Obituary of Jean Callahan

A live-stream of the funeral services can be seen by going to the Fellowship Bible Church website www.fellowshipbibleburlington.com

at 10 a.mm. on Teusday, November 22.

Thelma Jean (Crawford) Callahan passed away at the Woburn Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Woburn, MA on Thursday evening, November 10, 2022. She was the beloved wife of the late Daniel J. Callahan, who passed away in 2007. She was 96 years old. Jean and Dan were married in October of 1947 and settled in Burlington to raise their five sons. They enjoyed 59 years of marriage.

Jean was born, raised, and educated in Burlington. She was the daughter of the late Thomas William Crawford and Mary Hutchinson Crawford. Her graduating class of 1944 (during the height of WWII) was the first class to graduate having spent all four high school years in the new Burlington High School (Center School).  Growing up she attended and was a member of the Church of Christ Congregational Church, which was the only church in Burlington at the time. It was there during her youth, that she trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.

Following high school, Jean attended Burdette College of Business in Boston. This provided her with the skills which she used later in life, when her boys were grown. She was the bookkeeper for the family business, Callahan’s Auto Service.

Jean was blessed to have had a long life filled with family, friends, laughter, and love. The kids of the neighborhood enjoyed their many interactions with her as they were in the home or playing in the yard. Many would visit Jean after they were adults. She was a loving, caring woman with a deep faith in God and devoted her life to making a loving home for her husband and children. Her trust in the Lord Jesus Christ guided her throughout her life and sustained and encouraged her. Jean was a member of Fellowship Bible Church of Burlington for decades and served her Savior in various ministries including singing in the choir.

Jean loved music - and hymns and songs of faith were her favorite. She owned a small library of hymn books, chorus books, sheet music, tapes and CD’s. In later years, she faithfully watched the Rejoice in the Lord TV Program every Sunday night and with her hymn book in hand she would sing heartly along with the program. She had a lovely soprano voice which filled the house with her singing.

She was the loving mother of William & his wife Christine of Burlington, Richard & his wife Marcia of Billerica, Lee & his wife Candy of Hampstead, NH, Wayne & his wife Joanne of Burlington, and John “Jake” & his wife Holly of Woburn. Mother-in-law of the late Maryanne Callahan. She was predeceased by her siblings Elvira Spence of Woburn, MA, Frederick Crawford of Arlington, MA, and her great grandson, Ty Callahan.

Jean’s family and faith were everything to her.  Her greatest joy was visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren, whom she adored. She was the proud grandmother to twelve grandchildren:  Amy Callahan of Prior Lake, MN; Bonnie Brabson and her husband James of Millersburg, MI; Carrie Towne and her husband Rechab of Alton NH; Daniel Callahan and his wife Stephanie of Billerica, MA; David Callahan and his wife Heather of Plaistow, NH; Erin Stevens and her husband Scott of Nashua, NH; Craig Callahan and his wife Courtney of Burlington, MA; Sheila Meehan and her husband Bryan of Burlington, MA; Jason Callahan and his fiancée Tori of Center Harbor, NH; Corey Callahan of Woburn, MA; Samantha Paine and her husband Brian of  Webster, NH; and Shawn Callahan of Burlington, MA.

Jean was even more proud to be the great grandmother to twenty-eight precious great grandchildren:  Josiah, Ben, Jonas, and Clayton Brabson; Owen, Chloe, and Isobel Callahan; Ryleigh, Keira, and Kaden Stevens; Addison, Cody, and Isabelle Callahan; Simon, Olivia, Landon and Sophia Towne; Jude, Troy, Ty, Finn, and Luke Callahan; Jameson and Brynlee Jean Meehan; Winona Callahan; and Shanna Antico, Edward and James Brown.

Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington on Monday, November 21 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held at Fellowship Bible Church, 71 Center Street, Burlington on Tuesday, November 22 at 10:00am followed by a Graveside Service at the Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Burlington. There will be a Luncheon at the Grand View Farm located at 55 Center Street on the Town Common in Burlington following the graveside service. Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean’s name may be made to Fellowship Bible Church, 71 Center Street, Burlington, MA 01803 or or People Helping People, P.O. Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803, www.peoplehelpingpeopleinc.org For obituary, online guestbook, and video tribute see www.sullivanfunerlhome.net