Delia A. Jean

Delia A. (Collette) Jean, 91, of Gardner, died peacefully, Sunday, July 5, 2020, in her daughter Catherine’s home surrounded by her family. 

Born in Gardner on June 24, 1929, she was the daughter of the late J. Delphis and Alma (Houde) Collette. She was a graduate of Gardner High School with the Class of 1947. Delia was a credit manager, employed by the Nichols & Stone of Gardner for 37-years until her retirement in 1994. She and her late husband Sylvio were also owners of the Bowlaway on Main Street in Gardner from 1971 to 1988. 

Delia was a parishioner of Annunciation Parish/ Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Gardner. She was an active member of the Gardner Bridge Club, the Women’s Golf Association of Gardner, and the Pitch Club of the American Legion Post 129 of Gardner. Delia loved playing golf and tennis, card games, bowling, reading a good book, having coffee with friends, and watching television—especially PBS programs. But the time that she truly loved and cherished the most was time spent with her family—especially visiting her son Raymond.  

Delia is survived by her three daughters, Ann Marie Carrier and her husband Lawrence of Gardner, Catherine E. Manca and her husband John of Baldwinville, and Suzanne M. Gustafson and her partner Gary Beaudreau of Pascoag, RI; a son, Raymond R. Jean of North Grafton, a sister, Ida Carlson of Washington, IA; four grandchildren, Angela Raymond and her husband Curtis, Gregory Carrier and his wife Mollie, Kurt Gustafson, and Joanna Gustafson; three step-grandchildren, John E. Manca, Rebecca Mexico and her husband Todd, and Peter Manca and his wife Amanda; a great-grandchild, Declan J. Carrier; seven step-great-grandchildren, Christian and Jamison Manca, Sebastian, Watson, and Myla Mexico, Payton and Mia Manca; several nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

She was predeceased by her husband of 65-years, Sylvio G. “Siv” Jean, who died in 2015; and four sisters, Aldora Melanson, Anita Vaillancourt, Rita Levesque, and Eveyln Doherty. 

Funeral Services will be held Monday, July 20, 2020, with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Burial will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery, West Street, Gardner, MA. Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic, there will be no reception following the services. 

Calling Hours are private. 

Current restrictions set in place by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will be in effect at Delia’s services.

Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or on their website at (www.stjude.org), or to Open Sky Community Services, 4 Mann Street, Worcester, MA 01602, or to Annunciation Parish, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA 01440. Please reference in memory of Delia A. Jean.