Marie-Jeanne Gertrude Benoit

Marie-Jeanne Gertrude Benoit, age 90 years, died peacefully Thursday afternoon, June 22, 2017, at her home on Crowe Hill in Sheldon.

Born at home in Highgate by Morses Line on April 11, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Henri and Mae (Demers) Rainville. She attended schools in Highgate and Holy Angels Commercial School in St. Albans, followed by a noviciate in Clayton, NY in 1949 to become a catholic religious sister, from which she returned home for reasons of health. In a change of vocation, she was married on August 22, 1953, to Marcel Herman Benoit and became the devoted mother to their five children.

Prior to marriage, Marie-Jeanne worked for the C.P. Smith Company in Burlington, then after marriage for the George Yett Bag Factory in Swanton, until she started her family. In 1957, Marcel and Marie-Jeanne made a leap of faith to purchase the old Robert Crowe farm in Sheldon, where they worked side-by-side to make it a success. She contributed her labor, bookkeeping skills, and considerable talents as gardener, cook and baker. Besides caring for a growing family, she served her church as a religious education teacher and a member of the Ladies of St. Anne of St. Anthony Church in Sheldon Springs.

She was predeceased by her husband Marcel and leaves their five children, Gilbert (Lindsay) Highgate Springs, Lucie Holcomb of S. Burlington, Conrad (Suzette) of Sheldon, Leon (Linda) of Sheldon and Julian (Dawnna) stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Marie-Jeanne leaves her brother Joachim and wife Lorraine of Highgate, sister Theresa Begnoche and husband Marcel of Highgate, sisters in-law Monique Rainville of Franklin, Georgette Benoit of Ste. Armand, PQ, Therese Potvin of Farnham, PQ, Lucille Benoit of Bedford, PQ, Francoise Benoit of Ste. Jean, PQ, and Francoise Benoit of Mont Ste. Hillaire, PQ, and also her brothers-in-law Andre Laroche of St. Albans, Jacques Benoit of Ste. Jean, PQ, and Richard Benoit of Mont Ste. Hillaire, PQ. Also, she leaves 14 grandchildren,10 great-grandchildren, 2 step-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Marie-Jeanne is also predeceased by brothers Norbert and Lucien, sisters Cecile Bouchard, Bernadette Tremblay, and Mae Anne Laroche, sisters-in-law Madeleine Rainville and Denise Benoit, and brothers-in-law Paul Bouchard, Hector Tremblay, Clement Benoit, Alfred Benoit, Rodrigue Benoit, and Romuald Potvin.

Marie-Jeannes family wishes to give special thanks to her caregivers Elaine Reed, MarieAnne West, Michele and Donna Jutras, Lori Derry, Angela St. Pierre, and Ashley Rooney, as well as to all the wonderful hospice ladies who were so helpful.

The Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, June 26, 2017, at 11 a.m. from Saint Louis Roman Catholic Church, 186 Lamkin Street in Highgate Center. Marie-Jeannes cousin Father Marcel R. Rainville, SSE will be the celebrant and homilist. The Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at the Benoit family lot in Saint Louis Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at Saint Louis Church.

Friends may call at The Kidder Memorial Home, 89 Grand Avenue in Swanton on Sunday, June 25, from 4 to 8 p.m.

Gifts in Marie-Jeannes memory may be made in the form of masses or to St. Annes Shrine, St. Annes Shrine Road, Isle LaMotte, Vermont 05463.