Jane A. Walsh

Jane Alice (McLaughlin) Walsh, 88, died April 12, 2010 in Manchester, NH after a period of declining health. She was born in Somerville, MA on February 24, 1922, a daughter of John and Florence (McDonough) McLaughlin. She was raised in Melrose, MA and was the third of six children. In 1945, she married Bernard J. Walsh and moved to Manchester, CT and later Wakefield, MA where they resided for more than 30 years before moving to Haverhill, MA after retirement. Following her husband’s death in 2002, she moved to NH where she was living until her death. Jane will be remembered by her family for her energy, creativity and forward momentum. She was a lifelong learner with a tremendous sense of curiosity who encouraged her family to travel and pursue higher education. She took on the role of family historian, and through her stories and written records has left her children and grandchildren with a vibrant sense of their past. She took pride in her family’s accomplishments and pursued her hobbies with passion. For more than 15 years, she attended the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) at Harvard University where she studied Art, Literature and History. She was an accomplished artist and amateur photographer and her work was displayed in many local building and galleries. Much of her work was inspired by her many travels to Europe as well as towns and cities across the United States. Her husband of 57 years accompanied her on many of these trips as well as her children and grandchildren. She was an avid reader and designed her own clothing. She enjoyed spending her summers in Maine and for many years spent her winters on Anna Maria Island, Florida, where she participated in the art society and enjoyed numerous friends and family. Jane was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Parish, Wakefield, MA for 30 years and a member of the Catholic Club. She was an active participant in the Book Groups and Art Societies in Wakefield, Stoneham and Haverhill, MA. In addition, she had served on the building committee for Wakefield High School. She was a passionate, curious, dedicated, and loving woman that will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Jane was predeceased by her husband, Bernard J. Walsh and their son, Bernard J. Walsh, Jr.; two sisters, Ruth Noonan, Diane Brussard; three brothers, Jack, David and Bill McLaughlin. Family members include three daughters, Mary E. Collins of Mont Vernon, NH, Clare J. Columbus of Salem, OR and Annemarie Walsh-Cheatham of Alexandra, VA; two sons, Michael J. Walsh of Deltona, FL and David F. Walsh of Tigard, OR; eight grandchildren, Kristen Collins of Los Angeles, CA, Brian Collins of Amherst, NH, Laura Boone of Charleston, WVA, Brendan Walsh of NY, NY, Jennifer Columbus and Michael Columbus, both of Salem, OR, Morgan Cheatham of Alexandra, VA and Michael Walsh of Deltona, FL; one great granddaughter, Isabella Reyes Collins of Amherst, NH. There are no calling hours. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 17th at 10:00 am in St. Joseph’s Parish, 173 Albion Street, Wakefield, MA. Burial will follow in Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield, MA.