1951 – 2015

WALES — Margaret “Jeanine” (Gomes) Vaillancourt died on Monday, Sept. 7, as a result of a motorcycle accident, which also took the life of her husband, Patrick.

Jeanine was born on March 27, 1951, in Newark, Ohio, to Charles Raymond Reece and Dorothy Jean (Loar). She was one of eight children and attended Bath schools. She married Charles Gomes of Westpoint in 1970 and had four children. She and Charles worked at Eastland Shoe in Freeport, where they lived early in their married lives. With a growing family, they moved to Durham, where she operated a day care center in her home for 25 years. They spent many summer weekends camping with their young children and extended family, which often included aunts, uncles, cousins and Grammie. Charles died unexpectedly in 2004.

In 2006, she married Patrick Vaillancourt, and they started a new life of adventure together. They recently purchased the Harley-Davidson trike and spent many hours riding with their veteran friends. They loved boating on the Kennebec River in their 22-foot striper boat. They would often join her sister, Claudia and husband, Joe, and raft together their two Seaswirl watercraft to fish at the mouth of the river off Popham Beach.

She was an avid gardener and canned much of her crop, from asparagus to beets. She had beautiful flower gardens and was always swapping plants with friends and family. She and Pat spent many hours together working in their yard. She loved animals.

They leave their beloved dogs, Shredder, Libby and Boo-Bear; and cat, Star-Baby, whom they rescued from the road as a kitten.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend. She was much loved and admired by her family, friends and day care kids, many of whom have stayed in touch and introduced their children to their beloved baby sitter. Jeanine was a fun-loving person who was responsible for many family practical jokes. She was extremely close to her grandchildren, taking her 8-year-old grandson, Ethan, on his second trip to Ohio in August to visit family.

She leaves a daughter, Juanita Stone of Bath; sons, Charlie Gomes of Sanford, Owen Gomes and his wife, Joanna, of Oxford, and Chad Gomes of Auburn; a stepdaughter, Lisa Vaillancourt of Dexter; eight grandchildren; Darron, Haileigh, Ashley, Preston, Hannah, Lea, Ethan and Cody Gomes. Her special nieces, Sarah and Carol Reece (Hawkes) and Maureen Craney; and many more who thought the world of their Aunt Jeanine.

She is survived by two sisters, Claudia and her husband, Joe Spear, of Phippsburg, and Lisa Reece and husband, Stephen Williams, of Georgetown; and three brothers, Chet Reece and his wife, Duana, of Newark, Ohio; Keith Reece and his wife, Madeleine, of Gagetown, N.B.; Eric Reece and his wife, Cindy, of Bowdoin; and sister-in-law, Sharon Reece of Crestview, Fla.

She is predeceased by her parents; a brother, David Reece; and sister, Marylou Lightle.