Eugenie "Jennie" P. (Voyer) Hebert

The children of Jennie Hebert are saddened to announce the passing of their beloved mother on November 12 peacefully at home with family members at her side.

Jennie was born on January 20, 1922, and was the third of eighteen children born to John B. and Gladys M. (Sheltra) Voyer in Lowell, VT.  As a youth, Jennie attended the Lowell public school and worked on the family farm both with regular chores and assisting with her younger siblings.  Unfortunately for Jennie, family circumstances did not allow for her to complete her education at that time, however, in the early 1970's, Jennie returned to the classroom and she achieved her GED. Upon leaving the family home, she held positions as a household and child care helper until her marriage to the late William R. Hebert in 1945.  Jennie and Bill settled in Beebe Plain, VT where they raised their seven children.

During their marriage, Jennie held various part-time jobs outside of the home including a position with the Postal Service, assuming the duties of post mistress as cover for vacations and periods of illness.  She also became a sales representative for Avon and Grace Holmes.  Jennie was very active in the community as a long time communicant of the St. Edward's parish and as member of St. Edward's Altar Society of Derby Line, was the first member to the Association to the Sisters of Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and as a member of the Home Demonstration club and the Beebe Birthday club.

For much of the late 1960's, the bulk of Jennie's time was consumed with providing care for her terminally ill husband, however she was able to spend time playing cards and Scrabble at her kitchen table with her dear friend and neighbor Philippa Greenwood which provided a valuable outlet and life line to Jennie.  While Jennie was deeply grieved by the passing of her husband in 1969, she also recognized that she still had children that needed to be cared for and they became her focus.  When Mammoth Mart established its presence in Derby in 1970, Jennie came in on the ground floor, working on the initial store set up and continued her employment there until they were taken over by King's Department Store and then with  Ames Department Store where Jennie continued to work until her retirement in 2002 at the age of 80. After Jennie's retirement, she was sorely missed by her colleagues not only for her work ethic, but also because Jennie spent her Thursday evenings at home making donuts for the Friday morning staff meetings. Jennie also set up a ceramics studio in her home where she conducted group workshops and created some very special pieces. During the Christmas Holiday season, Jennie was famous for her tortierre which was much sought after by her friends and neighbors. Retirement did not slow Jennie down, but instead allowed her the opportunity for travel and the time to pursue other adventures and interests she had yet to explore.  She was able to take a wonderful and leisurely trip to Paris, France and surrounding areas and as well as domestic trips to visit family including a flight to Idaho to visit her daughter Helena, a trip to Maryland to visit her son William and a trip to Georgia to attend her granddaughter's wedding.  She also took up new hobbies such as rug braiding.

Jennie left the family home in 2004 and moved to Derby Line with her daughter Beverly followed by a move to Newport Center with Beverly and daughter Patricia Halik and Patricia's husband Ed before they all ultimately settled in Newport in 2020.

Once Covid hit, loneliness was destined to become an issue, but in order to avoid that, the children arranged for weekly family video chats with Jennie and, while she did not often actively participate, she was always present and it helped to keep her from an overwhelming sense of isolation.

Perhaps the most gratifying moment for the family occurred this summer when, as Covid restrictions were finally relaxed enough to provide for social gatherings and when most of her family was in the area, her children hosted an early birthday party which was attended by close to 100 people.

Jennie is survived by her son William and his wife Linda Hebert of Galivants Ferry, SC and daughters Helena and her husband George Fortier of Meridian ,ID, Beverly Hebert of Newport,  VT, Jennifer Felch of Cedartown, GA, Patricia and her husband Edward  Halik of Newport, VT and Cynthia and her husband David Ketcham of Mapleville, RI, brothers Rosaire and John Voyer of FL and Gerard Voyer of VT and sisters Rosealma Chmielecki of CT, Germaine Beliveau  and Annette Royer both of VT, Gloria Durocher of FL and Sister Elaine Voyer of NH, eleven grandchildren , two step-grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

While her family is saddened to bid farewell to Jennie there is comfort to be found in the knowledge that she will be reunited with her husband William Hebert, parents John and Gladys Voyer, daughter Elaine Buck, grandson Jonathan Fortier, her son-in-law Elwyn "Al" Felch, brothers Gene, Louis, Arthur, Emile, Lawrence and Lucien, sisters Jeanette Garrett, Therese Rivers and Sister Rosanna Voyer, as well as nieces and nephews who have passed before her.

The family would like to extend a special thank-you to the staff of the Orleans Essex VNA for the care, comfort and support they provided to Jennie and her family during the final months of her life.

Calling hours will be held between the hours of 6pm-8pmat the Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral home located on 4670 Darling Hill Road in Newport on Thursday, November 18.  A funeral mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Edwards Church in Derby Line on Friday, November 19 at 11am with internment to immediately follow at the St. Edwards Cemetery in Derby Line.

On-line condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com . Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home, & Cremation Service locally family owned and operated. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jennie's memory may be made to the Orleans Essex VNA and Hospice Inc. 46 Lakemont Road, Newport, VT 05855 or online at orleansessexvna.org.