Devoted to her family; enjoyed dancing, card games, crosswords
SUMMERFIELD, Fla. — Jean M. (O’Dowd) Howe, 87, of Summerfield, Florida and formerly of North Reading, died on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. She was the beloved wife of the late Richard T. Howe.
Born in Stoneham on August 30, 1934, she was the daughter of the late James F. and Alice Marie (Gormlie) O’Dowd. She was raised and attended school in Reading and was a graduate of Reading Memorial High School.
Jean was a secretary for the American Mutual Insurance Company and MECO Incorporated. She also worked for the Reading Hallmark store. She was a former resident of North Reading for 34 years and a member of St. Theresa’s Church.
Jean was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Jean enjoyed dancing and playing numerous card games. She was an avid crossword and jigsaw puzzle fan.
Family members include her sons, Richard T. Howe Jr. and Robert A. Howe and his wife Pamela, all of Summerfield, Fla., and Derek J. Howe and his wife Kimberly of North Reading; her daughters, Susan J. White and her husband George of Lawrence, and Laurie A. Howe and her partner Deborah Smith of Summerfield, Fla. Jean was the sister of Sandra Smith of Englewood, Fla., and the late Michael and Timothy O’Dowd. She was the grandmother of Ashley, Chris, Kelly, Stacy and Annika Howe, and great-grandmother of Trevor Howe and Vincent and Evelyn Terranova.
Her funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Wednesday, June 29 at 9:15 a.m., followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. Interment will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Peabody.
Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice. To send an online message of condolence please visit www.croswellfuneralhome.com.
