Jean Emily Hayes—loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother—is now at peace in Paradise with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jean passed away in her Sherwood home at the age of 93 with her son, John, and her beloved cat, Ginny, by her side.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Erna and Frank Taylor, her husband of 35 years, John C. Hayes, and her granddaughter, Caileigh Armatruda. She is survived by her 3 sons, John (Lisa), Jeffrey (Paul), and James (Rose), her grandchildren, Paul (Stephanie), Lauren (James), and Jacqueline, and her great-granddaughter, Evelyn Jean.

Jean loved her family, who will forever cherish Sunday dinners together, Wednesday dinners at the Dixie Café, and her quick wit. Jean was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she had a long, accomplished career as a college librarian for Assumption College. Before becoming a librarian, Jean studied Opera at the New England Conservatory of Music and was a gifted singer. She shared this talent with her home church of Christ-the-King in Worcester, Massachusetts as a cantor and as a parishioner at Immaculate Conception Church, where she is remembered for beautifully singing hymns from the pews.

After retiring in Sherwood to be closer to her son and grandchildren, Jean became an active member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, a volunteer for CHI St. Vincent North Hospital and the Arkansas Repertory Theater, and a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church. She loved her community at Immaculate Conception Church and gave her time and talent to the Arts and Crafts Gild and the Altar Society. Jean’s artistic abilities and creativity shone through everything she did. Due to Covid-19, there will not be a funeral mass at this time. However, as Jean adored animals, her family asks for donations in her honor to the Sherwood Animal Shelter. Please visit www.smithsherwoodfuneralhome.com to sign the online guestbook.