AUBURN — Jeanne C. Jalbert, 94, wife of the late Euclid E. Jalbert, loving mother and gracious woman, passed from this life on Thursday, March 16, two days after her 94th birthday, at Clover Healthcare in Auburn.

She was born March 14, 1923, in St. Francis, the daughter of Cyril and Christianne (Ouellette) Jandreau. After her mother’s death, when Jeanne was 3 years old, she lived with her maternal grandmother, Emelie (Sirois) Ouellette in a small farmhouse while her father worked in the Northern Maine Woods. She graduated from Fort Kent High School in 1941. On Oct. 1, 1946, Jeanne married Euclid Jalbert, and in 1948 they began raising the first of eight children.

To bring in extra income, Jeanne took in laundry and ironing for several families. She baby sat numerous children while caring for her own eight children, and also brought two foster children into her home. She had been employed by the Maine Potato Starch Factory in Caribou and was also employed by the Tastee Freez during the early 1970s. In 1973, she became employed by Cary Medical Center as a switchboard operator and registration secretary, until her retirement in 1993.

For many years, Jeanne knitted mittens for homeless children, and also volunteered for the Aroostook RSVP for over 15 years. Jeanne was a member of the Parish of the Precious Blood Ladies of St. Anne and the Daughters of Isabella Holy Rosary Circle 638 for over 50 years. When Euclid became ill, Jeanne learned to drive and obtained her license in 1993 at the age of 70. She also loved to bake and spent many hours in the kitchen, baking cookies for her own children as well as many neighborhood children. Jeanne’s passion in life was helping others and making people happy.

She is survived by sons, David of Windsor, Conn., and Alan and wife, Robyn, of Caribou; daughters, Gloria Williams and her husband, Ed, of Fayetteville, N.C., Anne Babkirk and her husband, Cliff, of Sanford, Jacqueline Weaver and her husband, Rob, of North Berwick, Norma Dulac and her husband, Fern, of Auburn, and Paula Ward and her husband, Dana, of Biddeford; a foster son, Jeffrey Albert and his wife Brenda of Westport Island, and a foster daughter, Susan Albert of Lisbon; 14 grandchildren, Sam Jalbert, Elizabeth Ryan, Toby Jalbert, Megan Jalbert, Tony Williams, Teresa Brodsky, Audrey Wellons, Drew Babkirk, Crystal Hughes, Joshua Dowell, Daniel Gross, Michelle Ward, Ryan Ward, and grand-dog, Eli; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Jeanne was predeceased by her husband, Euclid; one son, Kenneth P. Jalbert; one brother, Reginald Jandreau; three sisters, Charlotte Pelletier, Gilberte Pelletier and Jacqueline Virgalla; one grandson, Dustin Gross; and one daughter-in-law, Nancy (McGugan) Jalbert. 

The family wishes to thank the staff at Clover Healthcare in Auburn for their kindness, compassion, and attention to Jeanne’s needs while she was in assisted living for five years, and more recently on the rehab wing, as well as the skilled nursing facility. Friends may call Tuesday, March 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mockler Funeral Home, 24 Reservoir Street, Caribou. 

Jeanne C. Jalbert