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Marie Jeanne Bell
PLAINFIELD — Marie Jeanne (Fournier) Bell, 81, of Tarbox Road, died June 26, 2022, peacefully at home in her sleep. She was the wife of Vonnie Leo Bell Jr. for a blissful 58 years. Born in Valley Falls, R.I., she was the daughter of the late Aimé and Marie (Collins) Fournier.
Known by her childhood name “Jeanne” to her family, she was known as “Marie” at work.
Jeanne brought up nine children, and fiercely protected and supported her family. Her children could do no wrong in her eyes. She was the grandmother/mémé of 21 grandchildren, who she doted over and loved to see and spend time with.
She was a lifelong Catholic who raised her children in the Catholic faith. She had a special appreciation of the Blessed Mother, and prayed for the intercession of many saints, especially St. Anthony (finder of lost things), St. Jude (of hopeless cases), St. Gerard (of expectant mothers), and St. Christopher (of travelers), and she would turn to the Memorare prayer in times of trouble.
Marie drove a school bus for about 20 years for the Killingly Bus Garage, mostly driving special needs children. She had a strong work ethic, taking many shifts that others turned down, including driving sports teams on the weekends.
Previously, she had worked at Sales Knitting in Virginia, and she did other types of factory work before her marriage.
After marrying Vonnie, she was a Navy wife for 20 years, and traveled to several states including California, Virginia, South Carolina, and Connecticut. She loved New England and traveling to various states, and always enjoyed U.S. historical sites. She especially liked to shop and buy souvenirs and T-shirts for her large family, and to find her favorite clam cakes and chowder. She also enjoyed sharing and displaying all holiday decorations. While in the last year of her life, she was not able to travel as much as she would have liked, but she spent many years visiting all parts of the country, including the several states her children call home.
Marie Jeanne prioritized her family above everything else, and enjoyed talking to and seeing immediate and extended family members. Her whole life she gardened, planting all types of flowers, plants, and vegetables. She especially loved tomatoes and would often bring home sprigs of plants to grow in her yard.
She leaves nine children, Stephen Bell (Gigi), Veronica Sible (Joseph), Kenneth Bell (Ann), James Bell (Kim), Cheryl Goodyear (Chris), Patricia Ball (John), Lorraine Kindel (Frank), Elaine Sistare (Lance), and Thomas Bell (Brandy); 21 grandchildren: Zachary Bell, Joseph Sible, Elizabeth Sible, Christina Sible, Michael Sible, Jessica Boardman, Grace Bell, Andrew Bell, Noah Bell, Matthew Bell, Corey Goodyear, Ryan Goodyear, Katelynn Goodyear, John Ball, Cassidy Ball, Sydney Ball, Joel Kindel, Luke Kindel, Scarlett Sistare, Weston Bell, and Remy Bell; a brother, Joseph Fournier; a sister, Annette Camacho; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter-in-law Amy Bell (Steve) and five siblings (Claire Charbonneau, Dorothy Decatur, Edward Fournier, Armand Fournier and Henry Fournier).
A Funeral Mass was July 1 at All Hallows Church in Moosup. Dougherty Brothers Funeral Home of Plainfield.
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