Obituary : Jeannette M. Boisvert
Jeannette M. Boisvert died at Windemere Nursing Home on Feb. 18 after a long illness. She was 79. Her husband, Louis E. Boisvert, predeceased her in 1981.
Jeannette was born October 8, 1929, the daughter of Willie J. and Mary A. Massey. She resided most of her life in Lowell. She also lived nine years in Virginia before moving to Woodside Village in Oak Bluffs where she has remained these last six years.
In her early years she worked for a shirt manufacturing company, C.F. Hathaway, in Lowell for over 20 years. In a career change to civil service, she worked for over 20 years as a claims representative for Social Security until her retirement at age 62.
Active in athletics, she played women's league softball in the 50s and in the late 60s and early 70s, she supported her husband in developing and managing the Centralville basketball league. The 32-team league boasted divisions for young men and women, including cheerleaders.
Multi-lingual, she spoke English, French, and Spanish and had a good working knowledge of Brazilian Portuguese as well as a little Cambodian. They served her well in pursuing her greatest love and that was sharing her knowledge of the Bible with others. Baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on March 26, 1988, she was active in the full-time ministry for 16 years. She helped a number of people come to an accurate knowledge of the Bible having served in congregations in Dracut, Harrisonburg, Va., and on Martha's Vineyard.
She is survived by her two sons, James P. Boisvert and wife Diane, of Cotuit, Kenneth R. Boisvert and wife Laurie, of Aguascalientes, Mexico; two daughters, Barbara A. Fontaine and husband Robert, and Janet McLean, both of Martha's Vineyard. She also has 12 grandchildren: Jessica, Julie, Michael Boisvert; Monique, Spencer, and Kamreyn Boisvert; Jennifer Fragosa and husband Joseph, Aaron Fontaine, Holly Lawyer and husband Wayne; Adam McLean and wife Tennessa, Sandra Nicotera and husband Andrew, Matthew McLean and wife Amber; five great-grandchildren: Trenton, Ethan, and Owen McLean, Briana Fragosa, and Emily Lawyer. She is also survived by three sisters, Irene McKenzie, of Madeira Beach, Fla.; Doris LaPointe of Tewksbury; and Yvette Smith of Dracut, and many nieces and nephews.
Having touched the lives of so many people with her generous spirit, she will be remembered and missed by all of them.
A memorial service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, located on State Road in West Tisbury on March 7 at pm. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Watchtower, (Worldwide Work) 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11201-2483 or to Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557 in memory of Jeannette M. Boisvert.
Arrangements are under the care of the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home, Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs. Please visit ccgfuneralhome.com for online guest book and information.
