November 5, 1933 – February 13, 2022
Jean Violet (Petrousky) Pagliaro of Reading, formerly of Freehold, New Jersey passed away on Sunday, February 13, 2022. She is 88 years of age.
Born on Sunday, November 5, 1933, in Fountain Springs, Pennsylvania, Jean is the loving daughter of the late Charles Petrousky and Violet (Kastansky) Petrousky.
Jean Pagliaro was a one-of-a-kind personality, loving wife, and amazing mother. While never afraid to express her opinion, she was also never afraid to engage in acts of kindness and love. With giving, she was the embodiment of how actions are more powerful than words. Her spirit and determination were unparalleled.
Jean grew up as a coal miner’s daughter in Pennsylvania. A daughter born during the Great Depression, she grew up in a time when women had few professional choices. Determined to break out of the world in which she grew up, Jean pursued a career in nursing. In the early 1950s, she was a pioneer as a Nurse Anesthetist, once again, continuing to push beyond what was expected of where and how she came into the world. It was during this time that she met her husband-to-be, Tony.
Her soon-to-be husband, Tony, was a WWII veteran who graduated from Villanova thanks to the GI Bill. In 1959, they married and became an inseparable force. Shortly after their marriage, Tony changed his career from manufacturing to health care because Jean introduced him to opportunities there, working where they both could make a difference.
Jean and her husband were truly partners that worked constantly to better themselves, moving up in their respective careers and taking risks. In 1969, they took on their biggest risk, buying a failing health care business in New Jersey. With one young child and another on the way, they were tired of moving around and decided that they would bet their future on themselves.
Jean and Tony ran their business as a team, travailing through many ups and downs. But Jean was not just about professional success. She instilled a strong sense of ethics, confidence, and determination in her children. Jean taught them to always believe in themselves, to be respectful of those around them, and compassionate to those less fortunate.
By the mid-1980s, Jean and Tony’s bet on themselves paid off. They enjoyed success and were able to retire and then travel the world. They saw their children graduate college, embark on successful careers of their own. Most importantly, they saw their children marry amazing spouses and start their own families.
In 2012, Jean lost her partner, and a piece of her went to Heaven with Tony. Shortly thereafter, she moved from New Jersey and came to Boston. But that did not stop the love she had to give, especially to her five grandchildren. In her later years, it was Jean’s grandchildren that provided her the most joy.
Jean struck a chord with many who appreciated both her candor and her empathy. Jean was truly one of a kind and will very much be missed.
A Funeral Mass Celebrating Jean’s Eternal Life will be held on Thursday, February 17th at 10 am in Saint Patrick Church, 71 Central Street STONEHAM. Family and friends are cordially invited to gather and share memories with Jean’s Family on Thursday prior to her Mass from 8:30 – 9:30 am in the Barile Family Funeral Home, 482 Main Street (RT 28) STONEHAM. Parking attendants and elevator are available. Interment Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Salem.
For those unable to attend her services, please go to the following link to view them virtually.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82149858461?pwd=dTEyL3ZyV2FwQThveEozZnpUd3lJdz09
Meeting ID: 821 4985 8461 Passcode: Jean
In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in Jean’s memory to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
Arrangements by the Barile Family Funeral Home, 482 Main Street STONEHAM. For directions or to send a memorial condolence www.barilefuneral.com or facebook.com/BarileFamilyFuneralHome
