Jeannine M. Farineau

Jeannine M. Farineau, 94, passed away on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. 

Jeannine was born in Leominster MA, on December 29, 1928, the daughter of Raymond and Antoinette Gariepy (Rheault). She attended St. Cecelia’s Elementary School in Leominster, and graduated from St. Bernard’s High School in Fitchburg. After high school, she worked for New England Telephone/Verizon in a variety of positions including switchboard operator, business office cashier and service representative. She was an active member of St. Francis, then Madonna of the Holy Rosary, then St. Joseph’s Church. She was well-known as the preparer of fish chowder during Lenten Friday night Fish Fries at Madonna. She was active in the Telephone Pioneers, Daughters of Isabella, Fitchburg Senior Center, and was a Girl Scout service unit volunteer. She loved family, friends, square dancing, card playing, bridge, travel, cooking and baking. She was fluent in French and took several years of Spanish classes at Mt. Wachusett Community College after she retired in 1989. 

Jeannine was predeceased by her parents Raymond and Antoinette Gariepy (Rheault), her sister Sylvia Buck, her husband Paul W. Farineau Sr., and her brother Fr. Robert Gariepy. She leaves behind daughters Janice A. Drass of Jefferson MD, and Diane M. Savarese (Peter Henry) of Northboro MA; sons Paul W. Farineau (Lisa) of Amherst NH and Thomas J. Farineau (Bonnie) of Burnt Hills NY; brothers Roland Gariepy of Framingham MA and Richard (Kathleen) Gariepy of Ketchum ID.

Jeannine was lovingly known as ‘Nana’ and ‘Nana Banana’ by her grandchildren Jennifer Anderson, Joseph Drass II, Jacqueline Drass, Julie Farineau, Matthew Savarese, Katherine Farineau, Andrew Savarese and Caroline Gillett as well as her great grandchildren Dylan Anderson, Connor Anderson, Julian Drass and Layna Drass. 

Family will receive visitors on Tuesday April 4, 2023, from 3:00 – 7:00 PM at Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd. Fitchburg, MA 01420, with the funeral planned for 9:30 am on Wednesday April, 5, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Church, 49 Woodland St, Fitchburg, MA 01420. A committal service will take place after the funeral mass at St. Bernard's Cemetery, 96 Goodrich St, Fitchburg, MA, 01420. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Jeannine’s name to Telecom Pioneers Charitable Foundation, PO Box 758515, Topeka Kansas 66675-8515.

Jeannine will be missed tremendously by all who knew and loved her.