Jeannine Claire Merchant, 82, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home and family on Friday, November 1, 2019. Born in Winooski on April 18, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Armand and Fabianna (Mongeur) Santerre.
Jeannine was a 1955 graduate of Waterbury High School. While in school, Jeannine met Rodney “Buz” Merchant, who would become her life partner. They were married on March 3, 1956, at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Waterbury and enjoyed 52 years of marriage. Buz predeceased Jeannine on August 1, 2008.
Following high school graduation, Jeannine worked briefly as a secretary at National Life Insurance Co. and Radio Vermont – WDEV. After starting a family, Jeannine worked seasonally at the former Demeritt Cannery in Waterbury and then returned to work full time at the Vermont State Hospital (VSH) in Waterbury. From 1960 until her retirement in 1998, Jeannine worked first as a psychiatric technician and then achieved her associate degree in counseling through Community College of Vermont while working as an administrative assistant in the administration department at VSH.
Jeannine was a longtime and faithful parishioner of St. Andrew Catholic Church. In her leisure time she enjoyed a good book, playing piano, singing and dancing. She is remembered for her love of family and the joy she felt spending time together.
Jeannine is loved and mourned by her children, Deborah Hough and her husband Gary of Waterbury Center, Shelly Merchant of Waterbury, Terri Sandretto and her husband Shane of Sanford, NC, and Larry Merchant and his wife Cindy of Concord, NH; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; and a brother, Ronald Santerre and his wife Margaret of Richmond, VA.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from St. Andrew Catholic Church in Waterbury on Thursday, November 7, 2019, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow in the parish hall. Inurnment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Duxbury. For those who wish, memorial gifts would be appreciated to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641 (www.cvhhh.org). Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences visit www.perkinsparker.com or the funeral home Facebook page.
