Frances Marie Vaillancourt

WEST ENOSBURGH - Frances (Benoit) Vaillancourt, age 89, passed away Sunday evening, March 30, 2014 at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington.

She was born December 3, 1924 in Manseau, Que., Canada, the daughter of the late Albert and Amanda (Beauchemin) Benoit.

She moved to Vermont as a young girl and lived on the family farm in Enosburg Center. On June 23, 1942 she married Charles Vaillancourt. Charlie and Frances bought a farm in West Enosburgh and farmed side by side while raising their family. Their farm was well known for Kidders Swimming hole which they so generously shared for generations. Frances was famous for her prize winning Maple Cream and delicious Maple Syrup. She was so proud of all her blue ribbons. Frances had a lifelong love of music especially playing her fiddle. Her feet were always tapping to lively French Canadian music. Charlie died in March of 2001 but the farm continued on today under the capable hands of Patrick and Donna with Frances supervising. Now the supervisor is gone and the eight o\u0027clock popcorn hours are no more. Her faithful pet of 15 years, Lucy, has lost her mistress. Frances was a member of St. John the Baptist Parish. She also enjoyed being a member of the Red Hat Society.

She is survived by her children and their spouses: Alan and Susan(Gray); Rachel and Charles Pattee; Mark and Lynette(Larivee); Norman and Ellen(O\u0027Shea); Patrick and Donna(Powers) and Joanne and David Swan. Grandchildren: Lisa (Terri)Vaillancourt; Michelle (Anthony)Lussier; James (Jody) Vaillancourt; Carrie (David) Garfinkle; Thomas (Renee) Pattee; Jason (Megan) Vaillancourt; Matthew Vaillancourt; Joey (Heather) Vaillancourt; Terri (Keith)Deuso; Aaron Vaillancourt; Jason (Amanda) Kennison and Kelli (Scott) Howard. 22 Great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. She also leaves her sister Marie Arcara and her sisters-in-law Claire Vaillancourt; Reine Dufresne and Georgette Theriault. Frances is survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and many good lifelong friends. Frances was pre-deceased by her husband of 58 years, Charles; her parents; and her siblings: Gerard, Rene, Treffle, Real, Emile and Annette.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 4, 2014 at 11:00 at St. John the Baptist Church, 222 Missisquoi St., Enosburg Falls with Rev. Roger Charbonneau celebrating the Mass of Christian burial. Interment will follow in St. John the Baptist Cemetery.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday from 7-9 at Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the Franklin County Home Health Agency, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, VT 05478 or St. John the Baptist Church, PO Box 563, Enosburg Falls, VT 05450.