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Obituaries 12-4-07

Jeanne Senesac Jackman

Vergennes— Jeanne d’arc Rachel Senesac was born in Elmore, VT on March 11, 1915, the daughter of Jacques and Alida (Choiniere) Senesac. Jeanne loved her family, her church and her community. On the family farm her parents taught the children to care for each other and their neighbors. Serving and caring-that was their way of life, and Jeanne lived that credo throughout her life, teaching her children to do the same. She was educated in schools in Potash Bay, Vergennes and Villa Barlow Academy in St. Albans, as well as the Perry Business School in Vergennes. Her parents were her most influential teachers.  Jeanne married Charles Jackman in 1936 and together they raised six children in Vergennes.

   Jeanne was on the first board governing the John Graham Emergency Shelter, often softening the hard attitude of the governing powers of the community toward the homeless. She also served on the first board for Addison County’s United Way.  She was a charter member of the St. Ann’s Society and one of the first to be appointed as Lay Minister of the Eucharist at St. Peter’s Church. Her commitment and service to the church and its youth were an important part of her life. Many St. Peter’s parishioners will remember the numerous pageants performed when Jeanne was their Catechism teacher as well as classes being taught in her home.  Her table could always be expanded to include anyone who dropped by at mealtime. Jeanne and Charlie’s home was known as a place where young people were welcomed and nourished. Long before teen centers were common, Jeanne advocated for and was instrumental in the establishment of a local teen center, a place where teens could gather safely to socialize.

   Jeanne and Charlie gave their children the two camps on Lake Champlain to instill the importance of family togetherness. Her time at “the lake” was always special and she loved seeing the joy the camps brought to her family.  That joy also was visible in the close relationships she had with her grandchildren. Many of them continued that special bond, caring for her the last few years of her life as her physical health declined.

   Jeanne taught herself to play piano on the player piano when she was young and continued playing piano into her 90’s. She also kept her family and  friends on their toes playing poker and bridge. Jeanne’s children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, her many family members and friends will always remember the twinkle in her eye, her nonjudgmental listening, her welcoming smile and her open arms in times of happiness and sorrow. All who knew Jeanne will feel a great sadness at her passing. But more importantly, they will feel a sense of gratitude and joy at having known her.

   Jeanne married Charles E. Jackman on February 10, 1936.  Charlie died in 1988, after celebrating their 50th anniversary in 1986.  Jeanne was also predeceased by her brothers Marcel and Gerald and her sisters Theresa (Ripchik), Marguerite (Casey) and Genevieve (Houle). She is survived by her six children, sixteen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren: Patricia (Bob) Kellogg; Alice (Al) Renaud; C. Michael (Terri) Jackman; Mary (Jim) Sullivan; Tom (Arlene) Jackman; John (Maureen) Jackman; 16 grandchildren: Deborah (Glen) Hathaway, Katie (Rob) Martin, Jennifer (Marc) Maurais Rob Kellogg; Albie (Corinne) Renaud, Stephen (Nadine) Renaud, Andrea (Kevin) Masse; Jason Jackman, Mason Jackman; Patrick (Kori) Sullivan, Sarah (Chris) Hale; Matthew Jackman, Erin Jackman; Stephen (Traci)Jackman, Andrew Jackman, Ann-Marie Jackman, Patrick Jackman and 17 great-grandchildren: Nicholas; Devyn, Maya; Madeline, Emma; Charlotte, Alice, Camryn, Callum, Jack, Layla, Joseph, Camilienne; Emily; Chastan; Sean and Lillian. She is also survived by her brothers Levi and Jimmy (Sally) Senesac, her sisters-in-law Mickey (Gerald) and Frances (Marcel) Senesac, and brothers-in-law, Frederick (Joan) and Ralph (Merle) Jackman as well as many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, godchildren and friends. Jeanne could not have lived at home these past three years without the following wonderful people: Kay Norris, her primary care giver and dear friend as well as Jodi James and Kelly Wellings, very special friends who have been important in Jeanne’s life the past three years. We are also grateful for the wonderful recent care given by Rose Cleveland and Lucie Huckabay. The family also wants to thank and acknowledge the wonderful care from Addison County Home Health and Hospice.

   A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, November 29 in St. Peter’s Church in Vergennes. Interment will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Vergennes.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Restoration Fund, the John Graham Shelter or Addison County Home Health and Hospice.

Ila Hill Smith

STARKSBORO— Ila Hill Smith passed away at the age of 91 on Monday, November 26, 2007 at the Burlington Health and Rehab Center, Burlington.

   She was born in Starksboro on November 20, 1916, the daughter of Mark and Belle Clifford Hill. Ila was graduated from Bristol High School in 1933.  She married Leroy Edgar Smith of Starksboro in 1937. She was a hard working farmer's wife in her early years, but found time to help out with church suppers and firemen's auxiliary dinners. Ila served her community as town clerk and treasurer from 1941 to 1947.

   She was predeceased by her husband, Leroy Smith, in 2000. Ila is survived by her niece, Dorothy Hill Romprey of Cocoa, Florida; a nephew, Erie C. Hill and wife, Jeanne, of Williamsburg, Virginia; a niece, Joan Hill Taylor and husband, George,  of Essex, Vermont; a cousin, Lorraine Emmons of Williamstown, Vermont; and several grand nieces and nephews.         

    Funeral services was held at the Starksboro Baptist Church, Saturday, December 1.  Interment will be in the Green Mountain Cemetery in Starksboro.

   In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Starksboro Baptist Church, 11 Parsonage Road, Starksboro, VT. 05487, Addison County Home Health and Hospice, P.O. Box 754, Middlebury, Vermont 05753, or Starksboro Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 55, Starksboro, Vermont 05487.

  The family would like to thank the Addison County Home Health aids, and the nurses and staff at the Burlington Health and Rehab for their excellent care.

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