Jeanette Topham

Jeanette Topham ObituaryPublished by Legacy on Mar. 10, 2026.Jeanette Davis (McDonald) Topham, 88, died peacefully surrounded by her family Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026.Jeanette was born on Nantucket Nov. 26, 1937 to John "Captain Jack" and Mary (Davis) McDonald. She was the third of eight children in the McDonald family. It was a home of love, pride and faith. She graduated from Nantucket High School in 1955 and attended Bates College for two years and made lifelong friends.Jeanette married her high school sweetheart and love of her life, Jack Topham, Sept. 1, 1958. They originally settled in Connecticut as Jack worked at Pratt & Whitney. However, the call of home was strong for both of them. They arrived back on Nantucket in early 1960 with three-month-old daughter, Leigh. Jeanette believed that their most important accomplishment was to raise good and happy people who would have their own individuality. They welcomed John Jr., Anastasia (Stacey), Joseph, Patrick, Beth and Rosemary in the next 14 years.Jeanette and Jack worked and supported each other to provide for their family. During the early years of marriage, they scalloped commercially, while Jeanette waitressed and tended bar, and Jack picked up carpentry and electrical jobs. Jack worked at Nantucket Electric Company starting as a lineman and advancing to Vice President of Operations before retiring after almost 40 years of service to the company.In later years they were able to travel with their children and take numerous trips as a couple. They believed in setting time aside each evening to catch up with one another; and in taking trips without the children to strengthen their relationship as a couple.In 1977, Jeanette began "Jeanette Topham Catering," a family business where each of the "kids" helped in many ways. She catered many a party, dinner and wedding, and served celebrities including President Biden, Senator Ted Kennedy, Bobby Orr and many others. Jeanette retired after running her business for over 30 years, passing the reins on to her daughter Stacey.In retirement she enjoyed playing golf, tennis, bridge and spending time with her husband and their family. She was Nana to 14 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson. Each grandchild received an ivory keychain upon high school graduation, in addition to Nana's immense pride and a few joyful tears. The great-grandchildren brought happiness and a loving chaos while at Nana's when they all circled their toy shopping carts around her house. Every greeting and departure from Mom/Nana was given with a kiss and a "good luck, never goodbye." Jeanette also became "Nana" to some of her grandchildren's cousins and friends; the mutual love and respect was evident.Jeanette was actively involved in numerous non-profits and town committees. She served on the Nantucket School Committee, Nantucket Town Government Study Committee, the Nantucket Scholarship Committee, Chamber of Commerce, the Committee for Disability and the Airport Commission. She often visited Airport employees while a member of the Airport Commission, getting to know the employees and valuing their dedication to their jobs and community.For 10 years Jeanette was on the Board of A Safe Place, Inc., a member of the Nantucket Cottage Hospital's Access to Healthcare Committee, a Scout leader, was pivotal in the early stages of the Nantucket Aids Network, and was named Senior of the Year in 2019.Jeanette's faith was paramount; her mantra was "If God gave it to me, God will get me through it." She was a communicant at St. Mary's, Our Lady of the Isle, where she and Jack were married. She was involved in the Women's Guild, was a Catechist, a lector and a Eucharistic Minister. In 2005 Jeanette received the Marion Medal, an honor for service and devotion to her Church.Jeanette's greatest pride was being a wife and mother. She and Jack made each other a priority; their love was based on communication, dedication, love for each other and family, and of faith, honesty and traditions. They taught their children by example with family gatherings, football Sundays, fried dough on Easter Sunday; St. Patrick's Day with corned beef, cabbage, Irish soda bread and "itchy foot cake"; Thanksgiving with all the fixings; Christmas breakfast with family, friends and people who had no place to go; and always Christmas dinner as the entire family. Little Christmas was a favorite for all; biscuits with charms forecasting the luck of the coming year made lovingly by Jeanette; and then the zaniness of throwing biscuits over the house for good luck. She told her children it was an Irish, perhaps a Newfoundland, tradition in her family, but no one knows for sure. What traditions like this did was to bring joy and laughter to all generations.As her husband's health took a turn with Parkinson's disease with Lewy Bodies, Jeanette lovingly and bravely cared for Jack. Again, teaching by example of the marriage vows "in sickness and in health." Even in Jack's illness the love between them was evident. It is the family's belief that she and Jack are happily reunited and dancing in heaven with one another and their son, John and grandson, Jamie. Faith is a bond that unites her family and eases their loss.In Jeanette's words: "When all is said and done, I don't want to be remembered as to how I voted or what I thought about the happenings in the news or the world. I want to be remembered as a loving, caring, compassionate person who did the best I could with the knowledge I had."Jeanette is pre-deceased by her husband Jack; son John; grandson Jamie Topham; son-in-law Rookie Ramos; her parents John and Mary McDonald; sisters Mary Fee and Helen Cranston; brother John McDonald; and nieces Kelly Ann McDonald and Erin Harmon; sister-in-law Joan McDonald; and brother-in-law John Fee, Sr.She leaves behind her children, Leigh Topham Ramos, Stacey (Joseph) Perry, Joseph (Anne) Topham, Patrick (Jennifer Psaradelis) Topham, Beth (Michael) O'Keefe and Rosemary Topham; grandchildren Jessica (Aaron) Bryan, Jennifer Lancaster, Shane (Shawna) Perry, Codie Perry, Dylan (Lauren) Perry; Morgan (Jazmine Kasperzyk) Perry; Philomena Topham, Josephine Topham; Bryna (David) Richards, Leland (Morgan Ashelford) Topham; Nicholas O'Keefe and Maggie O'Keefe; great-grandchildren Jordan, Cameron (Krista) and Hayden Bryan; Jackson, Caroline and Theodore Lancaster; Aubree, Bentley and Charlie Perry; and Logan and Olivia Richards; and great-great grandson Liam Wayne Bryan.Additionally, Jeanette leaves behind her sister, Genevieve (Reginald) Harmon; brothers Ronald McDonald, Michael (Nancy) McDonald and Robert McDonald; sister-in-law Roberta McDonald and brother-in-law James Cranston; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Jamie Topham Scholarship Fund, 22 Hummock Pond Road, Nantucket, MA 02554; or the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club, 61 Sparks Avenue, Nantucket, MA. 02554 or at https://www.nantucketboysandgirlsclub.org/ways-to-giveA wake will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 13 at 29 Hummock Pond Road with the Rosary at 6 p.m.Funeral Mass will be held at noon Saturday, March 14 at St. Mary's Our Lady of the Isle, with burial and reception to follow.Legacy.com reports daily on death announcements in local communities nationwide. 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