Hudson – Jean Ellen Fader Drew of Hudson MA age 74, died peacefully at home with her husband by her side on March 29th, 2023. She had been stoically participating in a lengthy, outpatient clinical trial under the supervision of her medical team from Dana Farber and Brigham & Women’s Hospitals.
Jean was born in 1948, the daughter of Horace E. Fader and Mildred F. (Iskierski) Fader, longtime residents of Natick, MA. Jean was raised in Natick and attended public school there, graduating from Natick High School in 1966. Jean was a truly well-rounded woman with many diverse talents and interests.
From childhood on, Jean had a passion for horseback riding and music, which ranged from Opera to Jazz, to Rock/Pop, Gospel and R&B). She also had actively participated in several performing arts — including acting, singing, and dancing.
She had studied dance (ballet, tap and modern dance) in Natick with Janet Miles beginning in the 1950’s and performed for Janet as one of her original “Janettes” dance group in the 1960’s. She also had performed in musicals and plays, in supporting as well as leading roles, while attending Natick High School, and with theater groups in Albany, NY in the 70’s, and in South Natick in the 80’s.
During the 80’s, Jean also had enjoyed marching in the Memorial Day and 4th of July parades in Natick and Hudson, MA as drum major for two local marching bands — the American Legion Marching Band, founded by her husband Bruce and the Naval Brigade Band, founded and directed by her late, beloved father. She also had performed for many years as the lead vocalist for the Italo DeMasi band and had received a Grammy award for Album Cover Design for an album by Vaughn Nark, a jazz trumpet player.
Jean also was an avid and adept sailor and relished sailing on Narragansett and Cape Cod Bays with family and friends on her father’s sailboat, the “Catspaw.”
Over several years, Jean had attended Ithaca College, The College of Saint Rose, and NYU at Albany, where she concentrated her studies in English and Philosophy, especially in religious philosophy. She also had co-authored a religious-philosophical book entitled “There is Only One Commandment” with Sandy Venable, a kindred spirit.
Jean had been employed for several years with Sun Life of Canada and Phoenix Mutual as a certified financial planner before becoming employed by Rath & Strong Management Consultants as their sole graphics and cover designer for all their “Six Sigma” publications – work more aligned with her interests and artistic talents.
She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Bruce Warren Drew of Hudson, MA; sister Judith Ann Fader and lifelong partner, Janet M. Pytlak of Tewksbury, MA; brother John Evans Fader of Sudbury, MA; Bruce’s many siblings as well as many loving cousins and their children. Jean will be sorely missed by all whose lives she touched.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, from 4-7 pm at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St., Natick Common. Her funeral will proceed from the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 9AM to St. Patrick’s Church, 144 Central St., Natick for her Mass of Christian Burial. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Jean’s name to the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay (https://nmlc.org) and Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
