Mary Dew

"Jill" Mary Irene (Gelinas) Dew died December 28, 2021 in Medfield, Massachusetts, after a long illness. She was born March 15,1936, the fourth and final child of Wilfred Gelinas and Irene (Bruya) Gelinas. Jill is survived by her three children, Sarah Jean (Dew) Beaulieu and Brian; Jennifer Lea (Dew) Young and David; and Gary Francis Dew; and by her grandchildren Deanne, Ryan, Georgia, Alyssa, Matthew, and Kirsten. In addition to her parents, Jill was predeceased by her grandson, David Brian Beaulieu; and by her daughter-in-law, Deborah (Egan) Dew. She was also predeceased by her older siblings, Mary Claire Gelinas, Richard Gelinas and Lorraine (Gelinas) Matuszak.

Jill loved adventure and athletics, and was always ready to try something new. She even tried ballooning during a family gathering. As a girl, she became an adept roller skater. Decades later, her skate dancing skills stole the show at an impromptu outing to a local skate rink.

Tennis, sailing and skiing were her favorite sports. "Every time I'm doing one of those things, I swear to myself that it's my favorite one". As a young adult sharing a Boston apartment with friends, she would jump on the ski train to Conway for a weekend of frolic on the New Hampshire slopes.

Jill came to love sailing after learning the skill from her former husband, Ben. Some of her favorite vacations included those when she and Ben would rent a sailboat with a group of friends, visiting harbors and towns as they gunkholed along.

Jill enjoyed doubles tennis with her large circle of friends in Westwood. Playing on an outdoor court, she once accidentally 'served' a bird that happened to get in the way of her racket.

Always good with her hands, Jill purchased a guitar with S&H green stamps as a young mother. She taught herself to play quite well, and would accompany friends and family for singalongs at campfires and ski chalets throughout her adulthood. She was a wonderful craftsperson and painter, with a great eye for color and design. She showed her love by sharing these gifts generously. Many among her family and friends have a little piece of Jill in the form of a braided rug, a quilt, a needlework backgammon board, or a painting of a favorite scene.

A homemaker until her late-forties, Jill came late to her career as a database manager. She loved her job and was very good at it. She retired from the Brandeis University Development department in 2001.

In her retirement she more fully explored her artistic pursuits with a group of painting companions in Boothbay Harbor Maine and with her grandchildren in Massachusetts.

Always practical, sensible, and a giver of wise advice, Jill enjoyed a good laugh in the company of those she loved. Unbeknownst to many, Jill battled depression her whole life.

Jill was deeply loved. She enriched our lives. Her humor and spirit will be sorely missed. A celebration of her life will be planned for June 2022. Gifts in her memory may be sent to the Thomas Upham House Residents Activity Fund care of Kathy Reebe in Medfield, Massachusetts.