Jeannine Marie (Rochon) Meade, 94, of Northville, died peacefully at home March 10, 2024 after a brief illness.

Born Feb. 16, 1930 in Tecumseh, Ontario, she was the second of eight children born to Gerard and Eulalie (Langis) Rochon. Her father was a pharmacist, and the family initially lived above his drug store. She grew up in a French-speaking home and didn’t begin learning English until she started elementary school.

She also grew up in a home filled with music, as her mother played piano and violin and taught music for many years. She and her siblings would often gather around the piano and sing while her mother played.

Jeannine met her future husband, Ed Meade, in 1947, while performing in a parish musical at Assumption Church in Windsor, Ontario. They were married on Dec. 26, 1951, when Ed was home on leave from the Army.

She was a full-time homemaker for many years, raising nine children. The family lived in Livonia until 1966 when they moved to Plymouth, where they lived until 1984. Jeannine returned to college and earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1986. She also became a U.S. citizen in 1991.

She later worked at Kay’s of Plymouth and as a teller for National Bank of Detroit until both she and Ed retired in 1991.

Ed was a high school vocal music teacher for many years and had also directed high school musical productions. When he retired, he formed a theater group, Parlour Theatre Productions, and Jeannine acted in many of the plays. One of her most memorable roles was the lead role of Daisy Werthan in “Driving Miss Daisy.” The theater group and his choral groups, 'Voices in Time' and 'Good Evening, Friends', performed for years at various area venues, including The Ark in Ann Arbor, the Dearborn Inn, retirement centers and nursing homes.

Jeannine and Ed shared a love for the theater and took many trips to New York City, the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario, and the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.

Jeannine was the epitome of a classy lady. Her warmth, wit and charm endeared her to family and friends. Those who stopped by to visit at her Northville apartment always left with a container of her delicious homemade treats, for she loved to bake.

Jeannine was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, Northville, and previously attended St. Gerald Church in Farmington. She was devoted to God, her family, and especially to her beloved husband of 66 years, Ed. Their close, loving relationship was an inspiration to all who knew them. Though always cheerful and upbeat, she had greatly missed Ed since his passing in 2018 .The family takes comfort in knowing they are now together again.

Jeannine is survived by her nine children: Peggy Meade (Frank Pennisi) of Old Orchard Beach, Maine; Jeff (Pam) Meade of Monroe; Pat Hawkins of Lombard, Ill.; Molly Meade McGlynn of Huntsville, Ala.; Jerry (Ann) Meade of Garrettsville, Ohio; John (Beth) Meade of Livonia; Maureen (Dave) Visser of Northville; Michael Meade (Darcie Brault) of Ferndale; Kathleen (Philip) Brady of Washington, D.C; 33 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; siblings Pierre, Pauline, and Marie; sister-in-law Eileen Rochon; many dear nieces and nephews; and by her best buddy and neighbor Jerry Nehs.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed; sisters Henriette, Renée and Suzanne; a brother, Gerard, and son-in-law Tom Hawkins.

Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 22, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 133 Orchard Dr., Northville, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Burial of cremains will take place at Assumption Cemetery, Windsor, Ontario, at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Smile Train or to Right to Life-LIFESPAN.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/jeannine-meade/obituary/

Copy