Jeanette E. Horn

Jeanette E. (Ford) Horn of Colonial Gardens in Pittsfield passed away peacefully on April 1, 2017 at Berkshire Medical Center, surrounded by family. She had lived an active life prior to her most recent illness in February. She was born to Brainard Worthington Ford and Irene Clark Ford on September 25, 1923 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She moved to Adams with her father into her grandparents’ home after her mother became incapacitated by the after effects of Eastern Equine Encephalitis, contracted during an epidemic in Springfield, Massachusetts in1917. Her father passed away when she was young and she was then raised by her paternal grandparents. Jeanette attended Adams schools and graduated from Adams High School in 1941. She attended Berkshire Community College in the 1970s, studying English and computer programming. She worked at General Electric (GE) Naval Ordnance and was proud of her high level security clearance during World War II. She took a hiatus from work to raise her children, returned to GE in 1969 working at GE Transformers and back to Naval Ordnance/Field Engineering, retiring in 1986. She was married to William Francis Horn on October 19, 1946. They were married for fifty-three years. They lived in Adams and Cheshire, moving to Pittsfield in 1960. After five years of marriage, their prayers were answered when they adopted a son, Jeffrey Michael Horn. They were blessed by four daughters Ellyn Zarek (Jeffrey) Sharyn Hickey (Robert) Lauryn Levesque (John) and Karyn Brennan (Gary). She was predeceased by her husband, who passed away May 13, 2000. She leaves ten grandchildren: Rebecca, Theresa and Daniel Horn of Pittsfield; Mary Ellyn and Bradley Zarek of Jupiter, FL; Shannon Hickey of Pittsfield, and Andrew Hickey (Alex) of Austin Texas; Colin Levesque (Mary Joy) of Camiguin, Phillippines, and Francis “Frank” Levesque of Cheshire; and Michaela and Abigail Brennan of Maryland. She also leaves eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brother, Wesley Sage and her grandson Scott Zarek. She leaves her beloved partner, Jerome “Jerry” Walsh and her cat Coco. Jeanette was an organist as well as music and choir director for many years at St. Mary’s Church in Pittsfield. She played organ for many weddings and funerals. Additionally, she taught CCD at St. Mary’s. She was also a pianist and enjoyed playing for the seniors at the Froio Senior Center in Pittsfield. She enjoyed classical music, knitting and crocheting, reading, cross word puzzles and traveling. She and Bill flew to Ireland to celebrate their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, enjoying a wonderful ten-day vacation. They also attended Navy Ship reunions with her husband. Jeanette was known for her beautiful prize-winning afghans, which she gifted to friends and family. Funeral Notice: Funeral services for Jeanette E. (Ford) Horn will be Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at 9 a.m. from the Dwyer Funeral Home, 776 North St., Pittsfield MA with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 am at St. Charles Church celebrated by Rev. A. Peter Gregory, pastor. Burial will follow in Pittsfield Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home will be Tuesday, April 4, 2017 from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Charles Church Food Pantry, care of the Dwyer Funeral Home, in her memory.

Jeanette E. Horn

September 25, 1923 - April 1, 2017