Jennifer Devereaux Boyd, who co-founded JP Knit & Stitch, died Aug. 20. Boyd's struggle with breast cancer had led her to focus on creating a community of knitters, as she told Patch in a March 2011 interview: "My passion is knitting. I don't want to just sit at home and knit though, I want to share it with my community. I want to share it with my friends." There will be a gathering to celebrate Boyd's life at JP Knit and Stitch on Friday, Sept. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m., according to a blog entry from the store. A memorial service is also scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 8 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s …

Fred Ciampa, known to generations of JP residents as the gregarious proprietor of Same Old Place, died Sunday night, his family told the Gazette. He was 69. The family will receive visitors at the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole St. (Route 1A) in Norwood on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m., according to the Boston Globe. Ciampa's funeral service will be held Thursday at 9 a.m. at St. Dennis Church, 157 Washington St., Westwood. Ciampa's pizza parlor, founded in the 1970s, has become known one of Boston's best places for New York-style pizza. The community rallied around the pizza shop in …

Catherine C. Balbanis, 83, died Tuesday, May 22, 2012. She was a lifelong resident of Jamaica Plain and graduate of Jamaica Plain High School.

Carl F. Zahn, 83, died Feb. 27, 2012 in Sarasota, Fla. He was the longtime publication director for the Museum of Fine Arts and a gifted designer. Zahn lived in Jamaica Plain for decades. Colleagues told the Boston Globe Zahn had a wide impact in the world of graphic design. "When he started in Boston, he really was unique," said Lance Hidy, a graphic artist and book designer and close friend. "He played a role in the history of 20th century graphic design because of his brilliance and what he brought to the Boston design scene." Zahn was also an accomplished singer and tennis player. Zahn is…

John L. Foley, formerly of Jamaica Plain, died on Sunday, May 13, 2012. He lived in Stoughton at the time of his death, and his surviving relatives include a brother, Edmund, and Edmund's wife Sandy, both of Jamaica Plain.

George G. Makkas, 46, of Jamaica Plain, died May 1, 2012. He was originally from New Jersey and moved to Boston to pursue interests in fashion and art. Visiting hours and funeral service will be held in Hellertown, Pennsylvania and Washington, N.J. Friends are organizing a Boston remembrance for him, with details to be posted at his Facebook page.

Michael F. Gillespie, 67, who grew up in JP, went on to serve as a Marine in Vietnam and worked as a Massaschusetts State Trooper for 18 years, died April 24, 2012. Visiting hours will be held at the MacDonald Funeral Home 1755 Ocean St. Rte 139 Marshfield on Friday, April 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by a funeral service and Military Honors at 1 p.m.

Donald J. Colbath, 73, died April 26, 2012. He had lived in Jamaica Plain and worked at the Massachusetts Water Resource Assoc. before his retirement to Florida.

Leo Gaquin of Dorchester and Quincy, who used to own the Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain, died April 25, 2012. Visiting hours are Sunday 4-8 p.m. at the Lydon Chapel for Funerals, 644 Hancock St., Quincy.

Marie MacLeod, a longtime resident of Forest Hills, died April 20, 2012. She was for 40 years a nurse at Faulkner Hospital. Visiting hours are Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. at Brady & Fallon Funeral Home.

Guglielmina Boznia “Buzzy” Fiorentino, 99, died on April 18, 2012. She lived most her life in Jamaica Plain and most recently in Westborough. For over 70 years, she was a mentor and confidant to hundreds of families and students with whom she shared her love of music with and taught to play piano. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on April 24, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 70 West Main St. in Westborough. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, West Roxbury. Donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Virginia Albert Adams, 90, died April 11, 2012. She was a member of Jamaica Plain's Footlight Club, the longest-running community theater in the country. She had roles in productions including "Auntie Mame," "The Philadelphia Story" and "Bells Are Ringing." Ann Joyce, formerly of Jamaica Plain, died April 15, 2012. A memorial was held Saturday at a Fort Point studio for Robert Raymond of Jamaica Plain, who died Feb. 27, 2012. Mobius Artists Group invited friends and fellow artists to celebrate his life. Herbert F. Sawyer, 87, formerly of Jamaica Plain, died April 17, 2012.

Barbara McGrath, 76, who was raised and educated in Jamaica Plain, died March 20, 2012. Here is a link to her full obituary. Helen Barber, 95, who lived in JP for many years before moving to Buzzards Bay, died March 22, 2012. Here is a link to her full obituary. Maria Theresa Jardin, who was born in JP, died March 28, 2012. Here is a link to her full obituary. Pauline Wight, 74, who was born in JP, died March 29, 2012. Here is a link to her full obituary. Mary Margaret Burke, 87, who was raised in JP, died March 29, 2012. Here is a link to her full obituary. Dorothy Ulitsch, 78, who was born …

Carmen N. Reyes, 65, a former teacher at the JFK Elementary School, died March 18, 2012. Here is a link to her full obituary. Paul Max Beichel, formerly of Jamaica Plain, died March 17, 2012. Here is a link to his full obituary. Felicita Arturet of Jamaica Plain died March 21, 2012. Here is a link to her full obituary. John C. O'Brien, a firefighter with the Boston Fire Department, died March 21, 2012. Here is a link to his full obituary. Sister Mary Eugenia Handren of the Order of St. Clare in Jamaica Plain died March 24, 2012 after 71 years as a "Poor Clare" nun. Here is a link to her full …

Andrew Wood, 70, of Shrewsbury, died March 12, 2012. His family asked that donations be made in his memory to Boylston Congregational Church in Jamaica Plain. Here is a link to his full obituary.