Mary Ellen Dean, 82

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —  Mrs. Mary Ellen “Mel” (Jeanton) Dean, 82, of North Adams, died Wednesday evening, July 5, 2023 at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.

She was born in North Adams on August 8, 1940, a daughter of the late Fred E. and Elizabeth M. (Cassidy) Jeanton. She attended North Adams schools, graduating from Drury High School with the Class of 1958. She then graduated from the Salter Secretarial School in Worcester in 1960.

Mrs. Dean spent most of her career in the office at Jarisch Paper Box Co. in North Adams, until the company closed in 2000. She then worked in the Finance department at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, until retiring in 2004.

She was a communicant of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, North Adams, and earlier, of the former Our Lady of the Incarnation Church, North Adams. She was a proud member of the Berkshire County Line Dancers and served as their treasurer from 1999 until 2022. She enjoyed line dancing, reading, crossword puzzles, and time with her family. She especially enjoyed beach vacations at Green Harbor with her family, the company of her grandsons and hosting Thanksgiving dinners for the past 40 years.

Her husband, Ronald J. “Pop” Dean, whom she married on August 22, 1964, died on August 20, 2020.

She is survived by her three children, Jill Dean of Melrose, MA, Thomas Dean (Lisa Flaherty) of North Adams, and Elizabeth Fox (Andrew) of Waterford, NY; three grandsons, Johnathan Dean, Christian Dean and Jacob Fox; a sister-in-law, Connie Garvie of North Adams; as well as 13 nieces and nephews, and several grandnieces and grandnephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Dean in 1970; her brother Fred Jeanton, Jr. in 1996; and her sisters Jeanne McDonough in 2021 and Alice Jarisch in 2022.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday, July 12th at 8:45 AM from the PACIOREK FUNERAL HOME, 13 Hoosac St. Adams, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, North Adams. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery, North Adams. Calling hours are Tuesday from 5 to 7 PM at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to Berkshire VNA, 165 Tor Court, Pittsfield, MA 01201.

To leave a message of condolence, or for directions, please go online to www.paciorekfuneral.com