SOUTHBOROUGH____Mary A. (Armitage) Jewett, 92, of Southborough died Saturday August 21, 2010. Her husband, Gordon H. Jewett died in 1990.
She leaves a daughter, Cynthia J. Jewett of Port Clinton, Ohio; a son, Geoffrey H. Jewett and his wife, Jean of Westborough; a granddaughter, Jillian Manekas and her husband Jason of Charlestown; a grandson, Geoffrey H. Jewett, II of Westborough a great-granddaughter, Perry Helaine Manekas, a sister, Janet Metcalf of Westborough and nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by a brother, David Armitage. Mary was born and raised in Worcester, a daughter of David E. and Mary (Stewart) Armitage and was a graduate of North High School. She has lived in Southborough for many years.
Mrs. Jewett was a Registered Embalmer and Licensed Funeral Director and worked in the profession for over 70 years. Mary began working at the former Longstreet Colonial Chapel, Worcester and served her apprenticeship there. In those early days funeral homes also provided ambulance service and Mary would assist with the transport of patients to area hospitals. She was a 1953 graduate of the New England Institute of Anatomy, Sanitary Science, Embalming and Funeral Directing now a part of Mt. Ida College. When she received her Funeral Director license Mary continued her career in funeral service at a time when there were few woman in the profession. She worked at John F. Britton and Britton Collins Funeral Homes and assisted funeral homes in the Worcester, Marlboro and Framingham area's as a Funeral Director and as an expert in restorative art and cosmetic sciences. For the last 16 years Mary has been a Funeral Director with Dirsa-Morin Funeral Homes, Worcester. Mrs. Jewett was also a bookkeeper and secretary many years for her husband's company, Jewett Auto Body, Worcester.
Mrs. Jewett was a member of and held several offices in Stella Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star including Worthy Grand Matron, was a member of Altrusa International, the Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, the Greater Worcester Funeral Directors Association and was a former member of All Saints Episcopal Church, Worcester. In 2001 Mary received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater Worcester Funeral Directors and in 2007 received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Mt. Ida College.
The funeral will be held on Friday, August 27, 2010 from DIRSA-MORIN FUNERAL HOME, 298 Grafton Street, Worcester with a service at 11:00 A.M. in The Ellen Rogers Kennedy Chapel at Rural Cemetery, 180 Grove Street, Worcester. Burial will follow in the cemetery. Calling hours in the funeral home are Thursday, August 26 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Animal Rescue League, 139 Holden St., Worcester, Ma., 01606.