Jean Ann (Francis) Bergeron died peacefully with family surrounding her at her home in Exeter, NH on May 12, one month before her 96th birthday. She was born and raised in Gloucester, Massachusetts. She was valedictorian and Vice President of her high school class, and participated in so many activities that a Gloucester Daily Times article called her the “princess of extracurricular activities”. Her entire life was characterized by this combination of intelligence, curiosity, and energy along with an innate concern and care for other people. She attended Bridgewater State Teacher’s college, where she met the love of her life, Robert Bergeron; they were married for 76 years until his death in April 2017. A Navy carrier pilot, Bob was a decorated war hero. Jean was a hero in her own way to both her family and her community. By herself, she took three little boys by train and ship from New England to Bob’s new duty station in Hawaii in 1948. At many other times she was a single parent for weeks or months at a time. In the early 1970’s Jean and Bob began commuting from RI to New Hampshire on every skiable winter weekend. They moved to Holderness full-time in 1985. It didn’t take Jean long to throw herself into the Plymouth/Holderness community. She joined the Plymouth Regional Senior Center Advisory Board and quickly became its long serving secretary. She was an active member of both the site selection and building committees during the 9-year effort that transformed the old B&M railroad station into the active and vibrant senior center community it is today. When federal funding fell $25,000 short of the construction bids, Jean and Bob and 5 other senior citizens pledged their own funds to cover the shortfall so construction could begin. She then became a prime participant in fund-raising efforts during and after construction, including the weekly fall fundraisers in which leaf peepers rode the train through the mountains and forests and stopped for lunch at the senior center. Jean assisted in procuring and cooking the spaghetti meals that were part of the experience. For many years she also oversaw the daily management of “The Shed” thrift shop: organizing, selling, and accounting for donated items with all proceeds supporting the senior center. In 1998 Jean and Bob received the Vaughan Award for outstanding volunteer service in Grafton County from the NH Council on Aging. Jean was a voracious reader and a lover of fine and hand arts, painting on slate, needlepointing, knitting hats for newborns at local hospitals, crocheting afghans, and arranging beautiful floral displays. She was an accomplished gardener and for years was an officer of the Ashland Garden club. She was also an avid skier, golfer, and bowler. She and Bob skied into their early 80’s and bowled well past that. While at Langdon Place in Exeter, she transitioned to and excelled at Wii bowling. Jean and Bob were active travelers with highlight trips to Europe, Egypt, and an especially unforgettable trip to India. A born teacher and life-long learner she never stopped asking about the world around her – from “Why are men bald?” to “Where did the term ‘OK’ come from?” She was often involved in teaching great-grandchildren the rules of dominoes, UNO or double solitaire, sometimes forgetting the rules herself in later years, but still almost always winning once we reviewed the rules for her! Jean is survived by her four children and their spouses: Robert F. (Terry) Bergeron, Jr. and Marion Bergeron of Galloway, NJ; R. Daniel Bergeron and Nancy Kennedy Bergeron of Barrington, NH; Ken Bergeron and Teresa McGrew of Albuquerque, NM; and Valerie Bergeron and Harry Shipman of Hockessin, DE. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, their 11 spouses, and 24 great-grandchildren. Her immediate family members live in New Hampshire, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, South Carolina, Florida, California, New Mexico, and India. We will sorely miss this gracious and caring woman with her infectious smile and enthusiasm. She was a quiet hero and role model who gave so much love to her family and friends and whose volunteer efforts affected the lives of countless senior citizens in the Plymouth area. Jean will be laid to rest on July 11 at the N.H. Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. Donations in her honor may be made to the Plymouth Regional Senior Center, 8 Depot Street, PO Box 478, Plymouth, NH 03264.