Claire R. (Noiseux) Vaillancourt
SHELDON – Claire R. (Noiseux) Vaillancourt, age 90, widow of Rosaire Vaillancourt, passed away following a brief stay at the Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans, VT. Friday, April 27, 2018.
She was born August 28, 1927, in Enosburg Falls, Vt, the daughter of the late Philippe Aubert and Aurore (Beauregard) Noiseux.
Claire lived most of her life on the same family farm in Sheldon beginning from the age of five when she along with her parents and the herd of cows transitioned from the Enosburg farm during the great depression. A home she cherished to the end of her life. She began her education in a one-room schoolhouse in Sheldon often hitching a ride with the milkman on his morning route. To maintain her French heritage she was enrolled at all-girl boarding school, St Andre de Sutton, in Sutton PQ. She completed her education at Enosburg High School graduating in 1946.
Claire met the love of her life, Rosaire, when she helped serve at his parents’ 50th wedding anniversary at the church parish hall. They married October 3, 1949, at St John the Baptist Church in Enosburg Falls and traveled to Niagara Falls for their honeymoon. As Claire was an only child, Rosaire moved to her family’s dairy farm. It was a farm that Claire and Rosaire would continue to improve and grow both in land and children. She raised seven children teaching them to appreciate the finer things in life; music, art, and fashion. She was a devout Catholic who sent her children to Catholic schools in Saint Albans. Education was valued and all of her children graduated from college. She enjoyed vacationing in Maine in the summer with the children and her sister-in-law Pearl Vaillancourt and her children, and frequent trips to visit relatives throughout Quebec. She also toured the United States with her husband and their nephew Fernand Bourbeau and his wife Margot from Trois Rivieres, PQ.
Claire was best known for her fine cuisine and hosted many dinner events and large family gatherings. She had a flair for fashion and expertly sewed many designer dresses with fabric she would select with her favorite cousin Madeleine Desroches who spent much time on the farm with her and was like a sister. She provided well for her family growing a large garden every summer and canning the bounty in the fall. But the family was the most important part of life. She was key in maintaining contact with both sides of her extended family and had daily contact with her special sister-in-law Frances Vaillancourt.
She is survived by her children Denis of Franklin, his wife Cindy and their daughters Andrea and Dena; Madeleine Chapman of South Royalton, her husband Pete, their son Christopher and his wife Megan; Pierre of Sheldon, his wife Mary and their children Josh, his wife Sarah, Shawn, Evan and Chelsea; Lise LaRose of Enosburg Falls, her husband Mark and their children Renae and Danielle; Louise Greene of East Berkshire, her husband Jim and their children Betsy, her husband Rob, Michelle and Caleb; Paul Vaillancourt of Franklin, his wife Christine and their children Karly and Emma; and Philip Vaillancourt of Sheldon, his wife Lisette and their children Jonah, Emma and Megan. She also leaves behind great-grandchildren, Noah, Del, Rye, Ava, Jonah Jr, and Charlee Grace, and numerous nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces, great-great nephews and great-great nieces.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday, May 5, 2018, at 11 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 222 Missisquoi St, Enosburg Falls, Vt with Rev. Karl Hahn officiating. Interment will follow at St John the Baptist Cemetery.
Visiting hours will be held Friday, May 4, 2018, from 4-7 PM at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave. Enosburg Falls, Vt
For those who wish, contributions in Claire’s memory may be made to Franklin County Home Health Agency, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, Vt 05478 or to a charity of choice.
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