Jean was born in 1947 in Minneapolis to Leone and Thomas Frazier. She was the youngest of six children. She graduated from Holy Angels Academy and the University of Minnesota with a degree in elementary education.
In June 1969, Jean married Michael Lovdal in a Catholic ceremony at the university’s Newman Center. They celebrated a folk Mass, which was considered very unconventional at the time. Their first home was in Cambridge, where Mike attended graduate school and Jean supported them working as a bank manager.
Jean and Mike settled in Concord in 1979, building their dream house with extensive gardens that are still vibrant. Jean contributed to the choir and liturgy at St. Bernard’s Parish. She then moved to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Acton, where she was active for many years, decorating for major holidays and playing guitar in a folk group that visited nursing homes and the prison.
Jean joined the Concord and White Pond Garden Clubs, was a regular at plant sales, and led educational sessions for members on wreath making and bouquets. She decorated many events for the Concord Museum, including Old Concord Christmas. Jean’s work always drew rave reviews, especially her full-room dried flower arrangements. Her other interests included caring for many house plants, cooking with herbs from her garden, and collecting rustic antiques.
While she loved volunteering, Jean’s passion was raising three girls: Christina, Sarah, and Jessie. She was an artistic, free-spirited, progressive mother who enjoyed doing crafts with her kids and guiding them through the Concord public schools. The family shared global travel, summer vacations on Cape Cod, and ski vacations at their home on Loon Mountain.
Later in life, Jean cherished Concord visits from her grandkids — Emma, Max, and Blaise — and her grand-dogs, Paloma and Sunny. Jean is survived by her husband, daughters, brother, sister, and grandchildren.
In the last few years, Jean received exceptional care at Watson Fields, with regular loving companionship from her daughter Jessie. Her family wants to recognize the great caregivers there, so contributions in Jean’s name can be made to The Employee Fund, Watson Fields Assisted Living, 201 Watson Road, Dover, NH 30820.
Jean is being cared for at Tasker Funeral Service in Dover, New Hampshire. Her funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 23, at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, 89 Arlington Street, Acton.
