Jean (Twarog) Bouthillette, 89, of Cape Coral Florida passed away September 24, 2023 peacefully at home on hospice, with her family at her side, after battling dementia over the past few years. She was the wife of the late Bertrand Armand Bouthillette, the love of her life who passed away in 1975.

Jean was born on February 5, 1934, in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Walter Twarog and Mary (Pawlik) Twarog, and had resided in Cape Coral, Florida for the past 9 years, with her son Paul and his wife Norma, her caregiver, and her grandchildren Noah and Madison.

She is survived by her son, Paul M. Bouthillette and his wife Norma J. Bouthillette of Cape Coral, Florida; her love and joy, her four grandchildren, of whom she was very proud, Noah, Madison, Joshua, and Jessica; her daughter-in-law, Susan Bouthillette of New Bedford; her brother, Steven Twarog of Dartmouth; and many nieces and nephews, who she loved and was so happy to see over the years at family events.

She was predeceased by three children, Baby David Bouthillette, David B. Bouthillette, and Glenn Bouthillette; three brothers, John Twarog, Walter Twarog, Jr., and Stanley Twarog; and her sister, Janice Machnowski.

She enjoyed time spent with her dear friend of over 60 years, Patsy Botelho and her late husband Roger Botelho.  She loved and enjoyed their friendship over the years, going out to eat and on many traveling adventures, especially her train ride with Patsy to Florida years ago and their day trips to different places.

Jean loved her brothers and sister unconditionally and was always there for her family, they meant the world to her. At the age of 16, she sacrificed her education and dropped out of New Bedford Vocational High School in order to go work in the mill for Aeorovox Corporation to help her family and provide support for her two younger siblings. Later in life, she returned to school and obtained her GED.

She worked for the City New Bedford School Department for 25 years as a Head Cook at both New Bedford High School and the Alfred J. Gomes School. Jean then went on to work at the Paul A. Dever State School as a Head Cook Supervisor, where she was employed until her retirement.

She was a parishioner of St. Katherine Drexel Parish Church in Cape Coral, Florida and was a parishioner of St. Hedwig Polish Catholic Church in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where she and her husband were married. Jean was a devout Catholic and strong in her faith and raised her sons to be the same. She was very proud of her Polish heritage and enjoyed cooking all the Polish traditional foods like pierogi, golumpki, and other great dishes. She loved playing her polka music and when you came into the house, she would grab your hands and start dancing the polka with you in a circle. She loved to dance the polka at family weddings over the years. Last month, when she started declining in her health, Norma would play her polka music in her room to relax and when it was on she would smile and tell her family that she loved them. She loved her vegetable garden at her brother Walter's house and then later in life enjoyed gardening with her son David in his beautiful flower garden. She had taken art classes in New Bedford with the artist Cindy Ricard at the senior center at Buttonwood Park. She painted so many beautiful paintings over the years. She loved sitting on the front porch doing her search-a-word books and liked making puzzles and especially enjoyed seeing the beautiful sunsets while she sat there peacefully.

Jean loved talking about her childhood growing up in the South End of New Bedford on Salisbury Street with her dear lifelong friends Edmund Simio Caron, Authur Curly LaBrie, Cathaline of California and Gloria Raposa. She had such great stories and memories and kept in touch with them all throughout her life. Jean always greeted you with a big smile and was so welcoming and grateful and thankful for everything in her life. She loved life and loved her sons and will be deeply missed, but will always be with us until we meet her again one day.

Her Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 9 AM in Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 121 Mt. Pleasant Street, New Bedford, with everyone invited to meet directly at the Church. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery #1. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.