Jeanne C. Phipps

August 15, 1923 - October 2, 2011

Jeanne Curtis Phipps, a long time resident of North Thetford, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, October 2, 2011, at the Grafton County Nursing Home in North Haverhill, New Hampshire. She was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts on August 15, 1923, the daughter of Alice P. and Clyde E. Griffin. Jeanne attended Abington High School in Abington, Massachusetts and the Mount Auburn Hospital School of Nursing in Cambridge, graduating in 1944 as a Registered Nurse, specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Jeanne continued working at Mount Auburn, followed by a stint in private practice and eventually joining Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. She was very proud of the fact that over her lifetime she delivered more than 300 babies. In the mid 1950s Jeanne moved to the Upper Valley, first to Hanover, New Hampshire where she worked as a day nurse at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and then to North Thetford, Vermont where she became a very involved member of the local community. Jeanne served as Librarian at the North Thetford Library and on the Thetford Board of Civil Authority, acted as a Justice of the Peace and as Trustee for the Thetford Historical Society, and contributed to the Valley News newspaper, writing on community issues and activities. In 1969 Jeanne joined the North Thetford Federated Church, now known as the United Church of Thetford. Over the course of her 40 plus years of membership, she served the church as Sunday School teacher, Clerk of the Church (Secretary), member of the Board of Deacon's and of the Friendly Class, delegate to the United Methodist Conference and Trustee of the Church. Through Jeanne's concerted efforts the church attracted increased financial support and built the capacity to sustain both facilities and programs for decades. Jeanne was most widely visible in her work with the North Thetford Post Office, initially as clerk and subsequently, following in her mother's footsteps, as Post Master. The broad scope of Jeanne's involvement in the community led to the nickname "Honorary Mayor of North Thetford" amongst many that knew her. Jeanne was a strong, no-nonsense woman who took great pride in her identity as a Red Cross Nurse and her position within the Thetford community. Jeanne forged her way through life independently, creating livelihoods and relationships to support herself; purchasing her own home in North Thetford was a significant milestone and she loved her house all the more as a symbol of security and success. When at home Jeanne enjoyed reading and she spent hours in her flower garden, tending to blooms that she would later arrange for the Church altar. While Jeanne lived alone for much of her adult life she opened her home to many in the community. She enjoyed socializing immensely and spent many a Saturday evening entertaining friends with one of her beloved pets sitting on the back of her chair. Through her broad and diverse network of friends and colleagues, Jeanne left her mark in a myriad of ways and on multiple generations. She was an opinionated and stubborn advocate for what she felt was right. Jeanne's wit and candor will be greatly missed. Jeanne is survived and mourned by a cousin, Robert W. Conroy, his wife Lois of Boxford, Massachusetts and their two daughters, Marsha Conroy and Leigh Conroy; fellow nurse and longtime friend, Doreen Miner and husband Dr. William Miner of Littleton, New Hampshire; the United Church of Thetford community; the Hoffman family of East Thetford, Vermont and an extensive group of friends, neighbors and caregivers across the Upper Valley. Family and friends extend sincere thanks to the Atkinson House in Newbury, Vermont and the Grafton County Nursing Home for their committed and heartfelt care of Jeanne in the final years of her life. A funeral service will be held on Friday October 14, 2011 at 2 p.m. at the United Church of Thetford in North Thetford, followed by interment at the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, also in North Thetford. A reception at the United Church of North Thetford will follow interment. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jeanne's memory to the United Church of Thetford Deacon's Fund. The Hale Funeral Home of Thetford Center, VT is in charge of arrangements. To view an online guest book go to www.halefuneralhomes.com To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Jeanne C. Phipps, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.