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Born April 16, 1933, in Camden Township, Kent County, and died September 27, 2025 at Bluewater Health, Sarnia, ON after a short and aggressive illness.
‘Farewell’ is said to our dear sister, mother, grandmother and friend.
‘Jeannie’ was the fourth-born child of George and Euphrasie Van Den Bossche of Belgium, and is survived by one sister, Linda Sommerey of Windsor, ON. Predeceased by her siblings Louise, Barbara, Rose, Yvonne, Victor and Marie.
Predeceased by her husband, Reginald Guymer (1995).Mother of Brian Kennedy (1996), Craig Kennedy (2020), Mary Jane ‘Maggie’ Mendonca (Brian), John Kennedy (Lori) and Nancy Bourgeois (Trevor). Grandmother of Michael, Daniel and Timothy Kennedy (Thisuri) [Brian’s children]; Sydney Kennedy and Brynne Savo (Christian) [John & Lori’s children]; and Lindsay, Gwenyth, Caleb (Emma) and Andrew Bourgeois [Nancy & Trevor’s children]. Great-grandmother of Dean Kennedy (Tim & Thisuri’s son).
Of greatest importance to Jeanne was her Christian faith. For many years, she enjoyed warm fellowship with other believers at the Sarnia Gospel Hall. At the age of 77, she was baptized. She stayed close to God through daily prayer and Bible reading, and she loved her family.
From a young age, she was responsible, smart, hard-working, willing to learn new skills, and creative in many ways. She loved to garden, plant trees, save energy, undertake home renovation projects, read books, sew, and talk with the neighbours. “Grandma was ‘sustainable’ before ‘sustainability’ was cool”. She was a woman of quiet strength – the kind that didn’t announce itself or require recognition. She gave of herself in action and in quiet moments of listening when life got heavy. She was positive and encouraging, consistently seeing the good in others and overlooking their flaws. She will be missed.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15).
Cremation has taken place. Informal visitations will be held at Nancy and Trevor’s home (978 Westminster Drive, Sarnia) on Friday, October 3 and Saturday, October 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Stop by if you like, everyone is welcome.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home – London Line Chapel, 1576 London Line, Sarnia, followed by the interment of ashes at Lakeview Cemetery. Sympathy may be expressed through a donation to the Inn of the Good Shepherd, or a charity of your choice. May her memory be a blessing.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die … a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance …” (Ecclesiastes 3).
