Doris Bellenoit

Doris Bellenoit

Greenfield, MA - Doris Bellenoit, 94, died peacefully at home Friday, August 15 after a brief period of declining health. While we are deeply saddened by the passing of the matriarch of our family, we are grateful to have spent so much time with the sweetest lady you were ever lucky enough to meet.

Born on October 6, 1930, in Brattleboro, VT, she endured early childhood hardships losing both her father George and oldest brother Joseph to illness. Her mother Margaret (Laforest) raised Doris and her two surviving brothers Raymond and Ernest working long hours at a factory without assistance or complaint. Doris was fiercely proud of everything her mother did to support, defend and love her family through difficult times and spent her own life upholding exactly the same standard.

After graduating from Saint Michael's in Brattleboro, she married the love of her life Rene Bellenoit in 1950. They quickly began building a family and a house on Lunt Drive in Greenfield where they would spend nearly 60 years as a model for the rest of the family as to what a beautiful marriage looks like. Together they raised three children while she worked an evening shift at Verizon as a telephone operator for 30 years making many lifelong friends including Marie Noga. They also had the good fortune to live next door to Maria Herkner to whom our family is eternally grateful for your caring support and friendship for 70 years.

"Dot" as Rene liked to call her, was a disciplinarian in her working years and was not afraid to tell you what you needed to hear or to put the fear of God in you if you were picking up one of her daughters for a date. She had been through a lot and was tough so there was a reasonable expectation for the rest of us to follow suit. We are grateful for all the lessons she taught us about independence and responsibility.

All the toughness melted away when the grandchildren started coming and 27 Lunt Drive miraculously became the most fun place on Earth and totally devoid of rules. Her house was constantly filled with visitors, laughter, family dinners and poker games which were her absolute favorite. She was an incredibly good cook with spaghetti and meatballs and pies being among her best dishes. She enjoyed needlepoint, gardening and occasionally visiting the casino but her happiest times were spent in her home where she continued raising her ever-growing family of 5 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

She was an unusually selfless person, and we were all lucky to have her for as long as we did. She didn't enjoy the process of making food, she enjoyed seeing the smiles at the dinner table. She did not love making winter blankets, she loved to see you open the present and know that it was keeping you warm. She gave nearly all the fruits and vegetables she grew away and if she ever won money at the casino or poker table, she would quickly give it to someone who had lost. She was a world class hugger, had a great smile and even better laugh which we heard often.

She leaves behind her children and their spouses, Gail Roberge (Rich), Mark Bellenoit (Dave Gilles) and Dorene Dobosz (Brian), her four grandchildren Amy Tibbetts (Jon), Andrew Hescock (Kyoko), Joshua Dobosz (Becca), Kate Wells (Cody) and seven great grandchildren, Olivia and Bethany Tibbetts, Alex, June and William Hess and Hadlee and Crew Wells. She also leaves Roni and Al Smith who were as close as sister and brother to her and Gary Hescock who was like a son to her. She also leaves a special niece, Shelley Avery.

Doris spent 94 years giving her family and friends everything she could. We were glad to spend so much of her later years taking care of her because she spent so much time taking care of us. She lived a full, rich, healthy life surrounded by people that returned the love she gave to them. In the middle of Rene's eulogy 14 years ago, the speaker said, "now, as we all know, no family is perfect", to which Doris, without hesitation, interrupted loudly enough for all to hear and said, "MINE IS!". You're damned right Dot. Thanks for everything. You were the absolute best.

The family would like to extend special gratitude to everyone who helped make her final weeks comfortable so she could remain at home.

Funeral services will be held Thursday August 21, 2025, at 11 AM at Kostanski Funeral Home 220 Federal St. Greenfield. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

There are no calling hours.

As a special request from the family, it would be nice if those in attendance wore something blue as it was Doris's favorite color.

Memorial contributions may be made to Greenfield Recorder Warm the Children Fund 14 Hope St. Greenfield, MA 01301, Lifepath 101 Munson St. Suite 201 Greenfield, MA 01301 or to Triad in c/o Franklin County Sheriff's Office 160 Elm St. Greenfield, MA 01301.

For condolences, please visit www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.