Obituary: Jeanne Elizabeth Parker, 66 of East Haven

Information via Clancy-Palumbo Funeral Home

Jeanne Elizabeth Parker, 66 of East Haven, CT passed away peacefully on August 20, 2017 at Connecticut Hospice after a week spent celebrating and reminiscing with her dear family and friends in the sunshine and ocean breeze. Jeanne was born on April 19th, 1951 in Brooklyn, NY to Edward and Elizabeth Parker just four minutes before the arrival of her twin sister Eileen. She is irreplaceable to her family that survives her – father Edward Parker of East Haven, CT; sister Eileen, her husband Tom, and niece Donna Marchessault of South Windsor, CT; and niece Beth Marchessault, nephew Matt Marchessault, and his partner Kayla Samson of St. Albans, VT.

Jeanne was predeceased by her mother Elizabeth and brother Edward. Nothing was more important to Jeanne than making memories with family, and hers will forever cherish their time spent together around the dinner table at holidays, mid-air while skydiving for Eileen and Tom’s 40th anniversary, and traveling for a long-anticipated family trip to Ireland and Scotland last September. Jeanne’s life-long passion was education. She attained hers at St. John the Baptist Elementary School, St. Mary’s High School, Western Connecticut State University (B.S. in Mathematics), the University of Northern Colorado (M.E. in Special Education for the Visually Handicapped), and Southern Connecticut State University (Sixth Year Certificate, Reading Specialist). Jeanne made a difference in hundreds of lives throughout her 35-year teaching career that began with four years at the Tennessee School for the Blind and continued at various institutions in New Haven, CT.

She taught mathematics to elementary, middle, high school, and college students before she retired in 2011. For Jeanne, her friends were her family, and she was blessed that so many of hers were able to visit and bring a smile to her face in her final days. She was particularly devoted to the Ladies Guild at St. Vincent DePaul Church in East Haven, CT, and to Alpha Delta Kappa: the professional teaching sorority to which she dedicated much of her time and energy.

Jeanne taught herself how to code so she could build and maintain the state’s ADK website. She served as President of her local Sigma chapter, and in 2007 she was awarded the President’s Plaque for her service. Some of her favorite memories were of traveling to regional and national conferences with her sisters and enjoying each other’s company over dinner at Brazi’s – fellowship first, business second!

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, CT in memory of Jeanne Elizabeth Parker.