Jeannine M. (Anstead) Lathum of Dedham, passed away peacefully at home after a lengthy illness on July 21, 2025. Born in Boston on the Fourth of July, 1936, this all-American girl took her patriotism seriously. She would often be seen out and about in one of her many red, white and blue outfits. With matching red, white or blue cowboy boots.
She is predeceased by the love of her life, Larry. When he was a young man from the land-locked state of Missouri, he never got to see the ocean. So, he joined the Coast Guard. That got him stationed in Boston, which led him to a dance hall, and ultimately the woman he would marry. They had three children, Michelle, Larry and Joi. Their first child, Michelle, was born with many challenges. Larry and Jeannine were told she could only go home from the hospital if there was some way she could get 24 hour care. They decided to open a home-based business so they could be with their daughter constantly and still get income. This was in 1966. That business became Lathum Answering Service. Michelle died at age 6, but the business they started out of necessity is still thriving.
Jeannine was very active in her community and loved being with people. She had few filters. She thought nothing of telling a stranger in the street “how nice you look in that outfit,” or just as easily, correct someone’s pronunciation of the word “arugula.”
Jeannine is also predeceased by her brothers: William and Richard Anstead, and her son in law, Martin Stewart. She leaves behind her daughter Joi Stewart of Dedham, MA; son Larry and his wife Cheryl of Groveland, MA; sister Mary Louise Stock of Colorado; and many nieces and nephews.
She kept herself fit with many interests: She and Larry skate-danced for a long time and then got into ballroom dancing in their later years. She would do all kinds of exercises at home which kept her in remarkable shape. In recent years she even trained a service dog for people with hearing loss. She was also active in the Fairbanks Garden club and loved her friends in the book club.
Visiting hours will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Wilson-Cannon Funeral Home, 456 High St, Dedham on Friday, July 25 from 4-7pm. Her funeral will be held from the funeral home on Saturday, July 26 at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Dedham at 10am (accessible parking in rear). Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree.
Memorials may be made in her memory to: NEADS, Inc. P.O. Box 1100, Princeton, MA 01541 or online by visiting neads.org/donate