RAYMOND- Jeannie Ross passed away May 21, 2024, after a 19 1/2-year war with cancer. She was 76
years young. In our day, and even in an earlier time, she would be considered a "wise woman", always
giving sound advice for those who sought her guidance. She came by this partly from her own nature, her
extraordinary life experience and her dealing with children over her 35 + years as a high school and middle
school teacher in the Portland school system. She had a profound impact on everyone she touched as a
teacher, she was also the president of the Portland teachers union, as development director of the AIDS
project, as director of her own theater company and as host of her own website for people with metastatic
breast cancer to name but a few examples.
Everything that Jeannie did could only be justly described with the words, "excellence always", whether
it was in the kitchen(where she shone with instinctively daring results), to her gardening (always locally
praised and admired), to her inimitable style and panache, even as she underwent all the trials and
heartaches that come with a cancer diagnosis, she would often say, "just because you have cancer doesn't
mean you have to look dowdy!"
She took up marathon running in her mid-fifties. Both before and after cancer treatment and she started a new
career as a weight loss and strength training coach. She always remained a working class hero taking
up the cause of justice often times at great personal cost, much like her beloved mother, Fran Ross.
She was a most devoted aunt for her cherished niece, Juliette, a loving mum to her very own "pride of kitties",
and an exceptional friend and love to her very lucky husband, Pierre.
Her passing will leave a great hole in the fabric of many people's lives, a hole not easily mended if mending
is at all possible.
"Go in peace, fair Jeannie. Your good work here is over, but not forgotten, and lives on in the hearts of so
many. Que la paix soit avec toi, ma belle amour.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com