Douglas - Frances Jean (Gildersleeve) Beaupré, 94, passed away on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at Brookside Rehabilitation Center in Webster after a short period of declining health, and a long, eventful life. She attributed her longevity to taking daily walks and to medical science.
Jean, as she is known by family and friends, is survived by three of her five children: Linda J. Seabolt-Bouvier of Pawtucket, RI, Anne B. Stefaniak and her husband Michael of Douglas, and George A. Beaupré of Wilton Manors, Fl; three grandchildren, Terry J. Seabolt and his wife Dora of Okeechobee, Fl, John Michael Seabolt of Providence, RI, and Lisa M. Stefaniak of Whitinsville; two great- grandsons; a sister, Mary A. Roehl of Maine; a brother, James R. Gildersleeve and his wife Suzanne of Scotsdale, AZ, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son, John A. Beaupré in 1974, her former husband Gerald J. Beaupré in 1997, her son-in-law, William Beaupré-Condon in 2019, and by her son Gerald J. “Jim” Beaupré in February of this year.
Born in Grosse Pointe, MI in 1927, Jean was the daughter of James and Olivia (Ozar) Gildersleeve. She spent much of her youth in the Boston suburbs of Needham and Islington, MA. Her family moved to Dexter, ME in 1941. She was a 1946 graduate of Dexter High School and married there to Gerald J. Beaupré in 1947. From 1962, Jean lived with her family in Dover-Foxcroft ME, in Eastport, ME, then in Douglas MA until 1985. In her elder years, she lived in North Smithfield, RI and in Putnam, CT, after which she returned to live in Douglas in 2016.
Although Jean attempted upon graduation from high school to follow in her mother’s footsteps to become educated as a nurse, her admission to a nursing program was sidetracked by an incorrect diagnosis of tuberculosis by the program’s physician. It was after marrying and having four children that Jean was able to begin her career in nursing as a nurse aide at the former Plummer Memorial Hospital in Dexter ME. In Dover-Foxcroft ME, Jean had her fifth child. The family then moved to Eastport, ME, where Jean resumed her nursing career at the former Eastport Memorial Nursing Home.
In addition to raising her five children, Jean was a lifelong learner. She earned her LPN certificate in 1968 at the age of 41 through the Eastport Memorial Nursing Home nursing program. She later attended Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester MA where she studied liberal arts and nursing. She studied hard and took pride in the decision she made to further her education. She was a dedicated nurse who truly cared for her patients. She spent many years working in various Blackstone Valley nursing homes, then at retirement age, she began taking on cases as a private nurse. She retired in 2000 after working over 40 years in the nursing industry. She grew into the role of family matriarch, and was a great support to her siblings and children.
Jean had many interests. She was an avid reader, especially of biographies of celebrities, political figures, and American presidents. She had a phenomenal memory for U.S. and family history. She was well-versed in current politics, and greatly enjoyed debating them. She was a very talented artist who also loved telling family stories, writing poetry, singing in church choirs, and playing the piano – most recently, for her beloved parakeet Dexter to sing to. At various times in adulthood, she was a member of the Women’s Literary Club in Dexter, ME, of the Worcester County Poetry Club in Douglas, of the Douglas Historical Society, and of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary of Douglas and Sutton, MA.
Jean’s services will be privately held at the convenience of her family. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society and the American Kidney Fund.
To leave a condolence message for her family please visit https://www.legacy.com or http://www.Jackmanfuneralhomes.com .
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