Jeannine M. Cormier

Jeannine M. “Jen” (Boucher) Cormier, 88, of Gardner, died peacefully, June 13, 2020, in Wachusett Manor, Gardner, with her family by her side and her oldest son holding her hand.

Born in Gardner on June 14, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Albert and Alice (Gagnon) Boucher. After the death of her father, she enjoyed many years with her mother’s second husband, the late Alfred LaRoche. She loved to recall stories of when she played sports with childhood friends from the Nichols Street neighborhood, friends that she’d keep for a lifetime, and even of one of her first jobs as a “soda-jerk” at Robillard’s Fontaine Moderne on Parker St., which featured an 18-seat ice cream and soda fountain. She was a graduate of Gardner High School with the Class of 1949.

Although she left Gardner for several years to live and work as a lab technician in Hartford, CT, she was courted by her future husband, Omer, who drove his 1937 Packard there from Gardner on weekends, eventually proposing to her at the Hofbräuhaus restaurant in Hartford.

Jeannine and Omer were married in January, 1957, at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, now Annunciation Parish, where she was a life-long member. As a young mother, she volunteered for many roles, including a leader in the Girl Scouts of America and as a CCD teacher. She then worked again as a lab technician at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg before she retired.

In retirement, Jeannine was a frequent volunteer at the Levi Heywood Memorial Library for many years. In addition to being an avid reader, she enjoyed traveling with family and friends to the western United States, Hawaii, Ireland, and other stops in Europe, as well as Turkey. The time that she spent with people, especially her family, was her happiest. She loved talking, listening, and laughing with others. She was loyal to and supportive of her brother’s girls. As a self-named “outlaw,” she loved family vacations and reunions, truly enjoying her extended family, particularly her sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews. As a grandma, she was tops, lavishing love, attention, and generous amounts of her famous baked goods on all of them. She had a contagious smile, a hearty laugh, and a raised-eyebrow expression that was recognizable to anyone who knew her.

Jeannine is survived by her husband of 63 years, Omer Cormier, of Gardner; three daughters, Lisa Weiss and her husband John of Fredericksburg, VA, Michelle Cormier of Gardner, and Jane Morrill and her husband Sean of San Diego, CA; four sons, Christopher Cormier of Gardner, Timothy Cormier and his wife Kathy of Fairfax, VA, Mark Cormier and his wife Anne of South Hadley, and Russell Cormier and his wife Tina of Middletown, CT; thirteen grandchildren, Nic, Tyler, TJ, Allison, Neal, Connor, Jack, Anna, Eliza, Sarah, Michael, Regina, Andrew; two great-grandchildren, Whitley and Charlie; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was predeceased by her brother Albert Boucher.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, June 18, 2020, with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner. A private burial will follow at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon.

Calling Hours will be private.

Due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic, restrictions set by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will be in place during Jeannine’s service.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Holy Family Academy, 99 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA 01440, or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN, 38105 or on their website at (www.stjude.org). Please reference in memory of Jeannine Cormier.