Joan Sherman Jenkins, 76, died Thursday, October 8, 2015 after a period of failing health. She was surrounded by her three daughters, Resa (Labbe) Lundkvist, Joni (Labbe) Castrogiovanni, and Kimberley (Labbe) Griswold, all of Manchester.
Joan was a long time resident of both Manchester, NH and Salem, NY.
She was born April 5, 1939 in Baltimore, MD and was married to John H. Jenkins of Salem, NY.
Joan spent her career in the insurance industry working at Home Insurance in Manchester, NH, Barrett Insurance in Hooksett, NH, Gordon & Powers in Salem, NH, and the McPhillips Agency in Greenwich, NY. She cared deeply for all of her clients and they cared deeply for her. She was well-known for her window decorations at her office in Greenwich, NY.
Joan will be remembered for her incredible sense of humor and sarcasm, her compassion for others, and her love for her family. She will also be remembered by many who attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and St. Anthony School with her daughters as the quintessential chaperone. Joan loved gardening, reading, playing bingo, and creating cross-stitch and crochet masterpieces.
Joan raised her three daughters with former husband Roland “Whitey” Labbe (deceased) in Manchester, NH. She later met “the love of her life” husband, John H. Jenkins, and moved to his hometown of Salem, NY, where she spent nearly 30 years before moving back to Manchester in 2014 for long-term care at Villa Crest Nursing and Retirement Center. Joan was the life of the party at Villa Crest and was thankful for the wonderful care she received as a resident.
Joan is predeceased by her beautiful granddaughter, Taylor Lessard, and her brother Paul Sherman.
Surviving family members include her husband, John H. Jenkins, of Salem, NY; daughter Resa Labbe Lundkvist, daughter Joni Labbe Castrogiovanni and her husband Nicholas, daughter Kimberley Labbe Griswold and her husband Michael; granddaughters Chelsea Moreau of Columbia, MD, and Lynsey Turrill of Hawaii; her sisters Dr. Linda Norton of Dallas, TX, Carol Hermes of Gainesville, TX; her brother-in-law Lionel “Flash” Labbe; and many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours at Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, 1799 Elm St, corner of North St, Manchester, will be Monday from 4 to 7 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 13th at 10 am in the chapel of St. Joseph Cathedral. Committal prayers will follow in the mausoleum at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Villa Crest Nursing & Retirement Center, 1276 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH 03104.