Jean Arnold

Jean F. Arnold, 81, of Weymouth, Massachusetts died peacefully on Saturday evening, March 7, 2015, at Colonial Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Jean was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey, on August 17, 1933, the daughter of Dr. Rudolph and Elva Fager. She was the second of four daughters and spoke fondly of her early family life. She attended Bloomfield High School where she was an accomplished archer. She went on to study at Lasell College and then graduated from Bennington College, where she studied early childhood education.

Jean excelled as a New York model in her early years and carried the grace and poise she learned from that experience throughout the rest of her life. She was a gifted communicator and shared her talents working as an instructor with the Dale/Dorothy Carnegie program. While working in New York, Jean met and fell in love with her late husband Lowell Arnold and together they moved to Chicago. There, she devoted her years to raising their daughter Amy and was also an active member of the Church of our Saviour and the Junior League. Jean often remarked that her time in Chicago was the sweetest. In her later years Jean enjoyed living near her sisters Margie and Lynn and engaged in artistic endeavors such as collaging and knitting. Several family members have her beautiful blankets displayed in their living rooms.

Jean will be remembered for many things. Her warm laugh and incredible hugs. Her love of ice cream and fashion. Her mastery at creating beautiful living spaces and passion for Architectural Digest. Her commitment to family and showing up when it counted. Her success at fighting many of life’s physical battles and resiliency in facing the emotional ones. Her belief in the importance of education. Her love for her church family. Those who are left behind are lucky to have so many moments worth remembering.

She will be missed by her daughter Amy, son-in-law Jonathan, grandson Ian, sister Betsy, brother-in-law James, sister-in-law Susan, and several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband Lowell and sisters Marjorie and Merrilyn.

Her daughter would like to thank the Elder Service Plan, Anesta Thompson, Yvonne Caulfield and the staff of Colonial Nursing for their loving care towards the end of her life.

There will be a celebration of Jean’s life at Church of our Saviour in Chicago, IL on June 6th at 3 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090 or at www.alz.org.