Jean Bonnell Day, 87, formerly of Damariscotta, passed away peacefully August 4th with her daughters at her side. Jean was born on June 1, 1928 in Hackensack, New Jersey, the daughter of Ruth McCollum and Henry Parks Bonnell.
Jean completed high school in Westwood, New Jersey in 1945 and graduated from Colby College in Waterville, Maine in 1949 with a degree in psychology. It was there that she learned the true sense of friendship and she remained friends with her surviving classmates until her passing. Jean worked briefly for the phone company in customer relations following college in New York City. In 1951, she married her best friend from high school, Charles “Bud” Day, who predeceased her on August 17, 2011. They enjoyed 60 years of marriage.
Jean learned the art of adjusting at an early age due to her father’s Naval career which required many relocations within New York, Washington, DC and New Jersey. This ability served her well in her marriage to Bud, whose international and stateside job transfers with Proctor and Gamble took the family to England, Belgium, Spain, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Ohio.
After Bud retired in 1986, they found their home in Damariscotta where they enjoyed 25 years of Maine bliss. Jean was a great organizer, and together Jean and Bud became involved with the Miles Rummage Sale, St Andrew’s Episcopal Church and the Damariscotta Lake Association. Never one to be idle, Jean was an artisan whose theorem painting, tin toleware painting and rug hooking is especially coveted. She had a love of history, antiques and was a true anglophile. A devoted animal lover and wonderful hostess, Jean welcomed all who graced her door, dogs included!
Jean is survived by daughters Beth Flynn and son-in-law Tom with grandchildren David and Emma of Saratoga Springs, New York, and Amy Chase and son-in-law David Chase of Walpole, New Hampshire, and David Scardino, Jean’s late daughter Linda Day’s husband of San Pedro, California.
A memorial service for Jean will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Newcastle on Saturday, September 12 at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, it was in Jean’s heart that donations be made to PEO’s (Philanthropic Educational Organization) Program for Continuing Education. She had been a member since 1957, an organization whose loving sisters welcomed her with each of her moves. Donations should be directed to Barbara Sweitzer, Treasurer, PEO Chapter F-ME, 45 Pascal Avenue, Rockport, Maine 04856.
A grateful thank you to the many loving angels who for the past 4 years helped Jean and her daughters with direct care, advice, letters, love and kindness. Your support made Jean’s life infinitely better.
