- Date Of Birth: July 23, 1927
- Date Of Death: May 13, 2022
- State: Pennsylvania
Devine,
1927~2022
Jeannette A. Devine (nee Cascarino) passed away peacefully on May 13, 2022, in Phoenixville, PA. She was 94. Jeannette is survived by her five children, Anita, Paulette, Karen, Jim, and Will, and their spouses/significant others, respectively, Mike Rustyak, Nick Pawlowski, Joe Kokinda and Eileen (Becker) Devine. Jeannette is also survived by her 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, who all affectionately referred to her as “Nona.” Jeannette was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Jim, and sister Dolores (Ridgway).
Jeannette was born on August 23, 1927 in West Philadelphia, to parents Nicholas A. Cascarino and Angelina (Civitella). Jeannette attended Girls’ High where she excelled in music, and received the Best Singer service award upon graduating. Jeannette performed professionally for Philadelphia opera companies as a teen, and was mentored by her cousin Romeo Cascarino, composer, pianist and musical director for the Co-Opera Company of Philadelphia. Jeannette’s vocal talents brought her to perform at the Academy of Music during the 1940s, which dubbed her “voice of the future.”
After high school, Jeannette attended Chestnut Hill College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Voice in 1949. She was very active in music throughout her college years and sang in the College’s Glee Club all four years. Jeannette was well-loved by her classmates, as her yearbook indicates “A lovely voice…. a lovely smile that lights up her face… who can forget her voice…. our lark… charming… a flair for clothes… gracious and willing… our Jeannette.”
Upon graduation from Chestnut Hill, Jeannette taught music at Melrose Academy for Boys & Girls, in Melrose Park PA until 1953. A pioneer and trailblazer at a time when it was less common for women to work while married and raising a family, Jeannette also remained active in music after having her first child Anita in 1951, performing in the Philadelphia Co-Opera Company’s 1952 production of The Telephone, singing the lead soprano role of “Lucy.”
Jeannette and Jim were brought together through music, meeting at church choir practice during high school years, where it was love at first sight. On their first date they each had a coke at the drug store soda fountain across the street from the church. Jim and Jeannette were married in 1949 at Saint Callistus Church in West Philadelphia. After marrying they lived in Philadelphia, then Baltimore and eventually settled in Havertown PA where they lived until 1989. Jeannette was well-loved by the wonderful Llanerch/Havertown, PA community, where she and Jim raised their family. Surrounded by many of their friends, all of whom had large families, it was a close-knit community of proud suburban homes, connected by traditional sidewalk- and tree-lined streets, where children walked to school, played in the schoolyards, and returned to loving homes, the doors of which were rarely locked.
Jeannette is admired for her incredible drive to get the most out of life, even during her final years in assisted living. She continued to learn through audiobooks and documentaries, and even into her 90’s made lists everyday of things she wanted to accomplish. Jeannette made many friends throughout her life, including those final years where she was the favorite resident, and broke many hearts when she passed. She will always be remembered for her many wonderful talents, her Christian convictions and inner strength.
Rest in peace, Jeannette. You may be gone from this world, but you will forever remain in our hearts.
