Jeanne D. Chatfield

Jeanne M. DeFelice Chatfield, age 97, died peacefully at her home in Fairmount on February 4, 2019, after a long illness. She was born on April 6, 1921 in Erie PA to Pasquale and Margharita (Pacelle) DeFelice. She grew up in Jordan, NY, graduating from Jordan High School in 1938 and the Syracuse School of Beauty Culture in 1941. After a brief stint as a hairdresser, Jeanne changed careers, doing secretarial work at Lipe Rollway Corporation, then at Burns Piping Supply. On 10/14/1950 Jeanne married Donald W. Chatfield at St. Patrick’s Church in Jordan. She left the workforce in 1952 for fulltime homemaking, raising 4 children, two of whom are developmentally disabled. This compelled an additional career: that of disabilities’ rights activism, which spanned over 45 years. In 1990 Jeanne received an achievement award from the Syracuse Developmental Services Office. Both Jeanne and Don were honored with a Founders’ Award from Arc of Onondaga in 2001, and a Family Pioneer Award from the Syracuse University Center on Human Policy in 2005. They relied on their religious faith to sustain them and were active members of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God Catholic Church. Jeanne was a member of the Altar Rosary Society. Both were avid gardeners, always working together to create and enjoy their home sanctuary, until Don passed away in 2009. Jeanne is predeceased by all of her siblings: Anthony DeFelice (1933) and Louis DeFelice (2006), Leone Bex (2006), Patricia Belford Hammond (2017), and Therese Marshfield (2018.) She is survived by her son Patrick (Donna) Chatfield of Martinsburg, WV, her daughters Sandra Chatfield, Margaret Chatfield, and Donna Lucente, and son-in-law Christopher Lucente, all residing locally; her 4 grandsons: Daniel S. Mackessy; Donald P. Mackessy, Josiah K. Mackessy, and James P. Mackessy; and 2 great-grandsons: Leland J. Mackessy and Caleb S. Mackessy. Calling hours will be held on February 18th with a Recitation of the Rosary at 3:30 pm, visitation from 4:00-6:00, with a shared time of reflection at 5:00. A mass of Christian burial will be offered Feb. 19th at 12 noon at the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God Academy Chapel, 2656 Warners Rd, Warners. Private burial will take place at the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Onondaga Hill. Donations in lieu of flowers: Arc of Onondaga Sensory Garden Fund, 600 S. Wilbur Ave., Syracuse, NY 13204 (www.arcon.org), Loretto Foundation PACE CNY (www.loretto-cny.org), 700 E. Brighton Ave., Syracuse, NY 13205. Please sign her guestbook at www.BLBUSH.com

Jeanne D. Chatfield

April 6, 1921 - February 4, 2019