Jeanette E. (Dearth) Dirksen, 70 years of Newton, died November 20, 2009 at Newton Wellesley Hospital. She was the wife of the late Donavon L. Dirksen. Raised in Brockton, she was a graduate of Brockton High School. Following high school she was a nurse in the Army and met her husband at Fort Knox in Kentucky. She and her husband Donavon were married for 47 years. Jeanette enjoyed knitting and was one of the founding members of the Massachusetts Special Olympics. The Special Olympics was her passion and she continued to volunteer for over 20 years. She was the loving mother of Steven, Tina, Donavon and Sharon Dirksen; grandmother of Kristina Dirksen and sister of Florence Verville (her twin sister), Gene Dearth and the late Thomas, Robert, William, John and Rosella Dearth and Margaret Johnson. She also leaves many nieces and nephews.
Funeral Service in the Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (Rte 123) Brockton, Friday at 11am. Burial in Melrose Cemetery, Brockton. Visitation Friday 10-11am.