Jeannette Marie O'Rourke, 88, of Concord, Massachusetts and Surry, Maine passed away on Saturday, January 4th, 2025, surrounded by family.

She was born Jeannette Marie Ouellet in Wellesley, Massachusetts on November 4, 1936, to Frank and Ella Ouellet. She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years George Edmund O'Rourke (2007), and her two brothers Frank Ouellet (2015) and Edward Ouellet (2014). She is survived by her five children, Edmund O'Rourke of Sedgwick, ME, Anne Louiselle (John) of Hooksett, NH, Larry O'Rourke (Sarah) of Acton, MA, Kate O'Rourke of Portland, ME and Neil O'Rourke (Lori) of Westford, MA. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, Christopher O'Rourke, William O'Rourke, Thomas O'Rourke, Sarah O'Rourke, Michael O'Rourke, Americah O'Rourke, Juliette Louiselle, William Louiselle, Reagan Louiselle, George O'Rourke, Hamilton O'Rourke, Caitlin O'Rourke, Brendan O'Rourke and Finley O'Rourke.

She grew up in Wellesley, graduated from Wellesley High School and attended Boston College. She married George O'Rourke in January 1961 and raised five children in Concord, Massachusetts. In the winter months, she enjoyed cross-country skiing with her husband George. Once summer arrived, she could be found in Surry, Maine with family enjoying swimming, hiking, gardening, boating, cooking, and reading.

Whether in Concord or Surry, she was a kind and generous host who greatly enjoyed entertaining her friends, her children, her many children's friends, and grandchildren. Her love of entertaining always made for amusing conversations and seemingly endless friend introductions. Perhaps her longest lasting hosting tradition is the ongoing annual family Christmas Eve party.

She was a member of the Concord Piecemakers Quilt Guild and made many quilts. She participated in quilt shows and gifted family members many beautiful quilts. She worked with members of the Concord Piecemakers to make and donate Comfort Quilts to provide comfort to those in homeless shelters, cancer patients, victims of fire, new mothers in family emergency shelters and other people in need of a "Quilter's Embrace."

When not quilting, she loved to cook and was quite talented at making delicious meals and desserts. Her blueberry pies, cookies, and cakes were legendary.

After raising five children, she went back to college and earned a degree in Liberal Arts. She returned to the workforce and worked for Digital Equipment Corporation before retiring. She had a sense of adventure and enjoyed traveling to locations across the U.S., Canada, and Ireland.

She was a longtime communicant of St. Bernard's and Holy Family Parishes in Concord. She volunteered for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Meals on Wheels, and the Concord Piecemakers community service projects. She taught Sunday school (CCD), was a Den Leader in Cub Scouts, and helped out with many other charitable organizations. Most of all, she was an amazing mother, grandmother, and friend whose life was lived with love, kindness, faith, and humility that we strive to live up to. She will be dearly missed as we carry her memory proudly into the future.

Family and friends will gather for Jeannette's Funeral Mass on Thursday, January 16th at 10:30 am in St. Bernard's Church at Holy Family Parish, 12 Monument Square, Concord, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jeannette's memory may be made to the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, c/o Concord-Carlisle Parish Center, 70 Monument Street, Concord, MA 01742 or online at ( www.svdpconcordcarlisle.org ).

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.