Jeannette (Ducharme) Bergeron

Jeannette (Ducharme) Bergeron, age 87, of Pelham, NH, died February 12, 2017, at her home surrounded by her family.

Jeannette was born in Detroit, MI, on August 10, 1929, to Alice (Greenwood) and Arthur
Ducharme. Soon after her birth her family returned to their hometown of Pelham, NH, and from then on Jeannette remained mostly a lifelong resident of Pelham, growing up happily with her four brothers and three sisters despite the early death of her father, the hardship of the Depression, and the trauma of World War II.

In 1947 Jeannette married Robert L. Bergeron, also of Pelham. They began their life together raising children and farming, first in Pelham, then in Londonderry, Deering, and Stratham, NH, before returning to Pelham in 1965. Jeannette worked at the counter of Cousins Bakery in Pelham, selling donuts, pouring coffee, and offering all her customers a smile and a no-nonsense attitude for 32 years.

After her retirement Jeannette and Robert spent many wonderful years together taking road trips, hunting down treasures in flea markets and yard sales, and spending summers at their cabin in Brighton, ME. There they entertained their grandchildren, camped, fished, and explored the endless paper roads. They also traveled to Canada and many parts of the USA. In later years they enjoyed mornings with their many friends at the local Mickey D's, drinking coffee and solving the problems of the world.

Jeannette was an expert, ribbon-winning quilter and made many hand-stitched heirlooms for her children and grandchildren. She was also an ardent fan of the Boston Red Sox, cheering them on to their world championships with as much fervor as any fan alive. Jeannette also loved reading, word games, gardening, watching old movies, and baking. No one made a better apple pie.

She was a steady, kind, practical, loving, and supportive presence in the lives of her family and friends, and her loss will be greatly felt.

Jeannette was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Robert; an infant daughter, Lisa; a son, Peter Bergeron; and a grandson, Steven Bisson. She is survived by her six daughters: Helen Betz and her wife, Donna Bouvier, of Kittery, ME; Martha Bisson and her husband, Richard, of Raymond, NH; Catherine Fields and her husband, William, of The Villages, FL; Theresa Guerrette and her husband, Michael, of Nashua, NH; Mary Lou Thompson and her husband, Billy, of Athens, ME; and Janet Gelinas and her husband, Wayne, of Skowhegan, ME. She is also survived by her fourteen grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, three brothers (Arthur, Alfred, and Robert Ducharme), one sister (Rita Hohmann), dozens of nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.