LACONIA–Betty-Jeanne D. Maheux, 84, of 37 Girard Street died Wednesday morning, September 23, 2015 at home surrounded by her family after a brief period of failing health.
Betty-Jeanne was born on November 25, 1930 in Lowell, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late Franklin E. and Jessie L. (Goodwin) Bassett. She moved to Laconia at the age of 5. At the age of 14 she spent two years at the TB Sanitarium in Glencliff, New Hampshire. She was the first person to be rehabilitated by the State of Massachusetts for TB. She entered high school at the age of 18 and graduated with the Laconia High School Class of 1952 at the age of 21.
Betty-Jeanne apprenticed photography under local photographer Frank Poblenz who taught her the art of re-touching photo negatives, printing and coloring black and white and sepia photos with oils. She also worked for various photographers in Laconia including Bob St. Louis, as well as doing freelance work throughout the New England states.
A self taught artist, she taught art and graphic art classes in Franklin and then moved to Laconia and opened her studio "The Loft" when she married her husband Paul L. Maheux in 1968. As a prolific artist she created hundreds of paintings in her long career.
Betty-Jeanne was a very active parishioner at Sacred Heart Church decorating and helping to plan church functions. She taught catechism classes there for 17 years, and was also a member of The Ladies of Sacred Heart.
A deeply religious person, she had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother. Betty-Jeanne undertook three separate pilgrimages to the village of Medjugorje which was then located in Yugoslavia.
Besides her parents, Betty-Jeanne is predeceased by one brother, Franklin E. Bassett, Jr.
Betty-Jeanne is survived by her husband of 47 years, Paul L. Maheux; her son, Gedeon P. Maheux and his wife Mindy of Colfax, North Carolina; her brother Donald F. Bassett of St. Cloud, Florida; her step-sisters, Louise Raymond, and Linda Bassett; and her adopted sister, Judy Poblenz Perault of East Andover, New Hampshire. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
There will be no visiting hours.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 11AM at St. Andre Bessette Parish - Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Avenue, Laconia. Burial will take place at a later date in the family lot at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Garfield St., Laconia.
For those who wish, expressions of sympathy in Betty-Jeanne's name may be made to St. Andre Parish-Sacred Heart Church 291 Union Avenue, Laconia, NH 03246 or to Holy Trinity Catholic School, 50 Church Street, Laconia, NH 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information, to view an online memorial, or leave a message of condolence, please visit www.wilkinsonbeane.com.