Jeanne Mankus, age 92, of 17 Spring St Alton Bay, peacefully passed away on Thursday 4/16 after a period of declining health. Jeanne moved to Alton Bay permanently in 2000, though she had been a part-time resident since she was a child. Alton Bay was and still is her little piece of Heaven on Earth, she loved and valued every day spent there.

Jeanne was born July 21, 1933, to Helen and George Ray of Brookline Mass. Upon George’s death in 1934, she moved to Plaistow, NH with her family, eventually settling in Roslindale Mass. prior to marriage. Jeanne graduated from St. Mary of the Assumption High School in Brookline, Mass.

Jeanne had a passion for family, her church, community service, teaching, and caring for her many pets. Following her graduation from State Teacher’s College at Boston with a Bachelor of Science in education, Jeanne taught sixth grade in the Groveton area of Fairfax County, Virginia. After returning to Massachusetts, she settled in Holbrook and focused on raising her growing family.

To provide quality education for the youth in Holbrook, Jeanne collaborated with the Archdiocese of Boston and others to establish and build St. Joseph’s Elementary School. Related to that endeavor, she founded and led the ‘Josepheens,’ a socially oriented group established to aid in the financial support of the new school and growing parish. Jeanne was a Parish Council member and led monthly study and discussion groups at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church also in Holbrook.

Jeanne later directed her endless energy toward earning a master’s degree in education at the University of Massachusetts, concentrating on Special Education. Jeanne assisted in the founding and running of the South Shore Center for Brain Injured Children in Braintree Mass. Later, she joined Farr Academy of Cambridge Mass and led the establishment of a residential alternative high school program and facility for behaviorally challenged youth. Initially named ‘Holbrook House,’ the facility was rebranded later as ‘Agape Inn.’ Jeanne remained as Executive Director of Agape Inn until shortly before her retirement.

For over 20 years, Jeanne contributed to the development and delivery of Special Education curriculum at Northeastern University, at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

The Boston Globe recognized the enormous value Jeanne provided to her family, church, community, and to the field of education when they named her ‘Mother of the Year’ during Mother’s Day week of 1986.

Throughout her busy life, Jeanne always made time to return to Alton Bay during summers, winters, fall, and spring with her family and friends to share in the joy and renewal of being in ‘God’s Country.’ She achieved a major life dream when she retired to live permanently on Spring St. in Alton Bay. Though retired, she became very engaged with St Katherine Drexel Church and the community of Alton when not caring for her multiple cats and dogs.

Jeanne Mankus had the vision, energy, and internal will to establish her dreams early in life and the courage to tirelessly pursue those goals until she achieved them. She claimed that her mother, Helen Norton, was her inspiration and hero in life, but that is another story. Jeanne, Mum, Nana, and ‘Great Nana’ was and still is cherished by all who knew and loved her. She will be missed on Earth, but those in heaven are celebrating her return home.

Jeanne is preceded in death by her parents, Helen and George, as well as her siblings George Ray Jr., Shirley Judge, and Rob Norton, and her husband Theodore Mankus. Jeanne is survived by her sister Patricia Norton of Alton Bay NH, her 10 children, Theodore Jr. Mankus of Alton Bay NH, Catherine Mankus of Wolfboro NH, Stephen and Diane Mankus of Danville NH, Charlotte Mankus of Taunton Mass., Joseph Mankus of West Alton NH, Christopher and Roberta Mankus of Holbrook Mass., Jonathan Mankus of Londonderry NH, Gregory and Lianne Mankus of Holbrook Mass., Jeanne and Mel Cushman of Chesapeake Va., and James and Cynthia Mankus of Mendon Mass., and by her 16 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

A ‘Celebration of Life’ Service will be held Friday 5/8 at 11:00 am at St. Katherine Drexel Church at 42 Hidden Springs Rd, Alton NH, followed by fellowship gathering in the church hall, and internment at Riverside Cemetery in Alton. In lieu of a wake, there will be a receiving hour in the church from 10:00-11:00, just prior to the service. Any donations, in lieu of flowers, should be directed to St. Katherine Drexel Church.