Jacqueline Bloxam

Jacqueline was born on 9 January 1934 in Stains, France, to Marcel Jean Baptiste Botrel and Marie Jeanne Louise Botterel. She grew up in La Baule and with her family lived through the occupation of France during the Second World War.

In 1954, Jacqueline met the love of her life, William George Bloxam, at a dinner party (and not, as her sons loved to tell her grandchildren, when his foreign car broke down on the side of the road). The U.S. Army took them all over the world, including to assignments in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and to Virginia and Illinois in the United States. Upon settling in Virginia, Jacqueline found her calling in sharing the language and culture of her home country; she taught French for over thirty years in Fairfax County Public Schools and at Pinecrest School. Although she retained close ties to the country of her birth, she was proud to become a U.S. citizen in 2009.

In her free time, Jacqueline enjoyed listening to music, watching game shows, and exploring local yard sales. An avid reader, she was never without a book to read or recommend. Her greatest passion, however, was for her family and friends. She loved conversation and had an uncanny ability to connect with others. She was devoted to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and to her many dear friends, neighbors, and relatives on both sides of the Atlantic.

Jacqueline was preceded in death by her brother Gilbert and sisters Christiane, Marie Jeanne, and Marcelle, as well as her beloved husband, William. She is survived by her sister, Nicole Garton; her two sons, Brieuc Bloxam (and wife Leslie) and Philip Bloxam; her four grandchildren, Philip Bloxam, Jr., Emily VanGasbeck, Elisabeth Bloxam, and Madeleine Bloxam; and her two great-granddaughters, Willa VanGasbeck and Claire Bloxam. Her family wish to express their gratitude to those who cared for Jacqueline in her final months.

A visitation will be held at Demaine Funeral Home in Springfield on 11 January 2024 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, followed by burial at Arlington National Cemetery in spring 2024.