LACONIA- Jean F. Hamilton, 89, passed away peacefully at the Belknap County Nursing Home on February 2, 2018. Jean was born in Milford, Connecticut on November 17, 1928 to George and Alice Grace. Several months after her birth, her father passed away and as the depression began to worsen, Jean, her mother and sister Helen, moved to Laconia to live in the house of an Aunt. Jean spent the rest of her life in her beloved Laconia, in that same house.
After High School, Jean worked as a seamstress at Winconia Inc and Vogue dolls. For many years she also operated her own children’s second-hand clothing shop with a very loyal local following. She would sell only higher quality brands that she would refurbish along with her own creations at prices that the average young family could afford—ever-mindful of the economic hardships she and her family endured during the depression.
If you were a friend of Jean’s, you were a friend for life--even Pen Pal friends. Jean had a Pen Pal friend from Pennsylvania assigned to her in Elementary School. Jean and her Pen Pal continued to write to each other on almost a monthly basis for more than 75 years and visited each other at various times throughout their lives. Upon the passing of her Pen Pal, Jean and her Pen Pal’s daughter and granddaughter continued the tradition.
Jean was a lifelong animal lover who over the years gave shelter and home to many pets including many a stray cat. She was forever accumulating pet food, bedding and other items that she would bring on a regular basis to the Humane Society. You also could always be sure the squirrels in her yard were the fattest and best fed in the neighborhood.
First and foremost, however, Jean’s life always centered around family. She was a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. As a young woman, she was the sole caretaker for many years of her ailing mother and later in life, of her disabled husband Robert. No child could have had a more loving mother, grandmother or great grandmother. Always protective, always present with a kind word, encouragement, support and patience-she took great pride in every achievement no matter how small.
Aside from her mother and father, Jean was predeceased by her sister Helen Grace Pennock and her husband of 48 years, Robert E. Hamilton. Jean is survived by her daughter Roberta J. Morin and son-in-law Normand Morin of Laconia, her son Robert M. Hamilton and daughter-in-law Linda Hamilton of Rochester, grandsons Jeffrey Morin of Laconia, Christopher Hamilton and his close friend Sarah Myles of Farmington, Corey Hamilton and wife Sarah of Londonderry, granddaughters Angela McCarty and husband Kevin of Laconia, Alicia Gardner and husband Matthew of Gilmanton, Kimberly Dube and husband Dennis of Dover, 11 beloved great grandchildren, and various nieces and nephews.
At Jean’s request there will be no calling hours.
A family graveside service will be held in the Spring at the family lot in the Union Cemetery in Laconia.
The family wishes to thank the staff at the Belknap County Nursing Home for their very loving compassion and care of Jean over the past few difficult years of her illness.
For those who wish, donations may be made in her name to either the Belknap County Nursing Home Activities Fund, 30 County Drive, Laconia, NH 03246 or the New Hampshire Humane Society, 1305 Meredith Center Rd, Laconia, NH 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements.