Rachel Lillian Jensen

PERKINSVILLE - Rachel Lillian (Hoisington) Jensen, 88, died the evening of Friday, August 29, at the Bridgeway Care and Rehabilitation Center in Hillsborough, NJ, following a long illness.

She was born in Springfield, VT, on May 19, 1926, daughter to Frank Hoisington and Lillian (Avery) Hoisington, and was raised there with siblings David, Francis, Calvin, and Muriel.

She graduated from Springfield High School in 1944 and from Castleton State College in 1950.

On June 21, 1950, she married John Thøgersen Jensen, originally of Copenhagen, Denmark. She was able to see many parts of the world while traveling with John on business. For two years, they lived in Paris, where their daughter Lillian was born. Their son Jens was born after they settled in Perkinsville.

Rachel taught elementary grades in Springfield and Weathersfield in the 1950s and at the Perkinsville School in the 1970s. In 2006, the Weathersfield School District established the Rachel Jensen Music Award Fund in her honor.

Rachel belonged to the Perkinsville Community Church, where she was well-loved for her dedicated service over four decades as the church organist. She was also the organist at the Weathersfield Center Church and at times the choir director at both churches.

Rachel and John spent their free time restoring their 1812 farmhouse, where she lived for fifty years and often entertained friends, family, and guests from around the globe. To this day, neighbors remember Rachel as a wonderful hostess and recall joyful events at the Jensen home.

Rachel loved animals, especially the horses, sheep, and birds that lived on the farm. She will be deeply missed for her generosity, understanding, and lifelong love of music, which is carried on by her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her sister Muriel Berg of Dedham, MA; daughter Lillian Giangreco and her husband Paul of Basking Ridge, NJ; son Jens Jensen and his wife Catherine of New Harmony, UT; five grandchildren; and extended family.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 6 at 11 a.m. at the Weathersfield Center First Congregational Church, 79 Center Church Road, Weathersfield, VT.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Weathersfield Center Church, the Perkinsville Community Church, or the American Stroke Association (www.strokeassociation.org).