Jody Axelson

Newburyport, MA - Jody Axelson, 89, of Newburyport, died peacefully on December 28, 2023 in Newburyport. Born July 24, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio to the late Marian Clark Kennedy and Joseph Kennedy, she was the youngest of five siblings. Jody graduated from Heights High in Cleveland Heights in 1952, She attended the College of Wooster and later became a stewardess for United Airlines, a job she loved but had to leave when she got married, as was the policy in the 1950s. In July 1957, she married her high school sweetheart, Richard Beatty. Jody and Rich moved to Massachusetts, first to Chelmsford, then to Beacon Hill in Boston. Their daughters, Carol and Alison, were born there. In 1965, the family moved to Manchester, MA, where they spent ten years and welcomed their youngest, Sara. In early 1976, they purchased a house on Tyng Street in Newburyport. Jody spent nearly 50 years calling Newburyport home. Jody and Rich divorced in 1984, and she married her second husband, George Axelson, in 1986. They briefly lived in Kennebunk, ME, but returned to Newburyport and settled at the James Steam Mill, where George died in 2006. Jody lived at the Steam Mill until 2020, when her health necessitated a move to Country Manor (AdviniaCare) nursing home in Newburyport. Jody worked for various small businesses and organizations over the years. Volunteering for the Emma Andrews branch of the Newburyport Public Library and for Anna Jaques Hospital were highlights for her. She loved her Newburyport community and the friends who visited and stayed in touch right to the end. Her family was paramount to Jody, and she treasured time with her three daughters and their families, spending wonderful time in West Newbury with Alison, adventuring in search of snowy owls with Sara, and frequently visiting Carol in Vermont. The opportunity to visit with her Kennedy nieces and nephews and their families was always cherished. In 2015, she went on the trip of a lifetime with her daughter, Carol, and granddaughter, Liz. They visited the town in France where her beloved brother, Buddy, was killed in September 1944, as the town was being liberated from Nazi occupation. Unbeknownst to the family until shortly before the trip, a memorial to Buddy had been erected, and Jody was determined to get the full story. In St. Amand-les-Eaux, Jody met people present that day in 1944 and finally learned what happened to Buddy. She found great peace in knowing he had been cared for and honored. Jody was known for her kindness, thoughtfulness, and care for everyone around her. She will be dearly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her daughters, Carol Beatty (Steve Owens) of Calais, VT, Alison Jones (Laine) of West Newbury, MA, and Sara Gelsomini (Mike) of North Hampton, NH; her grandchildren, Ben Beatty-Owens (Philippa), Liz Beatty-Owens, Kate Bragole (Nick ), Ally Gelsomini (Liam Dinchong), Molly Jones (Alex Demeule), and Kyle Gelsomini; her great-granddaughters, Evelyn and Fiona Owens; her ex-husband and dear friend, Rich Beatty; her stepdaughter, Kris Moss (Fred), whom she always stayed close with, and many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings, Clark, Malcolm “Buddy”, Sally, and Martha and her beloved Aunt Margaret Clark. A memorial celebration of Jody’s life will be held in West Newbury in the summer. In memory of Jody, please do something kind for someone whenever you have the opportunity. The family would like to extend our thanks to the staff at Adviniacare at Country for taking loving care of Mom.

Jody Axelson

July 24, 1934 - December 28, 2023