Jean Varney Lefebvre Bergeron, age 96, passed away at the Sullivan County Health Care, Unity, NH October 6, 2019.
Born to Harry and Doris (Nowell) Varney in Franklin, NH, the second of five daughters, in January 1923. She attended Franklin High School, graduating in 1941. In January, 1943, she married her high school sweetheart, Armand (Lefty) Lefebvre while he was home on leave from the Navy. During the war, she remained in Franklin working for Houghton & Simonds. When Lefty returned after the war, they built a house in Franklin and had their first two daughters, Linda in 1947 and Pamela in 1948. In 1950, they moved their family to Van Nuys, CA. There they had their son, Paul, in 1951. Unbeknownst to each other, they hated California, so they packed up their growing family and moved back to Franklin, NH. After a brief stay, and another daughter, Susan in 1954, they moved to Springfield, MA. Here they built a new home and Jean added another son, John in 1959. In 1960 they moved again to Claremont, NH, where she settled into the community and lived there for the next 60 years, becoming involved in many activities with her children as well as community activities. She was especially involved in her church, after converting to Catholicism when her oldest daughter was in first grade. She was active in the Catholic Daughters for over 60 years, serving in many officer capacities, including Regent. She also became active as a volunteer for the Claremont Soup Kitchen. Upon the loss of Lefty in 1968, Jean found work to support her young family at Kimball Stationary Store for 17 years. In 1975 she married George Bergeron and together they traveled cross country and visited Seattle several times. In 1979, they became one of the first residents of the Bourdon Senior Center, where she lived for over 35 years. George passed away in 2000. She was an officer in the Residents Association as well as the Senior Citizens Congress remaining active throughout those years until she moved to the Sullivan County Health Care in 2016 due to failing health. Jean loved being anywhere near the water. She particularly enjoyed traveling to Maine with her two sisters, Pat and Gail, where they walked the beach and had plenty of laughs together! She also spent many of her summers with Linda at Seymour Lake in Vermont and with Paul and Susan’s families at Bear Island New Hampshire.
She was predeceased by both husbands, her parents, sisters, Barbara Cotton and Doris Gates.
She is survived by her children, Linda (Timothy) Buzzell, Plainfield, NH; Pamela Parkinson, Dover, NH; Paul (Joan) Lefebvre, Naples, FL; Susan (Michael) Monetta, Naples, FL; and John (Michelle) Lefebvre, Norfolk, VA. Her Step-children, Charles (Linda) Bergeron, Seattle, WA; Victor (Linda) Bergeron, Trinity, FL; Linda (Frank) Giner, Rocky Mount, VA; Dorothy (Everett) Demorest, Lafayette, IN. 11 grandchildren, nine step-grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter. Her sisters, Patricia Prince, Boscawen, NH and Gail Murray, Laconia, NH and brother-in-law, Leo Lefebvre, Claremont, NH. Many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Sullivan County Health Care for their many kindnesses while caring for their mother.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to a charity of your choice. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Monday (October 14) at St. Mary’s Church with the Very Rev. Shawn M. Therrien, pastor, officiating. Friends may call at the Roy Funeral Home, 93 Sullivan Street, Claremont, NH on Sunday from 4 – 7 PM.
You are invited to share a memory of Jean with the family or leave a message of condolence in the family guest book at www.royfuneralhome.com.
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