Jean Nero age 89 of Canton, passed away Tuesday morning. A native of Canton, Ohio, Daughter of the late Cipriano and Santella Nero. She was born on May 20, 1929. Jean has been a resident of Canton Christian Home since August 2003. She was also preceded in death by her brother Nicole Nero. Jean is survived by her sister, Sr. Judith Nero, of the Benedictine Sisters of Pittsburgh, PA. She was a graduate of Canton McKinley High School where she served four years on the varsity debate team. Jean attended Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, and later completed corporate management courses at Walsh University. Jean began her writing career as an ad writer for fashion store Bon Marche' then went to work for the Repository in several positions for eight years. She went on to write magazine and corporate PR for The Hoover Company, and later to Wern Advertising. She helped launch the Jackson Journal as its first editor. She was on staff as the Public Relations Director for the Cultural Center, serving five arts groups there. The last fourteen years before she retired, Jean was employed as Director of Media Public Relations in six counties for the Diocese of Youngstown. After retirement she worked for five years writing for 'Action' magazine at the Canton Chamber of Commerce. Since 1999 she handled media for Community Services of Stark County. Jean also wrote a twice-monthly column in the Repository called 'Who, Me, Old?' since November 2002. During her career she was often the 'first woman' in that job. She was the first woman to serve as president of the Canton Advertising Club and the first woman to win its 'Advertising Man of the Year' Medal, later she won one of the first 'Mousetrap' awards for her service to advertising. Jean received an international award for the Brush-Moore magazine she edited. During her years at the Diocese of Youngstown, she was elected to the National Communications Board and represented the states of Ohio and Michigan. She served as 'press contact' for Bishop James Malone at conferences in Washington, D.C. during his term as President of the NCCB. Jean served on the early publicity committees for the first Pro Football Hall of Fame Festivals, school levies, and United Way. She organized the first Business Advisory Council to help the MRDD Board when they opened the first sheltered workshop. In her church, she was one of the first women lectors permitted to read Scriptures in early 1970, and continued as a lector at St. Paul Catholic Church of North Canton. Her hobbies include artwork, making afghans for friends, visiting art shows, playing the piano; but most of all, since childhood, she loved to read books. Family and friends will be received on Thursday from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at the Rossi Family Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday at 11:00 am in St. Paul Catholic Church, North Canton, with Msgr James Clarke celebrant. Entombment will be in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Canton Christian Home Benevolent Fund.