Jean T. Gearty, 84, of Manchester, died April 3, 2019 at the Hillsborough County Nursing Home after a period of failing health. She was born in Lynn, MA on July 8, 1934, the daughter of Raymond and Frances Thelma (Durgin) Perry. She was raised in South Berwick, Maine and graduated from Berwick Academy.
Music had always been a big part of her life and at the age of 17, she become a vocalist with the Ted Herbert Orchestra. There she met the love of her life, the handsome saxophone/clarinet/flute player, Donald Gearty, and chose to forego a professional singing career. Jean and Don were married for 63 years and raised 4 lovely daughters and 1 favorite son. Jean took on the hardest job in the world, staying home and raising 5 children, but still managed to fulfill her love of music by finding an occasional gig singing at local venues. Some of her favorite times were spent with her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.Her family and friends will think of her sitting at a table adorned with purple silk flowers with Don by her side, listening to great music and eating an endless supply of Chinese food.
Members of her family include her son Michael Gearty and his wife Joyce of Manchester; her four daughters Dawn Gearty of Manchester, Robin Comiskey and her husband Edward of Bedford, Lori Merrill and her husband Andrew of Deerfield and Tracy Makris and her husband Nick of Auburn; her ten grandchildren Shaun, Courtenay, Miranda, Brian, Caitlin, Daniel, Elizabeth, Zoe, Kyle and Madison; her two great-grandchildren Aiden and Kaia; and her sister-in-law Elaine Britton of Hooksett; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jean is predeceased by her husband, Donald Gearty, her brother Raymond Perry; and sisters Ruth Bamberger, Alice Fogg and Lois Herlihy McBride.
There were no calling hours. Urn burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery was private. The family requests that memorial donations in Jean’s name be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital PO Box 1000 Dept. 142 Memphis, TN 38148. The McHugh Funeral Home was entrusted by the family with her care.
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