“Make me a channel of your peace…..” those are the opening words of the prayer of St. Francis. They are the words by which Jeannine Ethier lived her life and served the Lord and his Church during the wonderful 84 years she was blessed to be with us. She lived out the true meaning of those words; Peace was indeed channeled through Jeannine.
Jeannine I. Ethier, 84, of Woonsocket died peacefully at home on Wednesday morning May 29, 2024 surrounded by her loving family.
Born and raised in Woonsocket she was a daughter of the late Jean Baptiste Ethier, Jr. and Irene (Remillard) Ethier. She was a lifelong resident of the city and a graduate of St. Clare Girls High School with the class of 1957.
Jeannine was employed at Mark Stevens/CVS in human resources. She also worked for the offices of Dr. Fontaine and was the administrative secretary at the ARC of Northern Rhode Island for many years before retiring.
Jeannine’s Catholic faith was without a doubt the most primary and integral part of her life. Jeannine was a lifetime faithful and dedicated communicant of Precious Blood Parish. She sang with the parish choir and was involved with numerous activities at the Precious Blood. Jeannine furthered her commitment to living out her faith as a Third Order Secular Franciscan with the St. Clare of Assisi fraternity.
Jeannine enjoyed painting. She was blessed to have a close circle of friends since their days in school. Together they enjoyed many memorable trips together particularly to destinations that were close to Jeannine’s faith including the Holy Land and sites of Marian apparitions.
Jeannine will be remembered as a wonderful, loving and caring sister and cherished aunt to her extended family. She was truly the “Matriarch” of the family in the very best sense of the word.
Jeannine is survived by her family including her three brothers Richard Ethier and his wife Louise (Belliveau) Ethier, Andre “Andy” Ethier and his wife Denise (Brodeur) Ethier and Jean Ethier and his wife Anne (Cote) Ethier all of North Smithfield, two sisters Lorraine Desjardins and her husband Leonard Desjardins of Sagamore, MA and Claire Marchacos and her husband Deus Marchacos of Barrington NH. She was the sister of the late Robert Ethier and Irene Lefebvre. Jeannine is also survived by her many nieces and nephews and their families.
Everyone is invited to honor, remember and pray for Jeannine at her funeral Thursday June 6th at 9:00 am from the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home, 127 Carrington Ave. Woonsocket followed by a Mass of Christian Burial for the repose of her soul 10:00 am in Precious Blood Church, Carrington Ave. Woonsocket. Jeannine will be laid to rest in the family lot at St. Jean Baptiste Cemetery in Bellingham. Visiting hours are Wednesday from 4-7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, and in honor and recognition of Jeannine’s support of her home parish, memorial donations may be made to Precious Blood Parish c/o 34 Joffre St. Woonsocket, RI 02895.
www.menardfuneralhome.com