Jean Neste

Jean E Van Neste , 90
Graduate of Boston College and the University of Massachusetts Boston

WILMINGTON - Jean E . (Barrett) Van Neste , 90, of Wakefield passed away suddenly of COVID-19 at the Care-One Skilled Nursing Facility in Wilmington.
Jean was the first child born to Christopher and Vera (Wilson) Barrett in Melrose on June 10, 1929. Jean grew up during the depression in Wakefield, losing her father to pneumonia when she was only three years old, graduating from St. Joseph School in 1943 and Wakefield High School in 1947. There she thrived in the company of her many exceptional classmates, including Jack Galvin and Billy McDonald. Jean later went on to receive a bachelor's degree from Boston College and her M.Ed. from U.Mass Boston, both through night classes while working full time.
After several years in various secretarial positions, Jean started her own employment firm on Albion Street, Wakefield. Beginning in mid-October 1956 she spent seven years helping many of her town's residents secure satisfying jobs. Then, in January of 1964 Jean became a Senior Clerk for what was then called The Massachusetts Division of Employment Security. There she worked her way up to being a full-fledged Employment Counselor, helping clients to identify and focus their strengths and aptitudes for a variety of rewarding careers, finally retiring herself at the start of the new century.
Jean was always very involved in politics and social justice. On her own time she worked with the Catholic Interracial Council of Boston on fair housing. She also helped Caesar Chavez to promote his United Farm Workers Organizing Committee during the 1960's and marched with the late Reverend Dr. M. L. King Jr. during his powerful campaigns in Washington, DC.
It was during this phase of Jean's life that she met her husband, Victor, an assistant professor of philosophy at Curry College in Milton. They were married in 1969 and resided for ten years in Brighton, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer following a miscarriage made Jean unable to have any children of her own. But her love of Jesus led her to being a CCD teacher for the next forty years in Chestnut Hill, Wakefield, and Stoneham. Jean had remarkable moral courage and was never afraid to stir up trouble by telling the truth when encountering someone thumbing his nose at God's commandments in public.
Jean loved playing tennis and Scrabble, going on long strolls with her husband around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir while living in Brighton, exploring the Blue Hills in Milton, and going to Crane's Beach in Ipswich or Ogunquit in Maine for a view of the ocean and walk in the sand. The couple also enjoyed professional theater every weekend, often seeking out unusual venues tucked away in Greater Boston. Trips to Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon, and other scenic wonders made cherished memories and forged their iron bond for fifty years.
Jean is predeceased by her brother, Christopher J. Barrett, her brother-in-law, Eugene V. Mooney, Jr., whose wife was Jean's sister, Patricia B. Mooney, as well as by several much-loved aunts, uncles, and very dear friends
Jean is survived by that sister, who was her neighbor in long-term-residence at the Care-One Nursing Home, also survived by Patricia's daughter, Pamela Hunt, RN, and by Pam's sons, Brian and David Hunt. Jean's survivors also include Pam's brothers, Peter, Paul, and Philip Mooney, along with their splendid growing families. Jean was always especially close to her brother "Christy" and is survived by Marilyn Barrett, his wife, who now runs their local realty firm. Jean had great love and esteem for all the Barrett children and grandchildren. She was the sweet and gentle "Auntie Jean" that they will always remember fondly.
Finally, Jean is survived by two very dear cousins, Stephanie Hill in Billerica and Beverly Miller in Miramar Florida. Jean always cherished their relationship to her and felt that they understood her better than even her workaholic spouse.
On account of the COVID19 pandemic, private funeral services will be conducted by McDonald Funeral Home in Wakefield with interment at St. Patrick Cemetery in Stoneham.