Jeannine Dubuque

Jeannine Leah Dubuque, 96, died peacefully at home on March 13, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Born on May 4, 1929, in Grand Isle, Vermont, she spent most of her life in the community where she was raised. Predeceased by her husband, Wilfred Joseph Dubuque, in 2005, Jeannine often shared vivid stories of growing up during the Great Depression as one of ten children, attending a one-room schoolhouse, and carrying a raw potato to carve her initials on and warm on the wood stove for lunch.

At the age of 13, Jeannine won a national contest for collecting the most scrap metal for the war effort during World War II. Her small country school of 31 students was awarded a $100 war bond, and she received top honors. Chosen to christen the Calvin Coolidge, one of three ships built from the collected metal, she later received a personal letter of thanks from Grace Coolidge. At age 80, Jeannine donated the christening bottle, newspaper clippings, and related items to the Vermont Historical Society to preserve local contributions to the war effort for future generations.

Jeannine found deep joy in tending her perennial gardens and working the landscape, often saying that playing in the dirt was good for the soul. She especially cherished time spent with her children and their families. A mother of seven—six daughters and one son—she is survived by Angela and Jeff Poitras of Londonderry, New Hampshire; Bev and Doug Corrow of Morrisville, Vermont; Gary and Martha Dubuque of Walden, Vermont; Janice and Curtis Brusoe of St. Albans, Vermont; Pam and Steve Bartlett of Williston, Vermont; Kathy and Jay Buermann of Milton, Vermont; and Jocelyn Dubuque and Pete Johnson of Grand Isle, Vermont. She also leaves behind many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, her sister Janet Winegar, and her brother Hank Baker and his wife Alice.

Her family will forever feel her presence when they hear a John Denver song or enjoy a good maple creemee.