08/20/2025
Jody MacMillan Pellecchia, originally of West Medford, MA, passed away peacefully on August, 18th, 2025 at home in Rowley, MA, after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer, surrounded by her family.
Jody was a dragon-slayer, a warrior, a fighter, a rebel, a gladiator, a truth-teller, and a survivor. She was stronger than steel, forged in places no one should ever have to go, and yet she carried that weight with a boisterous laugh, a sailor’s mouth, and a heart that loved harder than most people will ever know. She was not here to please the world—she was here to live fully, protect fiercely, and give of herself honestly and without compromise.
By the time she was 18, Jody had endured tragedies that could have broken anyone. Instead, she transformed pain into strength and regret into fearlessness. She had no time for pretense, no patience for bu****it, and no hesitation in standing up for those she loved. If you were one of her people, there was no distance she would not travel, no fight she would not take on, no storm she would not walk through.
The only thing bigger than Jody’s laugh, was her heart. She loved loudly and without reservation – hers was not a soft or sentimental love—it was raw, loyal, and unshakable. She wielded love like a weapon, not to wound but to shield, to defend, and to make sure her family and friends never had to face what she had endured. That love carved her edges sharp; Jody was not for the faint of heart, yet being part of her world was a privilege beyond words.
The middle child of seven, Jody’s siblings were the joy and anchor of her childhood, and the love she shared with them helped carry her through life’s hardest moments. She mothered not only her own children but also nurtured her brothers, sisters, and their children, weaving bonds of care, guidance, and fierce fidelity that has and will continue to span generations.
At the heart of her life was her extraordinary partnership with Dennis, her beloved husband of 51 years. Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and mutual passions. They first met in a barn as teenagers, and from the start, horses were far more than a pastime—they were the foundation of their life and the center around which their world revolved. Their days were filled with horses and open skies, balanced by the constant rhythm of family celebrations—birthdays, weddings, christenings—where foxtrots marked each gathering, as they whirled through life in a dance of joy and adventure. Side by side, they explored much of Europe—Italy from north to south, the fjords of Norway, and the rolling hills of Scotland. Their love story was one for the ages. Together since the age of 17, their bond was intense and unbreakable, a union that withstood every storm and left behind a legacy of devotion.
As a mother, Jody poured her fierce commitment into raising their children, DeAnna and Dennis II. She led by example, with humor, grit, and unwavering loyalty, showing them how to be strong, to stand up for themselves and others, and to lead with kindness that could never be mistaken for weakness. Jody and Dennis built a home rooted in openness and connection—a world where love was limitless, laughter was constant, and even the simplest moments could be transformed into adventures. A trip to the bookstore became a comic escapade; a quiet afternoon could spark spontaneous jokes or storytelling that had everyone laughing until their sides hurt. Together, they had a way of being fully present, of finding the extraordinary in the everyday, and of making everyone around them feel part of something larger, something alive. They were, in every sense, an all-time team.
Jody was also a talented artist, her hands forever busy with fabric, yarn, and thread. She made quilts, sweaters, scarves, and even paintings from textiles—always crafted as gifts for the people she loved. She stitched together memories, care, and beauty, leaving behind tangible expressions of her heart and the devotion she carried for those closest to her.
Later in life, Jody’s heart was healed in ways she once thought impossible when her son, Dan Champney, found his way back to her. Welcoming Dan, his wife Jennifer, and their children—Mackenzie, Brodie, Hammie, and Ronan—into her life, alongside Dennis, DeAnna and Dennis II, was her greatest joy and deepest dream realized. She finally saw her truest wish fulfilled: a family united, whole, and overflowing with love.
Jody is survived by her devoted husband, Dennis Pellecchia; her beloved son, Dan Champney, his wife, Jennifer Champney, and their children, Mackenzie, Brodie, Hamilton, and Ronan Champney; her cherished daughter, DeAnna Pellecchia, her partner, Joe Pirelli, and their children, Nathan and Reis Pirelli; and her dear son, Dennis Pellecchia II.
She is also survived by her loving siblings, Margaret MacMillan, Charles MacMillan, and John Paul MacMillan; her dear nieces and nephews, Michele Hoard, Victor Vinciguerra, Gregory Berberian, Giselle Fall, Corine Titterington, Jill Solimine, Donnie Titterington, CJ MacMillan, Christian MacMillan, Margaret MacMillan, Johnny MacMillan, Thomas MacMillan, Jenna MacMillan, Meredith Fucile, and Albert Pellecchia III; and their devoted spouses, Bruce Hoard, Tommy Solimine, Marlene Titterington, Michael Berry, Rob Fucile, and Colleen Pellecchia.
Her great-nieces and great-nephews, whom she adored, include Billy Coleman, Brent Coleman, Tyler Coleman, Chris Fall, Isabella Fall, Chace Solimine, Laci Titterington, Noah Titterington, Will Titterington, Penelope Berry, Michael Berry Jr., Maisy MacMillan, Runa MacMillan, Lyza Fucile, Leanna Fucile, RJ Fucile, Juliette Pellecchia, and Katie Pellecchia. She is also survived by her cherished brother- and sisters-in-law, Albert Pellecchia Jr., Paula Pellecchia, and Darnell Pellecchia.
She was preceded in death by her parents Charlie and Doris, and siblings Sandra Grimshaw, Wayne Grimshaw, and Donnie MacMillan.
Jody’s circle reached well beyond these names; she held close so many cousins, friends, and neighbors who were like family, leaving behind a community profoundly touched by her heart and spirit.
To know Jody was to know her Scottish pride, her love of pizza with extra cheese, her disdain for anything cucumber or watermelon, her inability to tolerate small talk or drink corona without a lime, her spicy vocabulary, her infectious cackle, her wholehearted hugs, her relentless generosity, and her genuine, unfiltered presence that made everyone feel truly seen.
There was only one Jody -- an inimitable, unforgettable force: a woman who lived without apology, loved without condition, and left the world brighter, funnier, stronger, and more honest than she found it. She will be missed beyond measure by all who were lucky enough to know her.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial visitation for Jody in the Cota Family Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 335 Park St., (corner of Park St. and Rte. 28) North Reading at Reading line on Tuesday, Aug. 26th from 4-7pm. Her funeral will begin at the funeral home on Wednesday the 27th at 10am and proceed to Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford for a graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made online to New England Equine Rescue at NEERNORTH.ORG. www.cotafuneral.com
