Jeanne Carol Detenbeck

Jeanne Detenbeck, 94, residing most recently at Langdon Place of Keene, NH, and formerly a long-time resident of Shelburne, VT, passed away at Cheshire Medical Center on February 23, 2026, with her daughter at her side.

Jeanne was born on January 6, 1932, in North Tonawanda, New York. Raised in Kenmore, NY, Jeanne spent many summers in the Adirondacks where the forests were her playground. She attended Kenmore High School where she got to know her future husband, Robert. She graduated from the University of Rochester with a B.S. in Chemistry.

In 1954, Jeanne exchanged vows with Robert W. Detenbeck in St. Huberts, NY, and was able to spend 59 years of faithful marriage until his passing in 2013. Throughout her life, Jeanne enjoyed gardening, hiking and backpacking with her family, cross-country train trips, and travel adventures later in life to British Columbia, Alaska, Scotland, Greenland, Iceland, and Europe. Jeanne at the age of 45 obtained a Master’s degree in Geology from the University of Vermont in 1977.

Jeanne was an avid seamstress and quilter, co-founder of the Champlain Valley Quilters Guild, co-owner of a quilt shop in Shelburne, VT, quilting teacher/mentor to many, and winner of numerous awards at VT quilt shows over the years

Jeanne co-published works on fiber science during her early days at the Textile Research Institute in Princeton, NJ, and later on in geology, serving as editor of the Green Mountain Geologist.

She is survived by her daughter, Naomi Detenbeck of Putney, VT; her grandchildren Katy Henley of Pembroke, NH; and Steven Hamilton of South Burlington, VT; her great-grandchildren Quinn and Anthony Henley of Pembroke, NH; and her cousins Holly and Sylvia. She was pre-deceased by her first daughter, Christina Hamilton, formerly of South Burlington, VT and husband Robert Detenbeck.

She had a generous spirit and established the Dr. Robert W. Detenbeck Physics Student Support Fund at UVM in her husband’s honor and has contributed to numerous institutions providing educational support to students in financial need. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the United Negro College Fund or the American Indian College Fund.

Services for Mrs. Detenbeck will be held in the Burlington Area at a later date. The family has entrusted the Foley Funeral Home of Keene, NH with the arrangements. Further service information will be updated closer to services being held.