Jeanne E Parke

Jeanne E. (Muir) Parke, 86, of Worcester, passed away on Sunday, July 4, 2021, at UMass Hospital in Worcester, surrounded by family.

Jeanne is survived by her loving husband of sixty-seven years, Kenneth Parke, whom she followed to Germany, while he was serving in the United States Army. She is survived by three children, Suzanne M. Dembowski, John M. Parke and his wife Josefina, and Elaine C. Valk and her husband James, all of Worcester; six grandchildren, Lauren Godlewski and her husband Michael of North Grafton, Jacki Carroll and her husband Michael of Millbury, Danielle Dembowski of Worcester, Michelle Valk of Worcester, Cameron B. Parke of Chicago, IL, Delaney B. Parke of Monson, MA; five great grandchildren, Kendall, Kennedy and Colette Godlewski, Emma and Ryan Carroll; nieces and nephews.  Jeanne was predeceased by a grandson, Brian Valk in May 2014.  Jeanne was born in Worcester, daughter of the late W. George and Mabel (Largess) Muir and has lived here all her life.

Jeanne attended Lake View Elementary School and later graduated from Saint Peter’s High School, Class of 1953.  She was a life-long member of the former Saint Margaret Mary Church, where she was active in the women’s guild, Bishop Wright Catholic Daughters, and the church choir. She is now a member of Saint Anne’s Church in Shrewsbury.

Following her graduation from high school, Jeanne worked at State Mutual Insurance, before marrying the love of her life in 1954; she then moved to Germany, where Ken was stationed and welcomed their first daughter there.  Upon Ken’s discharge from the military, they returned to Worcester where they raised their family.  Jeanne then re-entered the workforce in the early 1970’s when she returned to the insurance field, as an administrative assistant to four managers of group claims at Hanover Insurance.  She retired in 1997.

Jeanne was active in the American Legion and VFW, and attended many Legion and VFW conventions with Ken, throughout the United States.  She served as Chaplain for Post 279 American Legion Auxiliary and was Past Sr. Vice President of the Women’s Auxiliary for VFW Post 6907.  She actively worked many meat raffles for Post 279 and assisted with the “Special Olympics” and BINGO parties hosted by District 4 American Legion, at Belmont Home, Christopher House, and Worcester State Hospital. She marched in many Memorial Day and July 4^th parades in Auburn.

She dedicated her life to her husband and their family and to living by the Golden Rule.  She was always offering to help in any way she could.  She will be missed by so many.

Calling Hours will be on Thursday, July 8, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. in MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester.  Her Funeral will be on Friday, July 9 from the funeral home, with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Saint Anne’s Church, 130 Boston Turnpike Road (route 9 east), Shrewsbury.  Interment will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Operation Comfort Warriors, by visiting www.mylegion.org and selecting “operation comfort warriors” or to VNA Care, 120 Thomas Street, Worcester, MA 01608.