Jeanne J. (Shippee) Rodrigue

Jeanne J. (Shippee) Rodrigue, 89, of Rocky Hill and formerly Wethersfield, beloved wife for 69 years of Joseph L. Rodrigue, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Friday, December 2, 2016. Born in Wilmington, VT on June 21, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Bian and Muriel (Shippee) Shippee. She graduated from Wilmington High School in 1945 and moved to Hartford that same year. She attended Hillyer College, completing courses in journalism and newspaper writing with the intention of returning to Vermont and a position on the Bennington Banner. However, she met her future husband Joseph and chose to marry and become a homemaker. They lived in Hartford, then Wethersfield for 35 years until 2003 when they moved to Rocky Hill. Jeanne worked at Travelers Insurance Company part time in the evenings as Group Leader in Casualty Accounting. She left Travelers to work full time at the Department of Motor Vehicles in Wethersfield, where she enjoyed a successful career in Management, retiring as Division Director of Customer Services in 1989. In addition to her husband Joe, Jeanne was blessed with her much loved daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Edward F. Coughlin and two adored granddaughters, Aimee Falcigno and husband Anthony and Lisa Wise and husband Timothy, as well as four delightful great-grandchildren, Andrew and Alexander Falcigno and Matthew and Katherine Wise. She is also survived by her sister, Jacqueline Corcoran; sister-in-law, Rita Pepin; special cousins, Tinker, Phil and Jackie and many nieces and nephews whom she loved so dearly. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her blessed daughter, Pamela Jeanne Rodrigue and her sister, Jillian LaRoche. Jeanne’s family meant everything to her and she meant everything to her family. She was also fortunate to have many longtime friends who shared joys and sorrow throughout the years and, together along with their children, made up a wonderful extended family. Gratefulness to Dr. Todd Alekshun, his medical assistant Angela, infusion nurse Karen B., her lab buddies Joe and Danny and the rest of the staff at the Wethersfield Infusion Center. Special thanks also to Hospice staff for their care and compassion: her primary nurse Eve O., as well as nurse Brenda, her health aide Emily, scheduler Candace and team coordinator, Melissa. The following is something I promised my mom that I would put in her obituary because she said that if I didn’t, she would come back and pinch my toes. “Everyone should have a daughter like you and a son-in-law like Eddie who is more like a son.”

Funeral services will be Monday (December 5) at 10 a.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. James Church, 767 Elm Street, Rocky Hill. Burial will be in Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 3-5 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Donations in Jeanne’s memory may be made to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302. To share a memory of Jeanne with her family, please visit www.desopo.com.