Wilder, VT —Jacqueline P. English, 89, died at Valley Terrace in Wilder, VT

Jackie, daughter of James and Emma (Mayhew) Petersen, was born in Salisbury, Vermont on Halloween in 1925. She graduated from Middlebury High School in 1942. Free spirited even in her younger years, she was only 17 when she moved to Hartford, Connecticut to work in a factory for the war effort.

After World War II, when Lawrence English returned home from the war, they courted and were married on February 27, 1949. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Middlebury, VT, where Jackie worked at Middlebury College. After Larry's discharge from the Army Air Corps, he was called to active duty in the Vermont National Guard and sent to Fort Bliss. In the spirit of adventure, Jackie packed up the two children (3 & 8), her elderly Aunt and the family dog and drove to El Paso, Texas to be with Larry.

The family moved to Burlington, VT in 1967, where Jackie quickly found work at the University of Vermont in the Treasurer's office. After she settled in, Jackie started her lifelong interest in painting in oil. In 1974, they made their last move to Wilder, VT. Jackie worked for the Holzinger Insurance Agency followed by the District Court in White River Junction. She enjoyed the work and relished helping mothers and fathers collect past due child support. She served on the Board of Directors of the Bugbee Senior Center in White River and the Upper Valley Hostel in Hanover.

In 2005, Larry passed away after 56 years of marriage and, after mourning for some time, Jackie made a new friend at the Bugbee Senior Center. Glendon Bickford came into Jackie's life and they spent several happy years together before Alzheimer's took her to Valley Terrace, where Glen remained a faithful visitor. Due to the wonderful care that she received from everyone at Valley Terrace, as well as the staff from Bayada, Jackie always had a smile or giggle for anyone who came to visit.

Throughout her life, Jackie demonstrated a special love for family, friends and anyone in need. She made a point of helping those less fortunate and tried to instill in her children and grandchildren this act of giving. Jackie was an active member of St. Anthony's Church for over 30 years.

She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Brush and her fiancé, David Pelletier, both of White River Jct., VT; her son, Lawrence J. English, of Wilder, VT; her very special friend, Glendon Bickford; her brother James Petersen of Salisbury, VT; her sister, Helen Aulis of Wilder, VT; her brother-in-law, Stanton English of Brandon, VT; grandchildren, Dagan W. Brush and his wife, Thais F. Brush of Somerset, NJ; Nicholas J. English of Corpus Christi, TX and Natasha G. English and her fiancé, John Hamel of Newport, NH, as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her brother, Max Petersen and her sisters—in-law, Carolyn English and Greta Rivers.

Visiting hours will be held the Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction, VT on Friday February 6th from 4-6PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday February 7th at 10AM at St Anthony's Church in White River Junction with the burial to be in the spring in the Holman Cemetery in Salisbury, VT.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Jackie's memory to the Bugbee Senior Center, 262 North Main Street, White River Junction, VT 05001 or the Alzheimer's Association of Vermont, 300 Cornerstone Drive, Suite 128, Williston, VT 05495.