Birth Nov. 21, 1942
Lynn, MA
Death Dec. 29, 2024
McClure Miller Respite House, Colchester VT
Details of service
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in South Burlington, VT (1250 Spear Street). Committal follows in Church’s Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to McClure Miller Respite House.
Jacquelyn (Fenelon) Arbuckle, of Burlington, VT, died at McClure Miller Respite House in the early morning hours of Dec. 29, 2024. Jackie was born in Lynn, MA on Nov. 21, 1942, daughter of Eugene F. and Margaret A. (Walker) Fenelon. She was raised in Saugus and Swampscott, MA, graduating from Swampscott High School in 1960. She went on to New England Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing (Boston, MA) graduating in 1963 and became a Registered Nurse – thus starting an almost forty-year career of service to others. Over her career, Jackie worked in many areas of nursing including med-surg, emergency room and mental health. Jackie also earned Masters in Education from Antioch New England in Keene, NH.
Jackie developed an interest in elder care when she became Director of Nursing at the McGirr Nursing Home in Bellows Falls, VT. After moving to Colchester, she became Volunteer Coordinator of Chittenden County Hospice. While working there, Jackie, along with Terje Anderson, (Executive Director of Vermont C.A.R.E.S.) foresaw the need for a free-standing Hospice. Jackie’s inspiration led to a five-year plan, creation of a Board, fund raising and then construction of Vermont Respite House, now the McClure Miller Respite House. She served as the first Executive Director where she was the guiding light for the care of people in their final stage of life and created standards that are still honored in today’s Respite House.
Jackie’s service also included the spiritual world. She and her close friend, Peggy Mathauer, were Ordained Deacons in the Episcopal Church at All Saints’ Church on July 30, 1991. Jackie served at All Saint’s for fifteen years, going on to serve at St John’s in Stowe, VT and Trinity Church in Shelburne, VT. After retirement she continued her service work for several years at Rock Point, home of the Episcopal Diocese of Vermont, where she coordinated volunteers for many programs there.
Jackie had a lifelong love of gardening and all things in the natural world, ultimately achieving a Master Gardener certificate. She created many beautiful gardens at every home she lived in and in other places in the community. She passed that love on to her daughters and many others through her teaching and guidance.
Jackie leaves Allan, her husband of 60 years, daughters Jennifer Arbuckle of North Ferrisburgh and Lesley Higgins, son-in-law John Higgins and granddaughter, Wylie, all of Charlotte.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Miller 3 and McClure 5 at UVM Medical Center, the Rehab Unit at Birchwood Rehabilitation and, especially, those at McClure Miller Respite House.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Jacquelyn Fenelon Arbuckle.