Obituary of Jean A. Patrick

Jean A. Patrick (LaTorraca), a beloved wife, loving mother and cherished grandmother, passed away on October 5, 2023 at the age of 89. Jean was born to her parents Ann and Nicholas, and grew up in Belmont, MA. After graduating from Belmont High School in 1952, Jean began her career working for Raytheon where she met the love of her life, Gerry. Jean and Gerry married in 1955 and built their forever home in 1957 and happily remained in Burlington for the next 62 years.  During that time, Jean and Gerry were always making improvements to their home both inside and outside. They formed many friendships with a great number of families in their neighborhood.They were proud of their home and the memories they created will be forever cherished.    

Jean was a proud member of the Burlington community. She was an active parishioner of St. Margaret’s Church, where she volunteered her services teaching at-home first grade CCD and for many years hosted the First Holy Communion breakfast where parishioners would gather and celebrate the sacrament. After their last child was off to begin school, Jean went back to the workforce where she spent many years working at Kenny’s Deli in Woburn, Midtown Deli and Delicious Desserts in Burlington.  Jean was well liked by both her employers and the regulars that would frequent these establishments, which resulted in special bonds and friendships over the years. She volunteered with the Burlington High School Boosters Club, hosted the Burlington Pop Warner Exchange program, and was a regular at Thursday Night Bowling with her women’s bowling league.

Jean was the ultimate homemaker, a role she took very seriously but enjoyed immensely.  Anytime you dropped in, she was always on her feet cooking or cleaning or both. She created a welcoming and comfortable space for anyone who crossed the threshold. She loved to cook, often making wonderful Italian dinners and every dinner was always accompanied with fresh bread and always a dessert to follow. The family and their friends raved about Mrs. P’s cooking and her famous whoopie pies. Jean hosted almost every holiday until just four years ago, Christmas Eve being the highlight of the year that no one would consider missing.  Anyone was welcome, she would set another place at the table without hesitation. Jean’s home was opened for neighborhood holiday celebrations like New Year’s Eve. She even enthusiastically celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, whilst reminding everyone of her Italian heritage. She was known to remark that she was only Irish by marriage.  

Traditions were important to Jean. Every Christmas Eve would start with a piece of fried dough with butter and sugar for each person upon arrival. This meant a lot of dough and a lot of time at the stove preparing it. As the years went on and spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren arrived, she never once considered scaling back. Other long-held traditions were to gather at her table weekly after returning from the mountains with the Burlington Ski Program, after attending the Woburn Halloween Parade and for major sporting events on TV. Jean loved to gather the family to watch Golf, Bruins, and the Patriots.  And if you had a birthday with no solid plans, she would happily cook your birthday dinner.

When the kids were younger, Jean and Gerry enjoyed taking the kids on road trips and camping at their favorite site, White Lake. Jean and Gerry took two very different approaches to camping.  While Gerry cooked hotdogs and hamburgers, Jean would reheat her homemade spaghetti sauce and meatballs that she prepped at the house before they left. The family traveled to a different State park every Sunday, making their way through New England.  They loved Humarock Beach in Scituate, MA, Ogunquit, ME, and the White Mountains, and Lake Winnipesaukee, NH, a special place she would travel with her parents and where she and Gerry got engaged. These travels left an imprint on the future generations of their family, all outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Jean and Gerry were always up for an adventure. Wonderful trips were taken to Switzerland, Bermuda, Banff National Park, and Montreal.  Stateside, Jean and Gerry took trips to Florida, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, Charleston, SC, the Grand Canyon and went on a trip of a lifetime Alaskan Cruise. The couple loved their travels with the wonderful friends they made over the years.    For 20 years running, they enjoyed the Catskills with their great friends from the MBTA. Jean and Gerry loved to go dancing and attend dinner functions including the annual Burlington Senior Center Prom.

She also enjoyed years of playing bingo at the Woburn Boy’s Club and more recent at Stonebridge where she resided for the last 4 years and encountered some wonderful people.   

Jean’s appearance was always important to her, always a class act and never overdone.    Her jewelry and outfits were always perfect and she was never without her lipstick. 

Jean’s greatest pride and joy were her grandchildren. She cherished every moment she had with them. When at all possible, she would attend hockey and baseball games, soccer games, golf matches and dance recitals. Jean made sure to never miss a birthday party, sending birthday cards, graduation party or weddings, even virtual weddings when it became difficult to attend in person. She made sure to have a special connection with each of her grandchildren, lighting up when they would enter the room. She spoke to all of them and made it a point to know about their friends and whatever might be important in their lives at the time. She loved unannounced visits, her voice would sometimes break when she said goodbye to them in person or on the phone.  There was simply never a doubt about how much joy they brought her and how fiercely she loved them.

Jean was the beloved wife of the late Gerald Patrick. She was the loving mother to Gail Sheehan & her husband Jackie of Mashpee, formerly of Burlington, Gerry Patrick, Jr. of Burlington, Valerie Miller & her husband Rick of Marshfield, Michael Patrick & his wife Laurie of Andover, Lisa Raucci & her husband Dave of Reading, Denise Daly & her husband Chuck of Burlington, and Chris Patrick of Burlington. Jean was the cherished grandmother to Danielle Sheehan, Brianne Boucher, Ryan Sheehan, Jake Patrick, Jenny Patrick, Jenna Miller, Mark Miller, Dan Miller, Kileigh Patrick, Shane Patrick, Nicholas Raucci, Rachel McCrobie, Brian Daly, and Kevin Daly. Jean was the proud great grandmother to Mia Boucher, Cameron Boucher, Ashlyn Boucher, and Conor Higgins. She was the caring sister-in-law to Dorothy Webster of Lowell and beloved by her friends and staff at Stonebridge, especially her roommate Marion.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 12, at the Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, Burlington, MA 01803, from 4 to 7 PM. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home at 9 AM on Friday, October 13, with a 10 AM funeral mass at St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn Street, Burlington, MA 01803. Burial at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, 52 Bedford Street, Burlington, MA 01083 to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society, cancer.org, or Care Dimensions Hospice House, 125 Winter Street, Lincoln, MA 01773 www.caredimensions.org. For online guestbook, tribute video, and service information, please visit, www.sullivanfuneralhome.net