Dr. Jeanne M. Hayes

Dr. Jeanne M. Rodier Hayes, 79, beloved wife of James Hayes of Milford, NH, passed away on September 6, 2024, at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, with family by her side. She struggled with heart disease for the past several years. 

Any stranger who spoke with Jeanne would learn about the many loves of her life. The very first topic would be her six children - Joe, Kate, Julie, Amy, Andy, David, and her stepdaughter Adele. She would tell the stranger of their accomplishments and wonderful families, including fourteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, beaming with pride and love. 

Next, as the stranger may have realized that this conversation would be longer than expected, Jeanne would tell a story of growing up as the eldest daughter of the late Thomas and Beatrice (Duquette) Rodier. Born on Christmas Eve, 1944, in Oxford, MA while her father was bravely serving in the United States Navy during World War II, Jeanne was raised and educated in Oxford, the town she considered home throughout her life. She loved living next door to her grandparents, Regina and Ulric Duquette (Memere and Pepere), and helping them on their turkey and chicken farm. Following high school graduation, she enrolled in nursing school at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. Jeanne was an exceptional student in high school, a dear (and lifelong) friend to many of her classmates, and quite possibly the shortest team captain in the history of basketball. 

At this point, the stranger discovers that Jeanne’s career ambitions and love of family intersect. After one year of nursing school, Jeanne married Paul Sonier and started her family, settling in Shrewsbury, MA. Jeanne’s first five children were born within five years of each other. When her twins started kindergarten, Jeanne returned to nursing school. After starting at Quinsigamond Community College and Hahnemann Hospital in Worcester, MA she earned a bachelor’s degree at Worcester State College, and a master’s degree at Boston College. In 1985, she married Dr. Robert C. Weber. A year later, David was born. Jeanne earned her Ed.D at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1991 and finally, a nurse practitioner license at UMass Medical School in Worcester in 1997. 

The stranger, now wondering if he missed his bus, might learn that Jeanne contributed to many organizations over the course of her career, both as a nurse and as a nursing educator, including at Pernet Family Health Service in Worcester, Fitchburg State College, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, and most recently, Nashua Community College, Granite State College, and Rivier University in Nashua, NH. One thing is sure: the stranger would understand that Jeanne was as passionate about teaching community health nursing and ensuring the future of the nursing profession as she was about her family. Jeanne loved her career and made many deep, personal connections with colleagues and students alike.

The stranger would finally learn that Jeanne’s life came full circle in 1999, when she reconnected with her high school sweetheart, Jimmy Hayes. They married and settled in Milford, NH. Jeanne loved hosting family and friend visits (and spoiling her pets). Sitting on her back porch with an iced tea in hand, her dog by her side, and her cats in the sun, Jeanne was able to relax and reflect on her life. She also loved traveling to visit family, and her favorite travel destinations were the annual family summer vacations throughout the northeastern United States.

Jeanne would tell this very patient stranger that she deeply loved her family and was extremely proud of her legacy as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will be intensely missed by Jim, her children and grandchildren: 

• Joe Sonier of Milford, NH; 

o Sarah Sullivan and her husband Patrick with their children Greyson and Violette

o Lexi Sonier 

• Kate Larson and her husband Chris of Spencer, MA

o Erika Stewart and her husband Matt

o Sam Larson and his partner Sabrina Austin

o Jake Larson

• Julie Sonier and her husband John Patterson of St. Paul, MN

o Kevin Patterson and his partner Kate Brown

o Tom Patterson and his partner Marlee Baron

• Amy Carrier and her husband Jason of Bedford, NH

o Anthony Donelli 

o Connor Carrier

o Michael Donelli 

• Andrew Sonier and his wife Allie of Punta Gorda, FL and their granddaughter Aurora

• David Weber and his wife Katie of Pittsburgh, PA with their children Charlie and Teddy

• Adele Hayes, her husband Brandon, and her children Wesley and Eowyn Coombe

As the reader may have guessed, Jeanne was a talker. She had a wonderful sense of humor. Her passion for life and people were obvious to all who knew her. 

She will also be missed greatly by her siblings: James Rodier and his wife Debbie of Rye NH; Susan Huer and her husband Derek of Marshfield MA; Anne Rodier and her husband Paul Fritzsche of Kennebunk ME; Joe Rodier and his wife Patti of Oxford MA; Barbara Hendricks and her husband Paul of Millville MA; Tom Rodier and his partner Mary Canavan of Sturbridge MA; and Jacqui Granger and her husband Rich of Oxford, MA; as well as 19 nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Betty Mokrzecki and by her niece Kate Fritzsche-Peterson.

SERVICES: Calling hours will be held on Sunday, September 15, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home at 63 Elm Street in Milford, NH. A mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, September 16, 2024, at 11:00 AM in the St. Patrick Church at 34 Amherst Street, Milford, NH.  Burial will take place on a later date in the Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, MA. 

 **Live streaming services for Dr. Hayes funeral mass will be available by visiting the Facebook page for Saint Patrick’s Catholic Community Milford, NH. The live stream will begin around 10:50 AM. https://www.facebook.com/stpatsmilfordnh?mibextid=LQQJ4d