Obituary for Jeanette M. (Hilyard) Dawson
Jeanette (Hilyard) Dawson, of Stow, passed away on August 24th, 2020 in Boston at 87 years old.
Jeanette was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to David and Ethel Hilyard. She was married for 63 years to Thomas M. Dawson. She went to the University of Nebraska where she studied teaching and home economics. After college, she moved to Fort Collins, Colorado and taught elementary school for one year at which time she met Tom and became a full-time housewife and eventually mother to her six children. She moved with her family many times during those years as her husband's jobs took them to Phoenix, AZ; North Hollywood and Artesia, CA; Hartford and Thompsonville, CT; Syracuse and Clifton Park, NY; then to Stow, MA where they lived for 47 years. During that time, she participated in many activities to support her children, including Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and various church activities. As her children grew older, she became a dental assistant working for Paquette Family Dental Group in Hudson, MA. Jeanette walked 2 to 3 miles every day until recently. She enjoyed spending time with her children and her grandchildren, camping at Lake George, NY, and traveling. She also enjoyed watching musicals and gardening. She was a hard-working, caring and giving person, always positive, with a smile on her face and a wonderful laugh that would brighten your day.
She is survived by her husband, Tom, her six children and their spouses: Cathie Olson and husband Geoff of Camas, WA; Laurie Herrick and husband Dave of Leominster, MA; Kurt Dawson and wife Diane of Groton, MA; John Dawson and wife Eileen of Northboro, MA; Becky Diercks and husband John of Hopkinton, MA; and Mark Dawson and wife Kerri of Auburn, MA. She is also survived by her 14 grandchildren: Brittany and Brandon Herrick; Jared, Mitchell, Ryan, Shane and Dylan Dawson; Katie, Bryan and Maureen Dawson; Justin and Connor Diercks; Kyle Dawson and Christine Keogh. She is also survived by her brother, Ralph Hilyard and his wife Glenda of Mitchell, NE and his family. She is predeceased by her sister Norma Massina, formerly from Mitchell, Nebraska.
There will be a private service on September 1st in Acton at Acton Funeral Home, with a burial following at Brookside Cemetery in Stow. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to her favorite charity, Habitat for Humanity, or to the American Heart Association.
Jeanette was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to David and Ethel Hilyard. She was married for 63 years to Thomas M. Dawson. She went to the University of Nebraska where she studied teaching and home economics. After college, she moved to Fort Collins, Colorado and taught elementary school for one year at which time she met Tom and became a full-time housewife and eventually mother to her six children. She moved with her family many times during those years as her husband's jobs took them to Phoenix, AZ; North Hollywood and Artesia, CA; Hartford and Thompsonville, CT; Syracuse and Clifton Park, NY; then to Stow, MA where they lived for 47 years. During that time, she participated in many activities to support her children, including Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and various church activities. As her children grew older, she became a dental assistant working for Paquette Family Dental Group in Hudson, MA. Jeanette walked 2 to 3 miles every day until recently. She enjoyed spending time with her children and her grandchildren, camping at Lake George, NY, and traveling. She also enjoyed watching musicals and gardening. She was a hard-working, caring and giving person, always positive, with a smile on her face and a wonderful laugh that would brighten your day.
She is survived by her husband, Tom, her six children and their spouses: Cathie Olson and husband Geoff of Camas, WA; Laurie Herrick and husband Dave of Leominster, MA; Kurt Dawson and wife Diane of Groton, MA; John Dawson and wife Eileen of Northboro, MA; Becky Diercks and husband John of Hopkinton, MA; and Mark Dawson and wife Kerri of Auburn, MA. She is also survived by her 14 grandchildren: Brittany and Brandon Herrick; Jared, Mitchell, Ryan, Shane and Dylan Dawson; Katie, Bryan and Maureen Dawson; Justin and Connor Diercks; Kyle Dawson and Christine Keogh. She is also survived by her brother, Ralph Hilyard and his wife Glenda of Mitchell, NE and his family. She is predeceased by her sister Norma Massina, formerly from Mitchell, Nebraska.
There will be a private service on September 1st in Acton at Acton Funeral Home, with a burial following at Brookside Cemetery in Stow. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to her favorite charity, Habitat for Humanity, or to the American Heart Association.