Jeannine Vecchio nee' Garceau Obituary (1942 - 2025)

Jeannine Vecchio nee’ Garceau, born April 27, 1942, in Wakefield, Rhode Island, passed away Sunday, September 7, 2025. Jeannine attended Westerly Rhode Island High School and the University of Rhode Island. She is survived by her husband Ralph, and blended family of daughters, Elise Schelette-Kissling (Magnus), Susan Kissling, and Elaine Bernhard (Douglas); sons, Michael and Thomas Vecchio; granddaughters, Swinda, Imogen, and Marrat Schlette-Kissling, and Francesca Vecchio; grandsons, George and Matthew Bernhard; sister Renee Strain (Arthur) and brother, Robert Garceau. Jeannine was proud to describe her occupation as “Homemaker” which she valued most among all her employments and interests. In between as a Homemaker, she acquired skills working as a house painter and drywall installer, which she later applied to the renovation of three 19th century houses. One of her often-used phrases was “Measure twice, cut once”. She also worked as a bookkeeper for an accounting firm and a marina, where she incidentally met her husband. Her other interests spread across birding (she had sighted 43 species when she stopped recording), perennial and herb gardening, tennis, skiing and as combined 1st mate, as well as crew and cook on their sailing cruises. In the end she was proudest to be described as “Homemaker”. Gifts in Jeannine’s memory may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org. Online condolences and messages to the family may be made at www.flynnbrosinc.com.