Marie Jeanne Gabriel Hutlet

Jeanne Hutlet (née Verrier) was born on July 2, 1939, to Paul and Grace Verrier and grew up with deep family ties in Manitoba.

As a young girl, Jeanne attended an all-girls Catholic school just across the street from a public school. The uniforms were part of the daily routine, those long, modest skirts that, as the girls grew older and bolder; they'd secretly roll up at the waist to mimic the freer styles of the girls across the way. It was a small act of youthful nonconformity that hinted at the gutsy spirit she would be.

In those early years, Jeanne and her sisters would dress up for New Year's Eve in elegant long gowns and gloves, heading out to dance the night away - a tradition that filled their holidays with laughter and music. Tragedy struck when their father, Paul, passed away while the girls were still young. From then on, Jeanne, her sisters Lucy, Terry, Rita and Denise, were raised by their devoted mother, Grace, and grandmother, Josephine, in a big house on William Avenue, where love and strength could carry them forward.

It was at a party at her sister’s place in Ste. Anne and Jeanne Verrier, the woman from the big city, met Guy Hutlet, the man from Giroux, and they married in a modest ceremony on September 23, 1961. For a lifelong city girl, moving to the country was quite the adjustment. But with guidance from Guy's parents, she learned to garden and soon discovered a passion for it. She transformed into an exceptional baker, jam maker, canner, and cook, always experimenting with new recipes. Her pies became legendary, especially at fall suppers where they were eagerly sought after, and her scrumptious baking was a staple at every gathering.

Jeanne's first career was at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg, where she spent over 30 years in the Microbiology Department. She carpooled faithfully every day, building lifelong friendships on the road and in the lab. She mentored interns rotating through the lab, sharing her knowledge generously, and even travelled to memorable conventions across the United States - adventures that gave her a more global perspective beyond the lab benches and the farm, which led to further vacation adventures to places as far away as Bali.

Back in the day, Saturdays meant trips to Steinbach for groceries, errands, and baking huge batches of bread to last the week. Every May long weekend brought Aunt Terry, Uncle Gabe, and Mémère Grace out to the farm to help plant the garden. Over time, Jeanne began pitching in more on the farm, heading to the barn on weekends to help with milking. When she retired from the Health Sciences Centre, she embraced a second career as a true partner on the farm and an integral part of its success. Later, after they sold the quota, life on the land eased a bit, giving her more time for the simple joys, but her work ethic was unrivalled and didn't stop.

She had a gentle heart, especially for animals. She always kept close and welcomed stray cats and dogs that people had abandoned, giving them a home and love without hesitation. She was also a fan of the Winnipeg Jets 2.0 revival, cheering them on with enthusiasm when she thought they earned it.

Jeanne is survived by her beloved husband Guy; her daughter Michelle and son-in-law Dana; her son Serge; her sisters Rita (Bob) and Denise; along with many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law Gisele, Claudette, Marielle, Marcella (Claude), and brother-in-law Marc (Marilyn). She was predeceased by her parents, Paul and Grace; her in-laws, Adrien and Bibiane; her sisters, Terry and Lucille; and her brothers-in-law, Richard, Gabriel, Emile, Philip, Jim, and Emmanuel.

In her later years, as illness came, she kept her condition very private, protecting loved ones from pain and burden and preserving her own identity and normalcy in a life without somberness or pity. Jeanne was cared for with tremendous love and dedication by Guy and Serge. The family is deeply grateful to the staff at Ste. Anne Hospital during her treatments, and to the wonderful nurses who came to the house and those who provided such compassionate care.

Jeanne's life was a beautiful mélange of city roots, country heart, family devotion, and quiet strength, a story of someone who rolled up her sleeves and made every effort for those around her. To her family and all who loved her, Jeanne will always be remembered fondly and missed more deeply than words can express.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Cancer Care Manitoba. You can do so here: https://www.cancercare.mb.ca/Ways-To-Help/donate

Alternatively please consider giving to your local animal shelter.