Jane Marie Carbonneau

Exeter, NH
Jane M Carbonneau (Phillips), the daughter of the late Harold and Mary (Egan) Phillips, died peacefully
on August 26, 2025, in Exeter NH. She was born in Lowell, MA on December 4, 1930. She attended
Lowell public schools and then attended Regis College where she graduated with a bachelor's degree.
Her family spend their summers at Hampton Beach where they all work to earn money for college. It
was here she met the love of her life and future husband, Lionel (Junie) J Carbonneau Jr. They were
married June 14, 1953, and begin their life together by living at Tilton School. Not only was she a mom
to her 4 children but she was a mom to all of the students there. In 1965 the family moved to Durham,
NH after her husband took a position at UNH. Jane then took the opportunity to continue her education
with post graduate work in Elementary Education and went on to teach grades 2 and 3 at Oyster River
Elementary School for 23 years.
Her retirement years were filled with travel, gardening, sewing, quilting, knitting, and painting. She
volunteered as a docent for the UNH Art Gallery for kids and Gardening for Kids through the UNH
Cooperative Extension. She was a member of the Durham Art Association, Durham Garden Club, Friends
of the Durham Library, NH Retired Teachers Association and Smocking Arts Guild of America. She was a
volunteer for CCD, Durham Red Cross Blood Drive, Girls Scouts, and the Channel 11 Public TV annual
auction.
Jane loved flowers and gardening and became a Master Gardener in 2004. She volunteered at
Strawberry Banke and Canterbury Shaker Village tending to their historical gardens. She was also a tour
guide for the Children's Victorian Garden at Strawberry Banke.
As an accomplished seamstress her talents were many. Hand-smocking outfits were her specialty. She
quilted and used those skills to make quilts for Project Linus and her friends in assisted living. Her many
hobbies included reading, walking, painting, basket weaving, paper making, knitting, and traveling. She
and her good friend Franny travelled the world, landing on most of the continents where they did not
miss any book, fabric, and oriental rug stores in all those countries.
For past 15 years Jane has lived at Riverwoods in Exeter NH. As a resident she was fully committed to
making the community a fun and vibrant place to live. She was an advocate of always trying to make her
community the best it could be. She immediately took on the task of designing and planting the garden
in the skilled section of the complex including maintaining it up until a few years ago. She was active in
many activities and committees. She co-chaired the Art Committee, participated in all the watercolor
painting and basket weaving classes. She served on the Library, Dining, Trails, Book Group, Wellness
Center, and Employee Appreciation Committees. She helped with the Marketing Dept and the country
store. Jane was a participant in life, not a spectator.
Jane leaves behind 3 daughters Gail Linehan (Ned Flanagan) of Jamestown RI, Susan Detrick (Mick) of
Port Charlotte FL, Nancy Kennedy (Richard) of Bedford NH and her former daughter in law Marie Toole
of Denver, CO. She is predeceased by her husband Lionel (Junie) Carbonneau and son Michael J
Carbonneau. Also, her sister Joan Ford and brother Conway Phillips.
She leaves behind 5 grandchildren: Brooke Linehan (Josh Rousseau), Kelsey Kennedy Beliveau (Andrew),
Daniel Carbonneau (Kim Bacon), Micheala Carbonneau Draper (Michael), and Colleen Carbonneau Ford
(Casey) plus 3 great grandchildren: John Linehan, Emmie and Theo Draper. She also has several nieces
and nephews. She was well loved by all.
An hour of visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 from 9:30 - 10:30 AM at the Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., Exeter, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 AM at St. Michael's Church, located on 9 Lincoln St., Exeter, NH. Private Burial will be held in the Durham Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Rockingham VNA & Hospice 5 Alumni Dr., Exeter, NH
03833 or to a charity of one's choice.