The Descendants of John Heywood of Concord, Massachusetts

From Worcester Telegram & Gazette, September 23-27, 2015

Shrewsbury - On February 13, 1921 at home on the farm on Boylston Circle Eleanor B. Dean was born in the middle of a winter storm a daughter to the late Edwin and Mabel (Beatty) Dean. She was born into modest means and this beginning of how she was made into the woman she will be lovingly remembered. Eleanor died peacefully on Wednesday, September 23, 2015 with her family by her side. She was 94.

A graduate of the former Maj. Howard W. Beal High School with the class of 1939 she then graduated from the former Salter Secretarial School in Worcester, MA. Work began for Eleanor at the former Barnard, Putnam & Sumner Company and Cowley Pharmacueticals. On October 5th, 1940 she married Alma H. 'Lefty' Parmenter in First Congregational Church and on 50 Boylston Circle they built their first home. It was financially necessary to build and sell their first several homes until they could permantly settle at 52 Boylston Circle for many years. A proud Shrewsbury resident, her family donated, constructed and established Shrewsbury's well known 'Dean Park' off Main Street. Together they built a business, A.H. Parmenter Builders where Lefty would build and Eleanor, who maintained the finances and books would often go to the job to help. They made a good couple.....both at home and at work. In her many gardens she grew produce and flowers. She would can, relish, cook and feed from the bounty of her plantings on a daily basis. Her green thumb, Yankee ingenuity and simple talent enabled her to appreciate and enjoy the best life had to offer. At 92 she was still tending to her yard…trimming shrubs, mowing the grass and rototilling her gardens. She was active as den mother in the cub scouts, brownies and girl scouts. Eleanor served her town well, being not only a perennial Town Meeting Member, but also as poll warden at precinct 1 at town hall for many years. She was well liked for her home grown blueberry cakes by her fellow poll-takers and the police officers who would monitor the precincts. Birthday parties at home would not have been complete without a beautifully designed and decorated cake for all to enjoy. A talented seamstress she made many clothes…some out of necessity and others as Halloween costumes, or presents for family. An avid ten pin bowler, Eleanor competed well beyond her 80th birthday in a local Shrewsbury league.

Her husband of 60 years, 'Lefty' died August 25th 2000. In addition she is predeceased by her son, William Parmenter, brother, Robert Dean and sister, Bertha Cross.

She leaves her children, David A. Parmenter and his wife, Ellen and Nancy J. Mashinsky and her husband, John of Shrewsbury; her grandchildren, David, Timothy and Kyle Parmenter and John Mashinsky and Erica Brinn; great-grandchildren, Haley, Payton, Amelia and Charles; her brother, Louis Dean of Shrewsbury; a sister-in-law, Dorothy 'Dot' Dean of Shrewsbury; nieces & nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Eleanor's life by gathering for a calling hour in Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center, on Monday, September 28th from 9:00 – 10:45 am and then walking in procession to The First Congregational Church, 19 Church Road where her Funeral Service will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Lynne Dolan will officiate. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery.

Memorials in her name to the First Congregational Church, 19 Church Road, Shrewsbury, MA 01545.