Obituary of Jeanne D'Arc Simpson

Jeanne D’Arc (Belanger) Simpson, a woman devoted to her family and her faith, passed away at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House in Reading on Wednesday evening, November 7, 2018.  She was 87 years old.

Jeanne was born in Milford, New Hampshire. She was raised and educated in Wilton, NH.  She moved to Burlington in 1959 where she would raise her four sons.  Jeanne lived for her four sons and was devoted to them and protective of them.   She never missed any of their events and could be seen sitting in the stands at the Ice Palace or Simonds Park watching them play hockey and little league during their youth.  For many years Jeanne did not drive but at the age of 38 she got her license so that she could “chauffeur her sons” to all their activities.  That was the type of mom she was – always putting her sons needs above her own.    As a family they spent many memorable times at their home at Newfound Lake.  When the boys were younger Jeanne the family would spend their entire summers at the Lake.  When they returned home from an outing, whether it was swimming in the summer or snowmobiling during the winter months, they could always count on their mom welcoming them on their return home with a hot bowl of soup and sandwiches.  

Jeanne was not one to sit idle.   In addition to raising her four sons Jean worked in the Burlington School system for over 30 years as a “lunch lady”.  She worked at Marshall Simonds Middle School, Fox Hill and the High School.   She also worked at the lunch counter at Bradlees for many years.     Jeanne found time for a little relaxation and bowled in a weekly league in Burlington.   Jeanne was a talented seamstress.  She designed and sewed dresses for a select number of friends.  She love to crochet and her pieces were a labor of love that she graciously shared with her family.   Jeanne also had a “green thumb” and grew beautiful flowers and plants. 

Jeanne was a woman of deep faith and a longtime parishioner at St. Margaret’s in Burlington.  She faithfully attended the 4:30 Mass on Saturday afternoons.  Jeanne was a generous woman and for a number of years she opened her home and her heart to foster children.          About 10 years ago Jeanne moved to the Grandview Farm Apartments. She loved it there and made many friendships that she treasured.  Jeanne will be remembered as a quiet woman with boundless energy who always put her family first.

Jeanne was the beloved mother of Stephen A. & his wife Beth of Monroe, NH, Donald L. Jr. & his wife Lisa of Derry, NH, Timothy J. & his wife Kathy of Littleton and David M. & his wife Dori of Lowell.  Proud grandmother of Jennifer Schaffner & her husband Jake, Melissa Clougherty & her husband Matthew, Michelle Zitta & her husband Joshua, Kimberly Simpson, Rachael & Kate Simpson, Derik Gaspari and his wife Jessica.  Great grandmother of Jack Clougherty & Jacob Gaspari.  Daughter of the late Gerard Belanger. Jeanne is survived by her mom Blanche Belanger who is 107 years old and resides in Milford, NH, sister of Joseph Belanger & his wife Bessie of Merrimack, NH, Norman Belanger & his wife Gail of Milford, NH, Margaret Gleneck of Nashua, NH, Phil Belanger of Nashua, NH and the late Rolande Levesque.  Sister-in-law of Peter Levesque and the late David Gleneck.

Funeral from the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Tuesday, Nov 13 at 9 a.m.  Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m.  Burial will follow in the Belanger family plot located in Mount Calvary Cemetery of Wilton, NH. Visiting hours will be held at the Funeral Home on Monday from 4 - 8 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jeanne’s name may be made to Catholic Charities of Boston, 275 West Broadway, Boston, MA 02127 www.ccab.org