951. Thus, she became an Army officer’s wife and for 30 years traveled throughout Europe and the United States, raising six children and keeping house for her family.
Jean was a superb wife and a dedicated mother and was fully supportive of her husband in his military duties. She made many friends wherever she traveled and was well known as an excellent hostess. During her husband’s many overseas tours she was left alone to raise her large family and cope with the many financial and social issues attendant with a large household. Jean was also a devoted daughter to her mother who lived with the family until her death in 2001.
She is survived by her husband and best friend of 63 years, her children, Frank and friend Sue, Donna and Tim MacDonald, Mark and friend Annabel, Robert and Joan Serio, Jean and Dr. Pierre Bui, Nancy and friend David, and Linda Serio. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Alexandra and Vanessa Serio, Stephen and Matthew MacDonald, Samantha and Brianna Serio and Madeleine and Alexander Bui. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Connie McQuaid and her children Michael and Maria.
Jean was a beautiful woman in her manner and appearance. To have known her was to love her. She was a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, grandmother and friend who will be sorely missed by everyone who was privileged to know this lovely lady.
Her funeral will be held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Friday, Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass in Our Lady of the Assumption Church, corner of Salem and Grove Sts., Lynnfield at 10 a.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, Nov. 13 from 4-8 p.m. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery in Lynnfield.
