Jeanne Marie (Perkins) DuBois passed away on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at the age of 85 at home from complications due to Diabetes. She was predeceased by her cherished husband of 61 years, Laurence V.O. DuBois.

Jeanne leaves behind sons David and Kevin (Kathi) and daughters Catherine and Debra, sisters Grace Lynne (Ed) and Karen, grandchildren Michael (Diane), Nicole (Greg), Hailey, Dana, and Alex, and great-grandson Daniel as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Richard W. Perkins (Joan).

Jeanne was born in 1936 in Cayuga, NY to parents Walter A. and Mary (McGhan) Perkins. She graduated Valedictorian from Union Springs Central High School and garnered the Elmira College Outstanding Achievement Award among many other awards and honors. She played with the Beacon Chicks basketball team sponsored by the Beacon Milling Company of Cayuga. She attended Mass at St. Joseph's in Cayuga.

Jeanne graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University where she majored in Early Childhood Education in the College of Human Ecology. She met Larry at Cornell in October of 1956 and they were married by Father Edward Joseph Waters at St. Joseph's in Cayuga, NY on August 9, 1958. While pursuing her studies she worked as business manager in the office of the Cornell Countryman, a student publication of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She was a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority and its House President in 1957 in a role that championed inclusion.

After graduation she taught first grade for a short period of time in the Honeoye Falls central school district.

Larry and Jeanne began farming on a rented farm in Mendon, NY. Larry, Jeanne, and the two eldest children moved to Valatie, NY in 1960 and created the successful dairy farm known as Glenrest. In 1961 she substitute taught at Ichabod Crane. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Orville L. Freeman visited the farm in 1966. In 1970, after selling the dairy farm, the entire family toured Europe in a red Volvo station wagon and a 6-person tent.

Larry and Jeanne owned and operated The Milk House, initially a Stewart's Ice Cream franchise on Church Street in Chatham, NY from 1970-1984.

Chatham icon Mary Dardess nominated Jeanne for Woman of the Year honors.

They were long-time subscribers and supporters of the Mac-Hadyn Theatre, housing dozens of cast and crew during the summer months over the years. Jeanne worked for many years in the MHT Box Office.

Jeanne loved to prepare, cook, and bake delicious food, whether it was an apple pie for Secretary Freeman, Jeanne's Beans for the Mac-Haydn Sunday dinner between shows, a celebratory meal at the Milk House for one of Chatham's winning sports teams, or a potluck birthday party for one of the "Dirty Dozen".

She was like a second mother to many of the children in the community and beyond. She hosted Fresh Air children in 1964, 1966, and 1968. She taught her own nursery school in the DuBois home from 1965-1969 and later started the Three Little Pigs Nursery School on Woodbridge Avenue in Chatham. She was a Brownie Leader from 1958-1971, a Cub Scout Helper, Girl Scout Camp Counselor, and helped with Boy Scout paper drives.

At Saint James Church she was the secretary of the Parish Council from 1971-1974, a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Altar Rosary Society, the weekly Bingo food committee, one of "God's Helpers" in the care of linens and the Sanctuary, and a member of the group that performed ecumenical care and service to the elderly and shut-ins.

She raised her children in a cosmopolitan environment by hosting foreign exchange students from Greece, Germany, Brazil, and Mexico. In the Chatham school system she worked as room mother in 1964, the P.T.A. president in 1965, and the school budget information drive Co-Chairman in 1975. She also worked on Ski Club paper drives and the Chatham High School Booster Club Awards Dinner committee.

Jeanne loved to travel and always enjoyed putting together itineraries and instructional stops including family vacations to Maine, Cape Cod, Myrtle Beach, the Canadian Maritimes, Ireland, and Europe. With Larry, she toured Alaska's Inside Passage, took a cross country trip around the USA, and motored down a Russian river. They made several trips with the Ghent/Chatham Area Senior Citizens Club.

Jeanne was an animal lover, caring for the family dogs and cats, feeding the Glenrest birds, and talking to the deer that roamed off Shufelt Road.

Larry called her a chief helper of wayward people, cats, dogs, birds, etc. She was his chief decorator and change around artist. She was a "bucker-upper" to those that got discouraged including him.

Calling hours (9-11am) and a memorial Mass (immediately following) will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at St. James Roman Catholic Church at 117 Hudson Avenue, Chatham, NY 12037. A private burial ceremony will take place at the St. James Cemetery on Rte. 66 in Ghent, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent payable to the Columbia County Youth Theatre, Inc. to Edgar Acevedo, Director, CCYT 45 Payn Avenue Chatham, NY 12037 or online at https://ccyt.org For on-line condolences, visit wenkfuneralhome.com