Jeannette (Skaff) MacKoul

Obituary  for Jeannette (Skaff) MacKoul

“Every life is a Symphony, Listen to My Song”. Jeannette (Skaff) MacKoul, loving mother, grandmother, sister and aunt passed into the arms of God on October 30, 2018 at Orchard Grove Assisted living facility in Shrewsbury, MA. Jeannette lived a full and independent life for 91 years, composing a symphony of love that included four close and loving children, nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren, four sisters, one brother and many close nieces and nephews. Jeannette’s co-composer, George Eli MacKoul predeceased her in April of 2016. Together George and Jeannette composed their symphony of love together for 58 years.

Jeannette loved music, and her taste for the art was wide, from classical to opera to musicals to dance. She was a loyal fan of the “Voice” and “American Idol”. The only thing that surpassed her love of music was her love for the Red Sox. One of the final stanzas in her symphony was watching the Red Sox win the World Series.

The orchestration of Jeannette’s motherhood began in the 1950’s, the theme of most symphonies for mothers of that era, a dedicated stay home mom raising four children, allowing George to work long hours to be able to build his successful R.J. MacKoul food distribution business.

No doubt the melody of Jeannette’s life focused on putting the needs of her family before herself, her own dreams and desires being a footnote to her music. Her harmony always included helping a friend or neighbor in need and she never missed a beat when it came to sending a thoughtful note or card in support of a friend or family member.

The dynamics of her life as a grandmother, contained the vocals piece sung by her nine grandchildren who called her “Sitto”. Her Lebanese American heritage was woven into the fabric of her life, which included her love of making homemade ethnic food, especially with her grandchildren from the time her grandchildren could walk, into their adult years.

Jeannette loved to dance, and her symphony always included the perfect outfit for every concert she attended, glamour and class always a part of the theme of her life, right up until the last stanza.

She spent many years at her summer home on Cape Cod at the famous concert venue,  “Holly Haven” in South Dennis, the place where her music blossomed, as she orchestrated with her family, coffee and breakfast in her sunroom, long summer days at the beach, and always ending in a crescendo of “happy hour” and dinner that included enough food to have feed an orchestra.

Jeannette had a wonderful “Seinfeld” sense of humor, which included original songs entitled: “Thank You Very Much”, “Haddam”, “What Are You Going to Do” and the all time classic: “You Should See That House”! Laughter, playful teasing and storytelling were all a part of her music.

Like most composers of that era, Jeannette’s symphony contained a majority of “minuets”, involving working long hours at the routine duties of a mother and homemaker, in support of her family, sometimes wondering if the symphony of her life, would ever be recognized for its importance and beauty. Yet God never disappoints.

Jeannette showed courage and faith during her final days in hospice, despite the helpless feelings her family members had witnessing a loved one with a terminally illness. Yet Jeannette, unbeknown to her or her family, was composing the most important piece to her symphony during her final days. As a famous man of the cloth once wrote: “We do not always know why such things as sickness and setbacks happen to us, for our minds are far too puny to grasp God’s plan. Man is a little like a mouse in a piano, which cannot understand why it must be disturbed by someone playing Chopin and forcing it to move off the piano wires”.

Indeed, God was playing Chopin, throughout Jeannette’s life and especially during her final weeks in Hospice, where with full cognition, she was given time with family and friends to say her “goodbyes” and listening to how her love impacted all whom she touched.

Jeannette was born “Geneva” Skaff, on August 22, 1927, in Lowell, Massachusetts, the daughter of George and Naffie (Bardwell) Skaff.  Jeannette is survived by her four children, Vanessa Padavano (Joseph) of Shrewsbury and their children Alexa Karsos (Alex) and great granddaughter Sophia of Boston, Gianna Wilkocki (Adam ) and great grandchild Joseph of Shrewsbury; George MacKoul (Greta) and their children Maxwell and Marysa of Mashpee; Matthew MacKoul (Judith) and their children Claire (fiancé Andy), Joseph and Grace of Reading; Gary MacKoul (Margaret) and their children Corey and Molly of Rochester, N.H. Jeannette is also survived by her sisters Alice David of Toledo, Ohio, Vivian Puopolo of Dedham, Sharkey Skaff (Laurence) of Lowell and Shirley George (Ernie) of Worcester. Jeannette is predeceased by her parents and younger sister Dorothy Deeb of Toledo Ohio.

Calling Hours are from 3-6 P.M. on Sunday November 4, 2018 at Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel 370 Plantation Street Worcester, MA. The Funeral is Monday November 5, 2018 at 11 a.m. at St. George Orthodox Cathedral 30 Anna Street Worcester. There will be additional Calling Hours at St. George Orthodox Cathedral on Monday morning November 5^th  from 10 a.m. to 10:45 am prior to the Funeral. Burial will follow the funeral at Mountain View Cemetery in Shrewsbury.

The family requests donations be directed in Jeannette’s memory to St. George Orthodox Cathedral.

The family would especially like to thank Overlook Hospice and Laura’s Angels for their love and care to Jeannette. The family would like to thank, especially, Zaida “Z” Casey of Laura’s Angels for her loving care and attention to Jeannette, during the several months Jeannette was in hospice. Special thanks also to Jennifer “Jennie” Rose of Overlook Hospice for her counseling, love and care to Jeannette and her family during this difficult time. Jennifer addressed Jeannette as “Mrs. Jay”, a poignant staccato note, to the memory of our beloved composer.