NATICK Jennie M. (Legere) Guerin, 98, of Natick, died Thursday, April 10, 2008, at the Mary Ann Morse Nursing Center, following a recent stroke. She was the wife of Raymond F. Guerin, who died in 1956, and had served in the U.S. Army during World War II in Italy and France. Jennie was the daughter of the late Archy and Margaret (LeBlanc) Legere and was born on October 17, 1909, in River Herbert, Nova Scotia, Canada. At the young age of 19, she left River Herbert and boarded a steamship in St. John New Brunswick to come to the United States. In 1929, she entered Burdette College in Boston, graduating in November of 1930 and received a diploma in the Stenographic Secretarial Department. After graduation secretarial positions were at a premium during the Depression years and she could not find that type of employment. She did go to work as a housekeeper and cook for Miss Lucy Wilson, professor and acting dean at Wellesley College. She loved to cook and provided many deserts for luncheons and teas. She worked for Miss Wilson until 1942, when she met her late husband. Raymond. They were married on April 5, 1942, at St. Pauls Church in Wellesley. In the late 1950s, she baked bread and sold it at George Buchans Neighborhood Store on Pond Street. It was hard to keep up with the demand as the fresh bread sold faster than it could be placed on the shelves. In the 1960s she worked for Avery Cleaners on West Central St. Natick. In later years, she worked as a receptionist for the Natick Senior Center along with her sister-in-law Gertrude Legere, who did bookkeeping. She retired at age 88. She loved to read in her earlier years and still baked cookies and deserts for the family. She enjoyed painting and loved to watch the birds come to the feeders she set up in her back yard. For many years she vacationed at York Beach, Maine, with her grandchildren and their families. In 2005, she entered Mary Ann Morse Nursing Center, and was a weekly communicant and member of St. Patrick Church, Natick, since 1949. She was at home during the years 2003 to 2005 and received the Eucharist from Mrs. Ann Doran, a faithful Eucharist Minister of Communion. She was the last remaining member of her immediate family. She was the sister of the late Anita and Florence Legere, Effie I. Brady Legere and Albina Bristol Legere. She was also the sister of the late Stanley, Randolph and Arthur Legere. She leaves her sons, James F. Guerin and his wife, Katherine, of Natick, Christopher J. Guerin of Leicester, UK; four grandchildren, Michelle Marie Lancisi of Milford, James Michael Guerin of Natick, Alisa Ann Haughey of Milford and Jennifer Rose Caliri of Milford; eight great-grandchildren, Colin James, Alexa Rose, Hayley Renee, Kaylana Rae, Dylan Joseph, Joseph Anthony, Evan James and Emma Katherine. She also leaves her sisters-in-law, Evelyn Brennan Guerin of Hobe Sound, Fla., and Dorothy Legere of River Herbert, Nova Scotia. She also leaves many nieces, nephews and cousins within the Guerin, Legere and LeBlanc families including Anita and Karen Christenson of East Chelmsford, Arthur, Marjorie Jason and Muriel Bristol of Wilmington, Ellen M McLean, James William McLean and Ellen Campbell of Roslindale, Elizabeth McLean of Dorchester, Theresa Ringuette of St. Agatha Me., Canadian Cousins Rita Gallant of Charlottetown P.E.I., Effie Peckham and Lorraine Miller of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral Mass in St. Patricks Church on Tuesday, April 15, at 10 a.m.
Burial is in St. Patricks Cemetery, Natick. Visiting hours in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home (www.everettfuneral.com), 4 Park St., at Natick Common, on Monday, April 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may be made in her name to the Heart Assoc., 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701
Published in the MetroWest Daily News from 4/12/2008 - 4/13/2008.