Jeanne Collins Arnone, April 25, 1931–July 1, 2023

Our mom, sister, aunt, grandmother, and dear friend, Jeanne C. Arnone, passed into eternal life on July 1, 2023, having lived the last 10 of her 92 years at Linden Ponds in Hingham, Massachusetts. She and her dear late husband, John (2019), moved there from North Haven, CT in 2013 to be closer to family. Jeanne was raised in Torrington, Connecticut and was the daughter of the late William C. Collins and Gertrude M. Collins.

Jeanne was a devoted mother of sons John III (Jay) and his wife Lynn McGalliard Arnone of Reno, Nevada; Dennis of Southbridge and daughter Marie Kurmin and her husband Peter of Marshfield. She is survived by her brothers William (Bill) C. Collins Jr and his wife Carol Collins of Middleborough, and Francis (Fran) J. Collins of York, Maine, sister-in-law Carol Arnone of New Hartford, CT, and eight grandchildren (Emily and Sara Arnone; Megan, Andrew and Brian Kurmin; Luke, Ruby, and Stefan Arnone). She was predeceased by her brother Gerald (Gerry) Collins.

Jeanne graduated from Torrington High School in 1949 and in 1953 graduated from Saint Joseph's College (West Hartford, CT) where she majored in food and nutrition. She completed her post-graduate internship at Kodak (Rochester, NY). Jeanne worked as a registered dietician at Stouffers (Philadelphia, PA) and and then at Yale New Haven Hospital before she and her high school sweetheart, John, married and started their family. She felt that being a wife and mother were her first priorities. Years later she continued her dietetics career at Gaylord Hospital (Wallingford, CT) when their children were older. She was a member of the American Dietetic Association and volunteered for the Southern Connecticut Dietetics Association Chapter.

Jeanne was passionate about politics and was an active citizen in North Haven. She served as a member of the PTA, was chairperson of the Land Use Committee, Chairperson of the Action Committee and President of the League of Women Voters, which took her to the national convention in San Francisco. Jeanne also served in leadership roles with the Explorer Scouts for many years taking high school young men and women on outdoor adventures and teaching all of them about the beauty of our world and the fun you can have in it. Many of these young people developed a love for the outdoors because of Jeanne and John's leadership. She and her entire family were avid hikers and were active members of the Appalachian Mountain Club for many years. She climbed many of the New Hampshire 4000 footers with her family and the scouts.

Jeanne was a faithful servant of the Lord. She was a leader in her parish, St. Frances Cabrini, as Minister of the Eucharist and on numerous committees over the years. She lived her faith and was a role model of love and service to others. She never forgot a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or any holiday, and wrote many letters of support when you were going through a tough time. There was always a card or letter in the mail for you—family, friends, neighbors, friends of her children, friends of friends. If someone needed help, or prayers, she added them to her "prayer pile". Her faith and communication always made a person feel loved and cared for. Her friendship meant something. She knew your first name, last name ("it is very important!", she would say). She knew how many children you had, how old they were, where they went to school, what their interests were, and she remembered everything until the last day of her life; just ask the nurses and aides at Linden Ponds, where she was loved and cared for so wonderfully. In her eyes, every person was a child of God to be loved and cared for.

After retiring, Jeanne enjoyed traveling with John and her family to many countries around the world. She enjoyed going on ElderHostel trips and meeting new friends and learning about the world in the courses they took while on the road. She had friends everywhere and kept in touch with each of her growing body of friends.

A Christian Mass will be celebrated at St. Christine's Parish at 1295 Main St. (Route 3A) Marshfield, MA at 10:30am, July 11.  The Committal will take place in All Saints Cemetery at 700 Middletown Avenue, North Haven, Connecticut at 11:30am July 12.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Appalachian Mountain Club, online at https://www.outdoors.org/ or to a charity of one's choice.