Jean T. Cristiani, age 82
of Quincy
Jean T. Cristiani, age 82
of Quincy
Jean T. (DiStasio) Cristiani, age 82, a longtime resident of Quincy, died peacefully, Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at Spaulding Hospital for Continuing Medical Care Cambridge, in the comfort of her loving family and beloved Maltese service dog, Gucci Amorino.
Jean was born in Boston’s North End to the late Amorino and Vincenza “Jennie” (Arena) DiStasio. Raised and educated in Medford, she was a graduate of Medford High School, Class of 1960. She was a graduate of the former Boston State College in 1972 where she then received her M.Ed. in Education. Jean received her professional degree in School Psychology from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1986. She lived in Quincy for sixty-two years.
She began her career as a secretary at Boston University where she met her late husband, Vincent.
Jean was a School Psychologist for the City of Boston after starting out as a Kindergarten Teacher in 1972. She wore many hats throughout her career. Jean served as a Title I Reading Specialist at St. John’s School in the North End, was a Resource Room Teacher at the Eliot School, after which she became a member of Psychological Services under the direction of Dr. Marian Ego. She ultimately secured her license as an Educational Psychologist in Massachusetts. She worked in almost every school in the City of Boston.
Jean was involved in many innovative programs and served as a change agent in the field of School Psychology with an incubator group of practitioners, to include her daughter Angela, under the leadership of Dr. Ronda Goodale. That incubator group served as the foundation for changing the role of the School Psychologist. It was her school-based data that her daughter utilized in lobbying efforts for the Safe and Supportive Schools law that now exists in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Jean’s area of expertise was serving early childhood children. She was a very strong advocate for children and families always advocating for unique needs of every child she evaluated. Jean was known to her friends and colleagues as the “velvet steamroller.” Jean retired in 2006 after a distinguished thirty-four years of service.
Jean was a member of the Council on Aging Board in Quincy, the Democratic City Committee, Alpha Iota Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, MA, served in various capacities at the Dante Alighieri Society of MA, and served on the Boston Teachers Union Retired Teachers Legislative Committee.
She was a woman of great faith and had been active in parish activities at Saint John the Baptist Church and at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, both in Quincy. Jean was the first female lector at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church.
Jean was an avid reader who loved to knit and was devoted to her family. She was especially dedicated to her late husband Vincent, her three children, and her much-loved grandchildren, supporting all their many activities and accomplishments.
Beloved wife for fifty-seven years of the late Dr. Vincent A. Cristiani, retired Professor Emeritus of Counseling Psychology and founder of the School Psychology Program at UMB (Veteran, United States Army).
Devoted mother of Angela J. Cristiani, Dr. Vincent A. Cristiani, Jr., John M. Cristiani, Quincy Fire Department, and his wife Tracy all of Quincy.
Loving grandmother of Vincent III, Sophia, Lana, Amanda, and Johnny (Veteran, United States Coast Guard).
Jean was the dear sister of the late John DiStasio and his surviving wife, Maureen. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and their families.
Visiting hours will be held at Holy Trinity Parish in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 237 Sea Street, Quincy, on Wednesday, October 9, from 4 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 237 Sea Street, Quincy, on Thursday, October 10, at 10 a.m. Entombment to follow at Saint Michael’s Cemetery, Roslindale.
For those who wish, donations in Jean’s memory may be made to the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth, P.O. Box 690789, Quincy, MA 02269.
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