Jean C. (Smith) Lobbregt of Saugus, formerly of East Boston, passed away peacefully at home on March 6, 2026, at the age of 91 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was the devoted wife of the late Preston G. Lobbregt. Born and raised in East Boston, Jean was the daughter of the late Raymond and Mary (Tisi) Smith. A graduate of Chelsea Memorial School of Nursing, class of 1955, she worked as a registered nurse and later as an RN supervisor at Chelsea Memorial Hospital before stepping away from her professional career to raise her family.
Nursing and caregiving remained at the heart of who Jean was. She spent decades quietly looking after friends and relatives as an unpaid caregiver, offering comfort and help to anyone within her reach who needed it. She loved people deeply and approached life with optimism, gratitude, and enthusiasm, even in the face of her illness. Jean volunteered as a librarian at the Sweetser and Felton Schools in Saugus, worked for many years as a cashier at the Salem Willows Arcade—where she was beloved by patrons as the friendly face in the booth—and was a longtime member and former president of the Saugus Garden Club. She found great joy in people, animals, and the natural world.
She is survived by her two daughters, Karen Lobbregt and her husband David Surette, and Kirsten Aysu and her companion Adrian Watson, as well as her dear friend Cheryl Perrone.
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