Jeanette BEAULIEU

Jeanette “Jan” (Beaulieu) Ethier, 67, of Sioux Ave., Nashua died Saturday August 27, 2005 at St. Joseph Hospital after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer surrounded by her loving family. Mrs. Ethier was born in Nashua on March 18, 1938, a daughter of the late Thomas & Georgiana Beaulieu. Mrs. Ethier was a lifelong resident of Nashua and was educated in local schools. Jan, as she was known, was a candy striper at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center (formerly Memorial Hospital). Enjoying the opportunity to serve those in need, she enrolled and later graduated from St. Joseph’s School of Nursing. She earned her Registered Nurse Certification from the State of New Hampshire in the fall of 1959. Upon graduating, Jan worked as a medical surgical nurse at Memorial Hospital. In a ceremony performed on October 3, 1959 at the Infant Jesus Church, where she continued to be a parishioner, she married her childhood friend and lifelong partner, Donald L. Ethier. Jan continued to be employed at Memorial Hospital for several years while starting her family. During her early years as a “domestic engineer” (housewife), Jan helped to establish the original “Girl’s Club of Nashua”, which occupied a former Nashua public school building located on the corners of Pine/Vine Streets. She served as the club’s president for two years thereafter. As her children got older, Jan started working for the Nashua School System as a school nurse. She retired in 1997, as the Nashua School Department’s Nurse Supervisor, after twenty-two years of service.Among Jan’s many interests, she is most known by family and friends for her beautiful decorative paintings. She participated in several fairs where she earned competitive ribbons for her artwork and attended many regional and national conventions. Jan was a member of a group of artists honored with the opportunity to decorate one of the Christmas Trees in the White House in Washington, DC. These same tree ornaments, which she painted, now reside in the Smithsonian Institute.She loved her small rose garden and Grandmother’s tree located in her back yard. She took great pride and found much joy when these and other varietals bloomed.Jan and her beloved husband, Donald, cultivated a great interest in traveling over the years. This included family camping vacations and spending time at the beach. As her children got older, she and her husband began more extensive traveling, both domestically and abroad. She ultimately visited numerous locations in Canada, Europe and the northern tip of Africa.Despite spending a lot of time gardening, painting and traveling, she always found, and especially made time for her grandchildren. She would read stories and instruct the children in preparing “make believe soup” and other culinary dishes.Beside her husband of 46 years, Jan is survived by;4 children: Dawna Ethier of Nashua, Christopher Ethier and his wife Cristina of Londonderry, NH, Deanne Soderberg and her husband George of Hampton, NH and Daniel Ethier and his wife Laurie of Nashua, NH. She also leaves her 6 beloved grandchildren, George and Andrew Soderberg, Megan, Tommy, Julia and Sara Ethier. She is also survived by four sisters and two sisters-in-laws, Bertha and Leo Thiboutot of Nashua, Arlene and Rene Cloutier of Englewood, Fl., Doris and Norman LaRose, of Exeter, NH , Marguerite Boucher of Manchester, NH, Ms. Elaine Ethier of Nashua and Carol Ann & Michael Entriken of Hardwick, Vt. FUNERAL NOTICE: ETHIER: Died Saturday August 27, 2005 in Nashua. Jeannette “Jan” (Beaulieu) Ethier, 67, of Sioux Ave., Nashua. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday in Infant Jesus Church at 10:00 AM. EVERYONE IS ASKED TO MEET AT THE CHURCH. Burial will follow in Edgewood Cemetery. During renovations, visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 2 to 4 & 7 to 9 PM in the Dumont-Sullivan Funeral Home, 370 Main St., Nashua. The family requests donations be made in her memory the Palliative Care Unit, 172 Kinsley St., Nashua, NH 03060.