Obituary of Jeanne W Clark

Jeanne Webber Clark 96 of Duxbury died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, May 23 with her three children by her bedside.  Jeanne was born to Marie (Moore) and Porter C. Webber on September 30, 1927.  After graduating from Wellesley High School, she went to Connecticut College for Women (class of 1949) in New London, CT where she majored in math.  She was predeceased by her beloved husband Jack Clark and sister Nancy Webber Fulton. 

Jeanne is survived by her brother Porter C. Webber, Jr. and her three children–Carol Clark Flanagan (Tom) of Simsbury, CT; Sally Clark Donahue (Jim Miller) of Duxbury; and John M. Clark, Jr. (Sue) of Duxbury.  She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, who adored her and looked up to her as a role model, and 15 great-grandchildren who always looked forward to visiting Gigi. The list is long: Nan Webber Flanagan and her son Jack Taplin of Simsbury, CT;  Katherine Flanagan Shoss (Avi) and their children Isabelle and Sam of Arlington; Margaret Flanagan Larkin (Ed) and their children Esther Jeanne and Patrick of Delmar, NY; Elizabeth Flanagan Forrest (Patrick) and their children Owen, Henry, and Callum of Duxbury; Mame Donahue Wilson (Greg) and their children Rynn, Lochlan, and Nora of Duxbury; Jack Donahue (Erin) and their children John, Christopher, and Violet of Mill Valley, CA; Collin Webber Clark (Lindsey Ludwig) and their daughter Campbell of Boston; Madeline Elizabeth Clark of Hanover; Benjamin Campbell Clark of Somerville; and Owen Marshall Clark of New York City.

Jeanne devoted her life to her family and friends, and her beloved town of Duxbury–in particular, its land conservation, wetland protection, and historic preservation.  She became a vocal and frequent contributor at Town Meetings and assiduously researched wetlands regulation, state demolition delay bylaws, and a host of other topics in her vigilant effort to preserve the best in her town. She also served as Chair of the Board of the CURA Visiting Nurse Association of Plymouth; and was Director of Admissions at the Milton Academy Girls’ School in the 1970’s. 

Raising her children in the turbulent 1960’s with her late husband Jack, she was uncommonly accepting of divergent beliefs and styles and together they made all feel welcome in their historic home on Surplus Street.  Jeanne loved racing sailboats with her family on Duxbury Bay and spent hours taming the woods and clearing the brook on her property so it could flow freely to the Blue Fish River. She often enlisted her grandchildren in her conservation efforts with the promise of roasting marshmallows over a brush fire on the back lawn.She also loved playing cards, especially with her bridge group, and taught her caregivers how to play gin rummy–a game she rarely lost.

Her family is grateful for the care she received in her later years from Newfield House in Plymouth, the many skilled home caregivers from New Vision Healthcare Group in Braintree and for the past year and a half from the highly compassionate and professional staff of Benchmark at Hanover. Jeanne’s was a purposeful life well lived and she remains an inspiration to her family, friends and community.

A memorial service will be held at Holy Family Church in Duxbury at 12:30 Friday June 21st.  A private celebration of life will follow.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift to the Wildlands Trust in Plymouth.  Their address is 675 Long Pond Road, Plymouth, MA  02360.