Jeanne M. Kinney

    Jeanne M. (Woolever) Kinney, 75, of Hopedale, MA. died Friday evening (December 28, 2012) at the
    Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor, FL.

    She was born on June 5, 1937 in Syracuse, NY, the daughter of the late Francis and the late Frances
    (Hanley) Woolever. She graduated from Saint Anthony of Padua High School in Syracuse, NY, earned
    a Bachelor of Arts degree from LeMoyne College, and a Masters Degree from John Carroll University.
    Jeanne taught English to inmates at Framingham State Prison for 17 years and she co-founded the
    Friends of Adin Ballou, a peace organization seeking non-violent solutions to conflict in the tradition of
    the early Hopedale community.

    She was an advocate for restorative social justice and non-violent conflict resolution. She enjoyed
    organic gardening and helped establish the Community Gardens in Sharon, MA. where she lived for
    many years. Jeanne believed in living simply as a follower of Christ. She was Catholic and a member
    of the Society of Friends (Quaker). She was an original member of the Uxbridge Friends Meeting. May
    God give you peace St. Francis of Assisi.

    She is survived by seven children, Bridget Buckless and her husband, Shawn, of Westport, MA., Karen
    Kinney and her husband, Calvin Johnson, of Lakeland, FL., Kevin Kinney of Hopedale, MA., Maura
    Kireopoulos and her husband, Louis, of Scottsdale, AZ., Brian Kinney of Los Angeles, CA., Clare
    Nespoli and her husband, Marc, of Oxford, CT., Michael Kinney and his wife, Elizabeth, of Westford,
    MA.; (14) grandchildren, Colin Purdy, Brendan and Diana Buckless, Julia, Sarah, Lily, and Ava Kinney,
    Caroline, Daniel, and Jack Kireopoulos, Sheila and Mark Johnson, Cate and Matthew Nespoli; (1)
    sister, Anne (Woolever) Warner and her husband, Bob. She was the sister of the late Frank Woolever.

    Her funeral will be held on Saturday morning, January 5th, at 9AM from the Edwards Memorial Funeral
    Home, 44 Congress Street, Milford MA followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10AM in St. Mary of the
    Assumption Church, 19 Winter Street, Milford MA. Burial will follow in Hopedale Village Cemetery,
    Mendon Street (Rte. 16.) Hopedale MA. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, January 4th, from 4:00PM
    -7:00PM. Please visit www.edwards funeralhome.com for condolence book.  Published in Milford
    Daily News from December 31, 2012 to January 2, 2013

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                                       Words of Remembrance Jeanne Kinney

                                                       
    January 5, 2012

                                                                         by Michael Kinney

    Jeanne Kinney, my mother, was a beautiful person, who lived an extraordinary life inspired by Jesus
    Christ. My brothers, sisters and I, will miss her every day but I feel like she is with me now and will
    continue to speak to me and influence my decisions for the rest of my life. I am sure they feel the
    same way. We are her legacy. She fostered a culture of spirituality that she inherited from her parents,
    siblings, extended family, friends and GOD. I feel that now it is our time to carry her torch with us and
    to continue her work. My siblings and I, will not only remember the principles and spirit that guided her
    life, but will become the agents of her will on earth.

    She was a woman of unbending conviction and generous love. She was committed to spreading the
    word of God, unwavering in the face of criticism. As long as I can remember, she was an advocate for
    non-violence and restorative justice. My sisters remember Mom leading an Anti-war protest in Sharon
    center on Mother’s Day, holding a sign that read “Mothers against War.” I also remember protesting
    against America’s military policies on the anniversaries of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
    in the town center when I was nine years old. I distinctly remember the sneers of passerbys as I held
    a sign that said, “Peace is Possible.” In recalling this event, I am reminded of a biblical quote she
    once emailed me. “Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the good news.”

    My mother believed in living simply, was thankful for spiritual gifts and detached from worldly
    pleasures. This aspect of the Quaker tradition appealed to her. She cherished simple things like
    family, meeting new people, sunsets, and walks in the park.

    She respected, prayed for, and loved all people, and never held a grudge. She traveled on several
    mission trips to the Dominican Republic, Mobile, Alabama and Nicaragua. She raved about the
    families she met and the simple love they shared. Recently, she was sponsoring an orphan girl from
    East Africa. She treated her inmate students at Framingham State Prison as equals and sought
    redemption for them. She wrote to me, "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help
    them and intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them." She loved her family and friends, and
    appreciated their individual gifts with great thoughtfulness. In a family of strong personalities, she
    exercised great flexibility in bringing everyone together. I will miss the Family News Letter and Year
    End Survey’s and our family gatherings.

    She believed that community activism and involvement were essential components of living a
    Christian life. This belief was espoused in her love of the Town of Hopedale and its rich history. She
    loved the ideas and practice of Adin Ballou and the early Christian Socialist Hopedale Community.
    She wrote, " In a world constantly assaulted by the approval of the hatred of enemies and government
    sanctioned violence, Adin Ballou showed us an American alternative. In a microcosm, the Hopedale
    community of the 1840's and 1850's is an example of a community where love thy neighbor and non-
    violent solutions prevailed. It is a model for a peaceful community in today's world."

    Spreading Peace and Justice was her calling, and she believed that religion, morality, and politics
    were closely intertwined. She was fond of the prophecy from Isaiah, “The Lord will mediate between
    nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and
    their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore. “

    She loved nature and sought the glory of God in nature every day. She loved the sun. I will forever hear
    her singing "You are my sunshine." to me. She was ahead of her time in understanding organic
    farming, nutrition as a medical science, and protecting the environment through recycling and
    conservation. Everyday, she sent us off to school with a spoonful of cod liver oil and a sprinkle of
    wheat germ on our yogurt.

    She was a tireless student and teacher, who loved expanding upon her vast knowledge. She was
    prolific reader and writer. She loved the discussions she had with friends at various book groups.

    She practiced Godliness in a disciplined manner, training herself spiritually like an athlete trains
    physically. She wrote to me, " Physical training is good; but training for godliness is much better,
    promising benefits in this life and in the life to come."

    God’s spirit made her loving, happy, peaceful, patient, gentle, unselfish, self-controlled, and kind. I
    hope and pray that the memory of our mother will bring us closer to God’s spirit. In our grief, I remind
    myself that love for one another will alleviate our pain and sadness.

    “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance.

    Three things will last forever,
    Faith, Hope, and Love    
    And the greatest of these is love.

    We love you Mom.

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Words of Remembrance Jeanne Kinney

January 5, 2012

by Michael Kinney