Jean H. Raabe Obituary
Jean H. Raabe, 90, of Gloucester, Massachusetts passed away on Saturday morning, September 25, 2021, at Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Jean was born in Flushing, New York on January 14, 1931, and graduated from Bayside High School in 1949 after which she worked as an executive secretary at Mutual of New York in NYC.
Jean was the daughter of the late Michael and Marie (Cashman) Hillenmayer and the wife of John "Jack" Raabe II with whom she shared 48 years of marriage before his passing in 2004. Jean was predeceased by her twin sister, Joan Mathiasen; brother Donald Hillenmayer; niece Janet Nawoj and nephew Kenneth Mathiasen. She was also predeceased by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Charles Edward Raabe and Dotie Raabe along with their son, her nephew, Michael S. Raabe.
After Jack's career in the marine paint industry, Jean and Jack moved from New York to Connecticut where Jean found a home for her retail, style, and design talents working at Olde Station Interiors and Antiques in Kent and Fellerman-Raabe Glass in Sheffield, MA. At the same time, Jean and Jack launched J.R. Overseas Company.
Somehow, she also found time to be active in local and Connecticut state politics. It was a source of pride and an expression of her love for Jack that she kept the business going long after his passing, first in Louisville KY and then in Gloucester MA. Jean loved travel (especially the Caribbean), gardening, reading, and entertaining young and old alike.
She also enjoyed a great martini with friends and family. Jean was a loving mother and is survived by her three children, Michael Charles Raabe and his wife Patricia Ann Levesh of Gloucester MA, Clair Marie Raabe of Copake Falls, NY and Lee Ann Lyle and her husband Ross Alan Lyle of Louisville, KY. She is also survived by her grandchildren and their partners and spouses, Jessica Marie Arstingstall (John) of Louisville, KY, Roxann Slate (Eli Geminder) of Copake Falls, NY, Dylan Frederick Levesh-Raabe of Boston, MA, Zachary John Levesh-Raabe (Caitlin Donnelly) of Somerville, MA, Ian Fellerman of Chicago, IL, and Morgan Jean Lyle of Louisville, KY.
She was the delighted great-grandmother of Jack Richard Arstingstall, Samuel Alan Arstingstall and Guy James "Sharky" Geminder. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Ann Halloran and Jean Hillenmayer; her brother-in-law, Herbert "Herky" Mathiasen, and many beloved Hillenmayer and Raabe family nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great-grand nieces and nephews.
She will also be missed by her many Long Island, Kent, Louisville, and Gloucester friends. There will be no services in keeping with her wishes. The family is planning a gathering for next summer where her ashes will be committed to the ocean off Thacher Island, joining her once again with her beloved Jack Raabe. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Friends of Seacoast, 292 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.
Arrangements by Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.
