Obituary of Jean Fyler

Jean R (Whitman) Fyler, a 52 year resident of Burlington, passed away at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House on Friday, September 14, 2007. She was 81 years old. Jean was born in New Haven, CT. She was the daughter of the late Herbert and Rita Whitman. She was raised and educated in Somerville and was a graduate of Somerville High School. She had a very full and active life within the town of Burlington where she touched so many people and organizations with her volunteerism. She was very active at the United Church of Christ Congregational in Burlington. She was a member of the Mission Group, worked on the church monthly newsletter (the Hilltop Herald), she was an Usher, she represented the church at the Wish Tree at the Burlington Mall, and she worked on the Clothing Drives at the church. Jean volunteered at the Burlington Public Library, Rosie’s Place, and Burlington’s People Helping People. She had many close friends. Jean’s family was the most important part of her life. She devoted her life to creating a loving and caring home for her four children, 6 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild. She will be sadly missed. Jean was the loving mother of Lynne & her husband Larry Snook of Burlington. Jeanette & her husband Ralph Patuto of Burlington, Diane Harney of Westford, and Mark Fyler & his wife Diana of Hopkinton. She was predeceased by her brother, Howard Whitman. She was the proud Grandmother of Julie Matta of Anchorage, AK, Jennifer Snook of Medford, Matthew Snook of Burlington, Stephen Brookings of Billerica, Jonathan Harney of Westford, Amelia Fyler of Hopkinton. She was the Great Grandmother of Jennifer Brookings, Justin Brookings, & Daniel Matta and the Great Great Grandmother of Kayla Brookings. Funeral Services will be held at the United Church of Christ Congregational on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Monday from 4-8 p.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Interment will be private. Memorials in Jean’s name may be made to the United Church of Christ Congregational, 6 Lexington St., Burlington, MA 01803. September 18, 2007 - To Gram from Julie I very much wish that I could be with you this week, but circumstances just don’t allow it. Being so far away, it is hard to grasp that Gram is gone. I love her so much, and will miss her terribly. But I am grateful for the opportunity to participate by sharing my memories of Gram in this way. I know that Steve, Jen, Matty, Jon, and Amelia will agree that it was a great privilege to have grown up so close to Grammie. As a child, I spent so much time with her that in many ways, she was like a second mother to me. She didn’t spoil us—that was a job for the Aunties—but by word and example she showed us how to do right just as our parents taught us. At a very young age, Gram made sure that I could recite John 3:16—“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” She also made sure that I knew the “Golden Rule”—to do unto others as I would want them to do to me. We all had lots of fun at Grammie’s house, which to me was like an amusement park. We spent hours swimming in the pool during the summer, and hours sledding down that big hill in the winter. Growing up, Sunday dinners with the whole extended family were the highlight of the week. I always hoped for the side dish that will forever be known as “Grammie’s Corn.” Frozen corn in butter sauce was a delicacy at home, but at Gram’s it was a staple. And somehow, even Kraft Macaroni and Cheese tasted better at her house. Sleepovers were a special treat, and Jen and I kept very accurate track of whose turn it was to stay over. Sometimes Gram would fall asleep watching a scary TV movie-of-the-week leaving me wide-eyed and afraid of bogeymen. She would always listen to talk radio in the middle of the night where I could listen to serious discussions of world events… or a wacky host making some crazy phone calls. Gram paid keen attention to our interests, too. She came to a lot of my marching band shows even though she wasn’t particularly fond of those pesky football games that had to be played before and after our featured performances. She taught me how to sew, knit, and crochet. But I take particular pleasure in the role reversal in which I taught her how to quilt! When her heart first started to fail over six years ago, I was called upon to stay with Gram to help her get adjusted to her new medical regimen and way of life. What we thought would be two weeks turned into five months! But even though Gram’s adjustment was a slow, uphill struggle, it was a precious time for us to spend together. Being drawn close together as adults made complete the close relationship we forged when I was a child. She told me that she always wished she had become a nurse, and I felt bad for her that she was not able to fulfill that dream. I was sad that she grew up in a time when a girl’s education was a luxury that few could afford. Even Uncle Howard the brilliant rocket scientist said that Gram should have gone to college instead of him! So I think it was particularly gratifying for her to see her two oldest granddaughters go so far in their respective educations. But I know she was proud of all of us, whether we went to school, worked hard, or built a strong family. Even though she never became a nurse, I am grateful to the talented people who did become nurses and physicians and whom God used to extend her life and give her such a good quality of life right up to the end. During this time she was able to witness my wedding; become a beloved Gram to my husband Craig; enjoy our infant son Daniel. When the beginning of the end appeared in July, I prayed that God would grant her the blessing of seeing her first great great grandchild. We are all so thankful that God answered “Yes” so that Gram could enjoy sweet baby Kayla during her last few weeks. I hope that we all remember that even through death and sadness, God is so good to us. We are a strong family because Gram has been the glue that keeps us close together. I trust that we all know that the bond need not be weakened just because she is no longer here with us physically. I know that thousands of miles and four time zones away, my heart is united with yours in missing Gram yet knowing she is in each one of our hearts forever. I miss you all and love you very much. Julie