November 17, 2010
Bird, Janet
Janet Harris Bird died on November 10, 2010 after a brief illness. Janet was born on April 7, 1921 in Penacook, NH and was the fifth of six children born to Almon G. Harris and Margaret C. Harris. She attended Concord High School and graduated from the Walnut Hill School .She later graduated from Smith College in 1943. While at Smith, she was a leader of the Christian Association, becoming President her senior year. She married George Kurtz Bird III in 1943, and they were happily married living in Dedham for over sixty years until George died in 2009. Jan was blessed with six children and is survived by George K. Bird IV, Lucy W. Dudeney, Christina Lussier, and Kathleen T. Bird. She has mourned the loss of 2 sons: Mark and Peter Bird. Jan delighted in her six grandchildren (Jameson and Ashley Bird, Rupert Dudeney, Rhys Meyers, and Benjamin and Samuel Larson), and her three great grandchildren. After her children were in school, she returned to teaching as a reading specialist. Janet touched the lives of many young students teaching at Dedham Country Day School and The Carroll School in Lincoln for more than 20 years. After retiring, Jan remained active, tutoring adults in English as a second language and also donating some of her time to teach inmates in the Dedham Jail to read. Within St. Paul’s Church and the Dedham community, she worked tirelessly on projects related to food and housing (Adopt a Room, Walk for Hunger, Church Mouse, Fair Housing) as well as emotional and spiritual needs (Cathedral Common, Fresh Air Camps for city children, Parents of Children who have died, and AIDS Awareness). She was also an active member of the Vestry, the Alter Guild, the choir and the bell ringers. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul’s Church to be used for its outreach program. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday December 11, 2010 at 1PM at the St. Paul’s Church, 59 Court St. Dedham.