Jeanette M Hyman

It is with heavy hearts, we announce that Jeanette Hyman passed away peacefully on January 4th 2024 at the age of 99. She was born on December 27,1924 and lived in Chelsea during her formative years. She remembered fondly spending her summers at Revere Beach. Jeanette entered elementary school speaking only Yiddish, but soon became fluent in English. She graduated from Chelsea High School in 1943 and completed two years of Higher Education. Jeanette owned and worked with her husband for thirty years in their jewelry and gift store, first in Fitchburg, MA and then in Shrewsbury, MA.

Jeanette lived through the Great Depression, World War II, the Vietnam War, 9/11, the COVID pandemic and the January 6th insurrection. She was part of what television journalist and author (Tom Brokaw) called the Greatest Generation. His book focused on the soldiers who fought in the war, as well as the workers whose labor provided essential materials and services in support of them. Jeanette encompassed many of the values of the Greatest Generation (patriotic, driven and motivated, lived modestly, frugal, a prudent saver, committed and loyal). Jeanette and her husband were WW II veterans. Jeanette joined the Coast Guard (Seaman Second Class) and her husband joined the Air Force. He flew flimsy, noisy, unarmed glider planes to drop off supplies and troops over the Western European front. He was shot down twice behind German enemy lines. Miraculously, he and his crew escaped without any major injuries.

Jeanette was independent, spirited, engaging, humorous, resolute, had chutzpah and above all, resilient. When her husband passed away at the early age of 57, she decided to move to Boca Raton, Florida. In Florida, she continued to cultivate her love of playing bridge, dancing, music, traveling and acting in her community theatre. She was also an avid reader. Jeanette easily made new friends and thoroughly enjoyed her 27 years in Florida. She once told us she had a few suitors who were very interested in dating her. She solved that “problem” and let them down gently by telling them she had a boyfriend back in Boston. This is just one example of her humor.

Jeanette returned to Massachusetts (Brookline) in 2008. She continued to pursue her hobbies and passions at the Brookline Senior Center and volunteered to supervise the free food distribution to low income and handicapped tenants in her building. Jeanette was asked to be the person to welcome new residents to help them feel comfortable and to acclimate them to their new home. By returning to the Boston area, she was now able to join our large get-togethers again. She was often the life of the party when our family and good friends gathered to celebrate all the Jewish and Christian holidays. There was always laughter at Jeanette’s end of the table where she was entertaining the younger members of our party with her wit and her stories.

However, in 2018, Jeanette had to face adversity again when the twelve-floor senior apartment building where she resided underwent an extensive and very disruptive two-year construction rehab. When that project finally ended, the COVID epidemic began. Family members were cut off from seeing her and were only able to drop off food to her in the lobby. Throughout all this disruption, Jeanette remained steadfast, optimistic and never complained.

Jeanette was very aware of news events and the many political and social issues facing our country. In her last two and a half years when her eyesight was failing, she enjoyed attending the weekly current events discussion group at the Hebrew Rehab Nursing Home facilitated by our close friend, Steve Glickel. She would attend the discussion group and other activities with her very good friend (Iris) who gave her tremendous support and comfort. When Jeanette would hear good news, she would often say, “From your mouth to God’s ears.” It is a Yiddish saying that means, I hope God hears what you just said and will act on it.

Jeanette’s family, grandchildren and great grandchildren were the loves of her life. To some she was Grandma, to others she was Bobe. She always told us how lucky she was that God let her live this long so she could see her great grandchildren. She worked tirelessly on a written heirloom called “Grandmother Remembers” to pass on her life story to her grandchildren. In it, she expressed her philosophy of life and her wish for the future. She truly lived her life by the following saying, “The art of happiness is to be happy with what you have, not with what you would like to have.” Her wish for the future was that “Our beautiful country would become a more sane and safe place for my beautiful grandchildren and all the other children in the world.” Jeanette’s zest for life was infectious and she brought much joy to everyone she met.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband, William Hyman (Billy) and her brother, Irving Katzen (Harry). She is survived by her three children (Eileen Hyman-Casilli and her husband, Paul Casilli of Jamaica Plain, MA, Leonard Hyman and his wife Deborah Farraher of Shrewsbury, MA, Gail Kaltenbacher and her husband, Joseph Kaltenbacher of Sammamish, WA, her grandchildren, William Hyman of Fairhaven, MA, Jessica Silverstein and her husband Paul Silverstein of Shrewsbury, MA, Kristen Hyman of Seattle, WA, Sarah Casilli-Murray of Jamaica Plain, MA, David Casilli of Hyde Park, MA, Jason and Eric Kaltenbacher of Sammamish, WA and seven great grandchildren.

Should family or friends desire, a memorial contribution may be sent to a favorite charity of your choice.