Dawn Osterman

Dawn P. (Jantz) Osterman, 71, died Thursday, July 7, 2023, at home while surrounded by loved ones.  She leaves two sons, Chester Osterman III, and Nathan Osterman, both of Sutton; two daughters, Jodi Osterman, of Southbridge and Heather Westbury, of Sutton; 12 grandchildren: Joseph, Benjamin, Chance, Hunter, Hannah, Harmoni, Chester, Sophie, Catherine, Tripp, Addison, and Dominic; one great grandchild, Anthony; and Andy Maynard, of Sutton who she considered to be like a third son. In addition, she leaves two sisters, Carol Varney, of NC and Cynthia Haelsen, of Killingly, CT, and many nieces and nephews.  Dawn was predeceased by her husband Chester Osterman II, in 1979 and her grandson Jacob, in 2014.

Dawn was born in Boston, August 27, 1951, a daughter of the late Eleanor (Blaney) Jantz. Her early years were spent growing up on her grandfather’s farm in Upton until she moved to Northbridge in the 8th grade and graduated in 1969 from Northbridge High School.  She attended UMASS Amherst and Quinsigamond Community College, earned a BS in Nursing from Worcester State College and at the age of 50, graduated from Quinnipiac College with a Master’s Degree in Nursing.

Dawn dedicated her life to the nursing profession.  She worked locally at the former Whitinsville Hospital, Milford Regional Hospital and UMASS Medical Center.  She retired in 2013 from the State of Connecticut where she worked as a forensic nurse for the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Aside from nursing, Dawn loved spending time at the beach, especially Roger Wheeler and Point Judith and camping when her children where young.  She was a natural pianist, enjoyed watching the backyard birds, antiquing in Brimfield and visiting Foxwoods.  An avid Red Sox, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboy fan, she most enjoyed Sundays spent with Nate watching the Dallas Cowboys play.  Dawn loved the holidays as well, especially Christmas and decorating her home like a Christmas village. She often reminisced about growing up on the farm in Upton, riding bikes with her sister Carol to the swimming hole, going for walks and picking wildflowers.  Dawn treasured the time spent with her grandchildren.

Memorial Calling Hours will be Monday, July 10, 2023, from 4-7PM.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Northbridge High School Booster Club, 427 Linwood Ave., Whitinsville, MA 01588, or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD, 21741.

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