Jean Marie Pinsoneault

May 05, 2013 12:00 am(0) CommentsMISSOULA – Jean M. Pinsoneault, 83, of Missoula, passed away quietly in her sleep on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at Country Home Estate Assisted Living.

She was born on Feb. 21, 1930, in Butte to Edward and Catherine "Kitty" (McCarthy) McNulty. She lived in Butte up until her sophomore year in high school when her family moved to Seattle. She attended St. Patrick Grade School, Butte Central High School and graduated from Holy Rosary Academy in west Seattle in 1948.

In 1952, Jean graduated from St. Patrick School of Nursing in Missoula. As a nursing student she met and married her life partner of 54 years, H.J. "Jack" Pinsoneault, also a student at the University of Montana School of Law. On Sept. 12, 1953, they were married at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Jean quickly realized that large family gatherings and holidays were a frequent and necessary part of life, often participating in weekly trips to the Pinsoneault family ranch in St. Ignatius for Sunday dinner with the "folks." The couple lived and raised their family in Missoula.

Jean also managed a successful nursing career working at St. Patrick Hospital in labor and delivery, clinic nursing and with the Missoula County Health Department. As a public health nurse Jean enjoyed school nursing, home visits, county clinic nursing as well as well child screenings, often traveling a distance from Potomac to Frenchtown. Jean worked in chart and utilization review at Partners in Home Care when she retired in 1995.

She was a devout Catholic and an active member of St. Francis Xavier Parish for over 50 years, participating in the Altar Society and teaching catechism classes. Both she and Jack were avid supporters of St. Francis Grade School and Loyola Sacred Heart High School.

Jean enjoyed family celebrations, holidays and quiet time reading, doing crossword puzzles and a favorite – solving cryptoquotes. Her homemade pasties each year on St. Patrick's Day were a treat to behold. Her Irish wit and unpredictable way of expressing "the facts" were indeed memorable. Family and friends often described her expressions as "classic" and one of a kind rivaling no other! Her greatest pleasure however were her four grandchildren and being surrounded by her family and friends.

Jean also grew to love her caregivers at Country Home Estate. Lynn, Mary Lynn, Shawna, Carl, Jenny and Isabel are all exceptionally caring and shared with Jean the belief that everything would be good with a little chocolate!

She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, William; beloved husband, Jack; infant son, John and infant grandson, John Henry Farwell.

She is survived by her children, Julie Pinsoneault of St. Ignatius, Shellie (Gary) Farwell of Rapid City, S.D., and Steve (Ann) Pinsoneault of Missoula; grandchildren, Sophie and Lily Cate Farwell and Eddy and Emmett Pinsoneault. She also leaves behind a large family of sister(s)/brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and their spouses and children.

Family will greet friends at a vigil service at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at Garden City Funeral Home with rosary/prayer service to follow at 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 10, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Reception will follow in Reidy Hall in the basement of the church and burial will be at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery at 2 p.m.

Pallbearers will be her son-in-law Gary Farwell and nephews, David Seery, Bill McNulty, Tom Pinsoneault, Jerry Johnson and Jim Pinsoneault Jr.

Family suggests memorials may be made to Autism Speaks, Country Home Estate in Missoula or any charity of donor's choice.

Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family.

Read Jean Pinsoneault's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.