Jean Mary (Danici) DeGouff

Of Waltham, passed away peacefully with her husband of 46 years at her side, on Thursday morning, September 28, 2017 at the Wingate of Weston Nursing Home. The final six months of her life she was continually surrounded by the love of her family, relatives, and friends. She was 88.

Born in Cambridge, she was raised in Watertown by the late Joseph and Angelina (Mazza) Yobaccio. She was a 1948 graduate of Watertown High School. She has been a resident in Waltham for a good part of fifty years.

Jean worked at the Waltham Hospital for over 40 years. She started as a Nurses’ Aide in the Emergency Room then spent most of her time working in the Delivery Unit and Nursery. During her time at Waltham Hospital she assisted in delivering many of her friend’s children and even several of her own grandchildren. She truly found her calling and touched many people’s lives doing what she loved. In her last years at the hospital, before she retired at 80, she worked with young girls at the Waltham Center for Eating Disorders’.

In her spare time, Jean enjoyed being in the sun and loved going to the beach and pool. She never drove a car but loved to walk and take the bus everywhere. With her outgoing personality, she got to know the bus drivers on a first name basis. Jean never forgot anyone’s birthday, especially her children and grandchildren, and made sure she sent a card in time for their special day. She even remembered friend’s and extended family member’s birthdays with a phone call, a card or a small gift. Most of all, Jean was always family first and foremost and loved being with them.

She is survived by her husband Richard DeGouff of Waltham, a retired Waltham Police Officer and her devoted children: David Sauro and his wife Janice (Antico) of Centerville, Deborah (Sauro) Bolio and her husband Kerry, of St. Petersburg, FL, Jean Marie (Sauro) Pappas and her husband Peter of Woburn, Tracy (DeGouff) Pruett and her husband Steven of Framingham, Florence “Flo” (DeGouff) Hession-McCabe and her husband Gregory of Waltham, and Richard “Ricky” DeGouff and his wife Christina (Carniello) of Framingham. She is survived by 16 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Marie Taylor of Watertown.


Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Funeral Service in celebration of Jean’s life at the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco and Sons, 773 Moody Street, Waltham, Friday, October 6, at 11 am. Interment is Private. Visiting hours will be held Thursday October 5, from 4-8 pm. Parking attendants will be on duty.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association by visiting www.alz.org.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jean M. DeGouff (Danici), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.