Salem, NH – Jeanne C. (Hamel) Marchand, 76, of Salem, NH, passed away on Friday, February 21, 2014 at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, surrounded by her loving family after a 17 year courageous battle with breast cancer. She was the beloved wife of Leo H. Marchand, to whom she was married for 55 years.
Born in Lawrence on November 8, 1937, Jeanne was the daughter of the late Henri and Cecile (Hebert) Hamel. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1956. She worked as a plant cashier for Gillette Company for 25 years until her retirement in 1993. Jeanne enjoyed spending her winters with her husband in Fort Myers, Florida, where she volunteered at Seven Lakes. She was also the vice president of the Women's Club at Seven Lakes. In her free time, she enjoyed playing golf, bowling, and cross stitching. She also loved spending time with her children and grand children.
Jeanne will be deeply missed by her husband, Leo; 2 children, Denise Michaud and her husband, Mark of Lawrence and Renee Hashem of Haverhill; 4 grandchildren, Michelle Michaud of Lawrence, MA, David Michaud and his wife, Nicole of Tewksbury, MA, Amanda Hashem, and Thomas James (T.J.) Hashem both of Haverhill, MA; 9 brothers and sisters, Henry Hamel and his companion, Mary Lou Robson of Methuen, Raymond Hamel and his wife, Claire of Chicopee, Alice Atkins and her husband, Paul of E. Hampton, MA, Rita Pelletier of Lawrence, MA, Claire Haggar and her husband, Roy of Windham, NH and Estero FL, John Hamel of Salem, NH, Arthur Hamel and his wife, Lillian of Litchfield, NH, Gerard Hamel of East Boston, MA, and Cecile Wood and her husband, Edward of Windham, NH; and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by a sister, Theresa Smith, a brother-in-law, Joseph Pelletier, and a sister-in-law, Janice Hamel.
Family and friends will honor and celebrate Jeanne's life by gathering for calling hours at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence Street, Methuen on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 from 4 - 8 PM. Her Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday at 10 AM at Our Lady of Good Counsel/St. Theresa's Church in Methuen. At the request of the family, burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions be made to Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack Street, Building 9, Lawrence, MA 01843 or to the charity of one's choice. For directions or to send an online condolence to Jeanne's family, please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the Marchand family.