Jeanne Rita (Cormier) Hale

On August 14, 2025, Jeanne Rita (Cormier) Hale was embraced by the arms of the Lord at the age of 93 years old. She was born on August 6, 1932, the only child of Alfred and Germaine (Laferriere) Cormier.

Jeanne attended both Mount Joseph Academy through 8th grade and St. Johnsbury Academy through high school where she received her diploma and met her future husband, Richard "Ritty" Hale.

Jeanne and Richard made their home on Green Street and raised their 5 boys. She lived there until she was 90 years old and in the past 3 years resided at Canterbury Inn.

She was predeceased by her husband Richard and her sons, Stephen and David and grandson Adam Hale.

She is survived by her sons, John (Jan) of St. Johnsbury, James of St. Johnsbury, Gary of W. Burke, four grandchildren, Curtis (Nadia) of Danville, Erin of Taipei, Taiwan, Jennie of Chicago and Meghan of Marblehead, Ma. as well as 3 step-grandchildren, Harmony, Devin and Aria of Chicago, IL. along with 7 great-grandchildren.

Jeanne and Richard took over O. Dean Hale on Main St. and later on she would walk to the store with their family dog, Rusty, who happily greeted the customers. Jeanne was instrumental in expanding the store to carry women's clothing, which had always specialized in men's clothing and sporting goods. She enjoyed her trips with her husband to Boston to buy merchandise and hand pick clothing for the fashion-conscious women in the community.

After selling the store, she shared her fashion knowledge for several years writing for The Caledonian Record a column called “Food, Fun and Fashion" and then went on to work at J.C. Penney's where she worked well into her eighties before retiring.

In her leisure time, Jeanne was an avid bowler and golfer. For 50 years, she was a member of St. Johnsbury Country Club. After winning a golf tournament with Helen Hovey, she was particularly proud of her named etched onto a plaque that hung in the clubhouse for decades.

Jeanne loved to travel. She and Richard went to Hawaii and later on, she was a guest of honor at an art show in Manhattan, New York City featuring her son's, Stephen's art. She went to Europe twice with her son, David and his wife Lyric when David was an advisor to world leaders about monetary policy. Her highlights of her 2 trips included visiting Vatican City, Paris, Italy and Venice but mostly having dinner at the Versailles Palace in France with world dignitaries. She also enjoyed a trip to North Carolina with her companion, Robert Hart. Going out to eat was always one of Jeanne's pleasures.

Jeanne had an optimistic spirit and a contagious zest for life. She had broad interests - including learning French fluently to taking belly dancing lessons. She walked most every day to Main Street and down to Railroad St. When she had to use a cane, she walked only to Main St. She loved to stop and have conversations along the way and always carried dog treats in her pockets for the dogs she met. The squirrels in her neighborhood were very fat from the peanuts she fed them daily. She surely had a soft spot for animals, squirrels and birds.

Graveside funeral at The Mt. Calvary Cemetery will be on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 1:00 PM. Friends are welcome. There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date.

Donations in Jeanne's memory can be made to: Vermont Public, 365 Troy Avenue, Colchester, VT 05446

Memories and condolences can be shared online at CaledoniaLifeServices.com. Guibord-Pearsons & Sayles Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.