Florence, MA – Jeannine (Fenton) Clark passed peacefully from this life on April 15, 2026 at her home in Florence with her family by her side. God blessed Jeannine with natural beauty, a radiant smile and an Irish twinkle in her eyes. She will always be remembered for her selfless kindness and her true and beautiful heart. Jeannine was so very much loved by everyone she knew and everyone she touched.
Jeannine was born on Nov 29, 1953 to the late Raymond and Eleanor (Sullivan) Fenton, the second of five children. Jeannine grew up in the Hungry Hill neighborhood of Springfield, graduated from Commerce High School and attended STCC.
As an adventurous young woman in the early 1970’s, Jeannine fearlessly took to the road in a ’65 Dodge van she fixed up herself with some help from her dad. She proceeded to drive cross-country, not just once but twice – first with a friend, and then again by herself. Ultimately landing in San Francisco, Jeannine quickly determined that Flower Power culture was not for her. Having seen the country, she decided to return home to Massachusetts where she got a job at Umass, first in the Nursing lab, and later in Environmental Health and Safety. Jeannine loved working with the students and made many lifelong friends among her colleagues. She retired from Umass in 2015 after 38 years of service.
In 1978, it was a part-time job at Friendly’s in Florence that led Jeannine to the fortuitous meeting of coworker Tom Clark. When Tom was asked what attracted him to Jeannine, he always replied, “Her genuine smile, kindness, beauty, and the way she could make even those stupid checkered uniforms look good.” Initially, Jeannine only agreed to go out with Tom as a ruse to teach his rude girlfriend a lesson. It was an unlikely beginning, and it took some time and patience, but the great love story of Tom and Jeannine could not be denied. They were wed in May of 1984 and blessed with a truly happy and loving marriage for almost 42 years.
Tom joined the Northampton Fire Department in 1985, and the young couple soon purchased an old and tired house in Florence across the street from Tom’s parents. Jeannine used to say how they could see into the basement through the cracks in the kitchen floorboards. They worked hard together to fix the place up and make it their home. While they longed to have biological children of their own that was not in the cards. Jeannine, with her overflowing heart and kindness, had always dreamed that she might adopt children who struggled with no family to nurture them. Without hesitation Tom agreed, and they began the lengthy and challenging process of adopting their two boys. In 1989, Tom and Jeannine traveled to Peru as a couple and returned with their first son, Tomas Quispe Clark. They were now a family. A trip to Bolivia came in 1993, and their second son, Samuel Inti Raymi Clark, who everyone knows as Inti, was welcomed into the fold.
Jeannine loved her family and her home; it was the center of her world. She was able to reduce her hours at Umass to halftime to focus on the boys. As the kids grew, the Clark family had many wonderful adventures. Kayaking and biking vacations at the Cape, baseball and soccer games, a clubhouse in the backyard, summer days, school days and sledding in winter, busy times always, but always with lots and lots of love. Over the years, Jeannine and Tom also welcomed many international exchange students into the Clark family home from the countries of Spain, Japan, Guatemala, Bolivia, Wales, Mexico and others. Many of these students still call Jeannine and Tom their “American family” and several of them have even returned to Florence to visit them.
Jeannine was just a caring, giving, loving person so true to her Catholic faith. She never thought she was anything special, but she was. She lived it. She prayed every morning. She believed in doing good works. After the boys got older, she became a licensed massage therapist, not to make money but to make people feel better. Many grateful clients were sad when she closed her office at the end of 2019. Jeannine volunteered extensively at the Manna program to feed the homeless. She also went back to Bolivia in April 2012 to work at the orphanage where Inti was adopted. She had a beautiful soul. Jeannine never forgot anyone.
Jeannine and Tom were fortunate to be able to retire in 2015 and have the time and means to travel extensively, visiting Spain, Greece, Canada, Ireland, Bolivia, and the Azores, and many US states. They went to see family and some of their former exchange students. They met with old friends and made new ones. They also spent a lot of time together at their home in the lovely village of Florence just enjoying the life they had made.
Sometime in early 2022, Jeannine began to have some difficulties with her hands. Tom noticed something in her walk. It was subtle at first but it continued, and gradually progressed. Eventually, everything else was ruled out and Jeannine was diagnosed with ALS.
Jeannine was incredibly brave coping with the challenges of these last few years with ALS. She just kept going as much as she could for as long as she could. Jeannine continued to live her life fully with grace, purpose and love. She never felt sorry for herself or complained, even though it must have been so frustrating for her. Just days before she passed, Jeannine was still serving others by bringing Holy Communion to elderly shut-ins, with the thankful assistance of her husband, Tom.
Jeannine was tragically predeceased by her son, Tomas in 2014, who was the victim of a drunk driver. She was also predeceased by her parents, Ray and Eleanor. Jeannine leaves her husband Tom, her son Inti, and his fiancé, Ashley. She also leaves her siblings: Ellen, Dennis (Gwen), Mary Jane (Dan), Bill (Nancy) and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves her honorary second family, the firefighters of the Northampton Fire Department,
In lieu of gifts or flowers please consider donations to Compassionate Care ALS PO Box 1052 West Falmouth, MA 02574 Or Online at ccals.org or Salmon Klein Orphanage in Jeannine’s name.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday April 28 at 10am at the Annunciation Chapel in Florence. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Please go to Czelusniakfuneralhome.com for online condolences and tribute book.
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