Obituary: Jacqueline Lee Patenaude, 82, of Branford

Obituary courtesy of W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home:

Jacqueline Lee Patenaude, 82 years old, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on September 14th, 2023. She was the beloved wife of 61 years to Donald Fisher Patenaude. Jackie was born in New Haven, Ct on February 16, 1941, a daughter of the late Homer and Bernice Tefft.

Jackie was a registered nurse for many years and while raising four children, she returned to college to pursue another career. She graduated top of her class with honors and received a master’s degree in special education. She then pursued a career as a special education teacher at ACES Village School, in Hamden, CT before combining her nursing and special education skills to work with the VNA of Branford, CT. Here, Jackie was a private duty caregiver for children with special needs. After a full career caring for others, she joined her husband Donald in retirement. Jackie enjoyed traveling with her husband to many places throughout the world. Her most memorable travels included Australia, New Zealand and Italy.

Her husband, children and grandchildren would agree that Jackie loved her family very much and she found time to make sure everyone felt special, cared for, and loved by her. Nothing made Jackie (Nana) prouder than to be with her children and grandchildren to attend birthdays, sporting events, important first days, and graduations.

Besides Don, Jackie is survived by her children, Daniel “Danny” (Donna) Patenaude of East Haven, Melissa (Keith) Cudgma of Sturbridge, MA, Susan Patenaude (Aaron Wilson) of Evanston, IL, and Kimberly (Andrew) Misiolek of Watertown, CT; her grandchildren, Dan Patenaude, Jr. “DJ”, Andrew Patenaude, Garrett and Sam Cudgma, Eleanor “Ellie” Wilson and Carter Wilson, and Kayla and Samantha “Sammie” Misiolek, nephew Matthew (Amy) Neal of Wallingford, and great nephews and niece, William Noah, Thomas Neal and Catherine (Louis) Chica. She was predeceased by her daughter, Tricia Patenaude. Jackie was joined in death on September 16th, 2023 by her sister Barbara Neal of Branford, CT.

Relatives and friends may attend visiting hours, Friday evening from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford, and are invited to a funeral service Saturday morning at 10:00 in the First Congregational Church of Branford, with private burial to follow in Branford Center Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Patenaude Family Fund in Memory of Jacqueline Patenaude and In Honor of Daniel Patenaude with the ALS Association, Connecticut Chapter. http://secure.alsact.org/goto/...