Margaret Jessie Trottier

Margaret Jessie Trottier, known to family as Peggy, passed away after a hard-fought half-decade long battle with cervical cancer. She went peacefully on December 23rd, 2019 surrounded by those who loved her. Up to her final trip to Houston Northwest Medical Center she was always confident she would defeat the disease and her optimism blessed those around her until her final breath.

Jessie was born March 9th, 1955 in Paterson, New Jersey to Ruth and John Hess. Growing up she attended St. Bonaventure’s, then Paterson Catholic High School before going to Rutgers College, University of Maryland, and William Paterson College to get her BA in Psychology. She also attended seminary for several years and was a devout Christian her entire life. Jessie completed her doctoral program in Psychology at Walden University and was working on her dissertation when she began her battle with cervical cancer.

She wore many hats throughout the years. Hospital as a lab technician and gained her medical technologist certification (MT). She entered the air-force as an MT, where she met her then-future husband, Joseph Trottier. Then as a computer programmer for the DOD, always lamenting not creating the ‘interactive movies’ they had fantasized about in the 80s, which would later come in the form of 3D video games, and of course as a medical technologist specializing in Hematology. Anyone who needed it always found therapy with her even before her studies on the subject began.

Jessie lived her life optimistically, objectively, and with a passion visible to anyone who met her. Any time of day you could find a pot of coffee on, a textbook open, and something black and white playing on the TV. Slow to panic and quick to help, she was a guiding force for those around her. She believed anything could be solved in nine steps and would happily talk you down from an edge onto a path towards your goal.

Anyone who knew Jessie knew she was as passionate as she was compassionate. Anything she found interesting she learned and was knowledgeable on a vast array of subjects ranging from theological to medical to cinematic. She was a voracious reader and leaves behind a well-organized library of books read and often referenced.

She is survived by her son, Dan; her brother, Jack; and her sisters Sue and Mary. She is also survived by many friends and coworkers who she always referred to as her family.

The love, support, and prayers of the people who cared for Jessie were the hands that held her when she stumbled. Jessie’s legacy is one of unwavering optimism and unending kindness. She lives on in our memories of her and the gifts she has given us during her time on Earth.

Memorial gifts should be made out to the Cancer Research Institute.

In lieu of flowers please donate to The Cancer Research Institute at the link provided,

https://www.cancerresearch.org/join-the-cause/donate