Rowley — Jeanne E. Reith, a Rowley resident, passed away while in the hospital on Sunday, March 17, 2013. Jeanne was born on March 26, 1934, in Perth Amboy, N.J., and spent her childhood in Fords, N.J., and then Metuchen, N.J. She was the daughter of Willard and Augusta (Petersen) Dunham. She leaves Carl Hampe, her beloved friend and companion.
Jeanne is survived by two sons and their spouses, Skip and Bette Reith and Allan and Malisa Reith. She is also survived by her two grandsons, Derek Reith and Howard Reith, and two step-grandchildren, Charles Morrill and Nichole Morrill. She is survived by her brother Willard Dunham Jr. She was preceded in death by her sister Silvia Dunham, and two brothers, Clifford Dunham and Thomas Dunham. Jeanne also has many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Jeanne was educated in the Fords, N.J., school system, finishing high school at Metuchen. She went to Vermont Junior College and after getting an associate’s degree in liberal arts, she transferred to Tufts University, earning a bachelor's’ degree in early childhood education. She continued her education throughout her life, finishing with a master’s in education from Cambridge, plus completing many graduate classes. She married Howard Reith Jr. after Tufts, settling in Massachusetts to raise her family.
Jeanne began teaching kindergarten in 1966 in Grand Forks, N.D. In 1969, the family moved to Rowley, where she lived for the rest of her life. She started teaching kindergarten in Ipswich, and taught there until her retirement in 1999, although she continued teaching part-time for several more years. During her tenure of teaching, she touched the lives of her many students, giving them a strong start in education.
Jeanne enjoyed spending time with her many friends and family, always making people feel welcome in her home. She inherited a love of gardening from her mother and father; she always enjoyed the time she spent in her gardens. Jeanne was quite fond of the arts, spending many hours enjoying painting, photography and writing both poetry and prose. She enjoyed all forms of music, which she and Carl shared through their many concerts and shows.
Jeanne was active in her church, the Byfield Parish, and in her community at the Rowley Library as well as with her many friends in the area.
ARRANGEMENTS: Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 23, at 11 a.m., in the Byfield Parish Church, 132 Jackman St., Georgetown. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be in the F.S. Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 14 Independent St., Rowley, on Thursday, March 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. and Friday, March 22, from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to her church, Byfield Parish Church, 132 Jackman St., Georgetown, MA 01833; the Rowley Public Library, or the Rowley Food Pantry. Arrangements by the F.S. Roberts and Son Funeral Home of Rowley. To leave condolences, please visit www.fsrobertsandson.com.
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