Obituary of Jeanne Anne Oakes

Jeanne Anne Barcomb Oakes, age 82, of Fairfield, beloved wife of William R. Oakes, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on Tuesday, March 7, 2017. Daughter of the late Dr. Albert and Lucille Beaupre Barcomb, Jeanne was born and raised in Rochester, New Hampshire, and graduated from Simmons College in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. She met her husband Bill during those years in Boston and they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary together with family last year. Jeanne and Bill moved to Fairfield, Connecticut in 1966. After raising her four children, she returned to work as a chemist for Polymer Industries and Stolt-Nielson Shipping Co. and as a chemistry lab instructor at Fairfield University. Jeanne made many close friends through her community work and enthusiasm for bridge. Genealogy became her retirement hobby providing her with many reasons to travel nationally and internationally. She enjoyed cruising and summers spent in Maine with friends and family where she could be found working on the computer, doing jigsaw puzzles, and hosting many gatherings including her trademark sunset happy hours on the porch. A loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, she will be greatly missed by all that knew her beautiful smile, warmth, strength and zest for life. In addition to her beloved husband Bill, Jeanne leaves behind her four loving children and their families: son Jeffrey Oakes, daughter-in-law Nancy Shannon Oakes, and their children Aaron, Elise and Colleen Oakes of Marion, MA; daughter Katherine Oakes, son-in-law Douglas Melville, and their children Ian and Kira Melville of Simsbury, CT; son Michael Oakes, daughter-in-law Beth Parker Oakes, and their children Christopher and Jamie Oakes of Silver Lake, NH; and daughter Jennifer Oakes Keohane and her husband William of Wallingford, CT. She is also survived by her sisters Juanita Casey, Beatrice Sullivan, Lorraine Brennan and Nancy Hebert; her brother Fred Maynard; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Tim Barcomb. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 18 at 10 am directly at St. Pius X Church, 834 Brookside Dr., Fairfield, CT 06824. Calling hours will be held on Friday, March 17, from 4-8 pm in the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Rd., Fairfield Center. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Pius X Church or to the Gospel Light Community Church-Haiti Building Fund, c/o 222 Charles St., Bridgeport, Ct 06606. To sign an online register or to get travel directions, please visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com