Jean M. (Curtis) Barrett

Jean M. (Curtis) Barrett, 82, died peacefully on Jan. 9 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital surrounded by her six children.  Jean was born on July 8, 1930 to Alice (Callahan) and Thomas Curtis and lived in Quincy. She attended St Gregory Catholic School and went on to Katharine Gibbs school in Boston. She also completed several courses in creative writing at Boston College.  She worked as an administrative assistant at the Pilgrim Center in Braintree, Stop and Shop Co., Milton Academy and completed her career at the National Fire Protection Agency as an editorial secretary.

 She met Robert J. Barrett while working at Curtis Farms, the supermarket business her family owned. They married February 15, 1958 and were blessed with 6 children. She was selected as mother of the Year by the Braintree Forum in 1967. As a young girl she enjoyed tap dancing and won acclaim for her tap dancing on the Major Bowes Radio hour in September 1939.

  Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her family.  Dedicated to educating their youngsters, the family traveled to Washington D.C., and Nova Scotia to explore their Canadian heritage. Jean also ensured her children had fun, even traveling to the opening of DisneyWorld in Florida. Jean and Bob traveled to Italy and Ireland with their grown children.  

  Jean loved to meet people. She frequently hosted dinner parties at her home in Braintree and attended numerous family events including graduations, weddings, and family fundraisers. Jean’s trademarks were her enthusiasm for life, beautiful smile, detailed and lively conversation and ability to leave you feeling better after having been in her presence . We will miss her forever.

  Wife of the the late Robert J. Barrett, Jean leaves her children Robert J. Barrett Jr. of Braintree, Patricia Barrett Rinaldi and her husband Damian of Wilton, CT, Anne Marie Barrett Desmond and her husband Paul of Southborough, Thomas M. Barrett and Joseph P. Barrett, both of Cambridge and Susan Barrett and her partner Dr. Bryan Marsh of Norwich, VT. She is also survived by four grandchildren, David and Katherine Rinaldi and Erin and Sean Desmond. She was sister to David J. Curtis, Dorothy A. Kelley and the late Thomas E. Curtis, Mary E. Berlo, Richard D. Curtis and S. Alan Curtis. Jean is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in The Church of Saint Clare, 1244 Liberty Street, Braintree, Tuesday, January 15 at 10:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours at Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Ave., East Milton, Monday 4-8 p.m. Interment at St.  Mary’s Cemetery, Randolph. Donations in Jean’s memory may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 10 Brookline Place West 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445, Dr. Brian Wolpin Pancreatic Cancer  Research.