Jean C. (Mahoney) Fothergill

Jean C. (Mahoney) Fothergill, age 94, passed away peacefully at her home in Wilmington on Thursday, February 2, 2023, with her loving family by her side. She was the beloved wife of the late John J. Fothergill, Sr. with whom she had shared many wonderful years of marriage, prior to his passing in 2002. 

Born in Charlestown, MA on August 18, 1928, she was a daughter of the late John and  Gertrude (McCabe) Mahoney. Jean graduated from Charlestown High School at the age of 16, and after working at the Navy Yard as a teen, went on to work for New England Telephone and Telegraph. After taking time off to raise her family, she went back to work for the telephone company and retired with over twenty (20) years of service. Upon her move to Wilmington 31 years ago, Jean became a congregant of St. Theresa’s Church in North Reading, and took her Catholic faith very seriously, never once missing a weekly Mass in her earlier years. 

In her free time, Jean loved nothing more than keeping up with the Red Sox and Bruins. When she was young, she never missed a local Red Sox or Bruins game, always getting a seat and keeping track of the players. She even made a trip to Montreal to watch the  Bruins play the Canadiens. Jean carried this on throughout her life, and loved watching games on the TV, and always kept tabs on the games with her notebook in hand.  She also enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, and having a freezer fully stocked with her favorite ice cream. Above all else though, Jean was a warm, loving, and devoted mother and grandmother. She loved nothing more than making lasting memories with her close  knit family, always reminding them that: “I don’t have any favorites”. 

Surviving Jean are her children, John Fothergill, Jr. of Woburn, Jean Callahan and her husband Edward of Medford, Thomas Fothergill and his partner Tracey Galla of Malden,  Kathleen Fothergill of Wilmington, Daniel Fothergill of Wilmington and Joseph  Fothergill and his wife Nancy of Ocala, FL; her grandchildren, Kimberley Callahan,  Christine Arsenault and her husband David, John Fothergill, III, Matthew Fothergill  and his fiancée Madison Sidwell and their mother Susanne, Christopher Fothergill and  his mother Susan, Daniel Fothergill, Kevin Fothergill, Michael Fothergill and Emily  Fothergill and their mother Lisa; her sister, Evelyn Nighelli of Norton, as well as many  dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  

Jean was a sister of the late Arthur Mahoney, Dorothy Maguire, and Lawrence Mahoney.  

Arrangements: Friends and family are invited to call at the Cota Funeral Home, 335  Park Street, North Reading on Monday, February 6th from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Her  Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, February 7th at 10:30 a.m. at St. Theresa Church,  63 Winter St., North Reading, MA. Burial will immediately follow in Oak Grove  Cemetery, Medford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jean’s  memory to the Alzheimer's Association.

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