Jean H. McNeish (Howard) of Winthrop passed away peacefully, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the Katzman Center in Chelsea, MA. Jean lived a loving 99.5 years. Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Webster E. and Eleanor (Casey) Howard.

Jean’s pride was her love of family and friends, as well as her never ending commitment to the Town of Winthrop. For 38 years, Jean held an elected position on the Winthrop Housing Authority. She was a board member of the Elder Care Service and was Past President of P.A.L., the Publishers Literary Guild, which her grandmother started in 1902.

Jean married the late Thomas J Donovan in 1949 following WWll, and together they had five children. Jean was the devoted mother of Trudy (Donovan) Serino of Revere, Stephen Donovan of Maine, Brian Donovan of Winthrop, Christine (Donovan) MacNeil of Winthrop and the late Thomas “Tanka” Donovan. Jean enjoyed being the loving grandmother to 12 grandchildren and great-grandmother to 13 great-grandchildren. Jean was the dear sister of Webster Howard of NY, Eleanor Howard of Maine and the late Irene Wallace, Elizabeth Hourihan, Barbara Schmidt and Margery Cleary. Jean was a loving aunt to over 60 nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held in St, John the Evangelist Church, (St, Michael’s Parish), 320 Winthrop St. Winthrop, on Saturday, June 14, from 9-11:30AM, followed by a funeral Mass, beginning at 11:30AM. Relatives and friends are invited. Interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Care Dimensions 75 Sylvan St. Suite B-102, Danvers, MA. 01923 or to a charity of your choice.