OBITUARY: Jeanne C. Tagliamonte (Channell), 65, of North Reading

NORTH READING, MA — Surrounded by her family, Jeanne Claire (Channell) Tagliamonte, 65, of North Reading, passed away Jan. 3 at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, marking the end of her five-year battle with renal cancer.

Jeanne was born Dec. 12, 1951 in Salem. She attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School and St. Mary’s High School in Lynn, graduating in 1969. She grew up just a few blocks from her future husband, Michael, and they began dating as teenagers. They were married June 11, 1972. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Salem State College in 1973 and the couple moved to North Reading the following year.

Jeanne devoted her career to educating young children. She taught preschool and transitional kindergarten for many years, primarily at Hilltop Nursery School in North Reading, and served as president of the Parent Teacher Association while her daughters attended J.T. Hood School in North Reading. After she retired from teaching, she continued to guide young lives by caring for her granddaughter full-time. She enjoyed music, needlework, scrapbooking, and traveling. She also volunteered her time knitting hats for premature newborns that were donated to area hospitals. More than anything, she loved spending time with her family and friends.

She is survived by her husband Michael, with whom she enjoyed 44 years of marriage; her sister Marie (Channell) Bowers; her brother John Channell; her daughters Melissa (Tagliamonte) Delin and Lauren Tagliamonte, both of New Hampshire; her beloved granddaughter, Olivia Delin; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is predeceased by her parents, Leslie and Leone (Auger) Channell.

Funeral from the funeral home on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 9:30am. A funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 10:30am in St. Theresa's Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Interment will be held at Riverside Cemetery. Relatives and friends may visit the funeral home on Tuesday, Jan., 10 from 4:00-8:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701.

Obituary and photo courtesy of the Cota Funeral Homes.