Patricia 'Pat' Wheeler

Patricia ‘Pat’ Wheeler, 89, of Jaffrey, NH passed away peacefully on October 27, 2017 with her family by her side at the Good Shepherd Healthcare Center in Jaffrey after a period of failing health.

She was born on September 12, 1928 in Boston, MA, daughter of the late Sheldon and Marjorie (Owen) Root. Pat was raised in Winchester, MA and graduated in 1946 from Winchester High School. She continued with her education and graduated in 1950 from Colby College in Waterville, Maine before earning her teaching certificate from Boston University and Tufts.

Pat began teaching kindergarten in the North End of Boston before marrying Alan Wheeler on October 24, 1953 and moving to Troy, NH where she taught kindergarten in Swanzey.

Pat’s life was all about family and she loved life. In 1970, she opened The Sand Box pre-school program in Jaffrey and taught more than one generation of families in our community, including her own children, for more than 40 years. For her efforts with the very young children, Pat was named Jaffrey’s Citizen of the Year in 2001.

In addition to raising her 6 children, Pat maintained a very active lifestyle. From climbing Mt. Monadnock frequently, to skiing and playing tennis and bridge often, she was a Girl Scout leader and enjoyed teaching Sunday school at the United Church of Jaffrey. Pat was musically talented and played the Accordion and Piano, in addition to playing the steel drums for the band ‘Tropical Sensations’. She was involved with the town of Jaffrey and served on the School Board for many years.

In addition to her parents, Pat was preceded in death by her brother, Stephen Root, and by her husband Alan, tragically in a plane crash when her children were very young.

Pat raised an amazing family. She is survived by her 4 daughters, Ann LaFortune and her husband Michael of Old Orchard Beach, ME; Ky Wolterbeek and her husband Jake of Wells, ME; Katie and her husband Larry Dube of Lempster, NH; Elizabeth ‘Bithy’ Wheeler of Dover-Foxcroft, ME; her 2 sons, Dan and his wife Laura Wheeler, and Ben and his wife Ann Wheeler, all of Jaffrey, and Maria Louisa ‘Chiqui’ Alvarez of Guatemala City, Guatemala ; 28 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many cousins and friends.

Family and friends are warmly invited to calling hours which will be held on Friday, November 3, 2017 from 4:00 to 6:00PM at the Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 33 River Street, (Route 202 south), Jaffrey.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 2:00PM in the United Church of Jaffrey, 54 Main Street, Jaffrey. Rev. Mark Koyama, Pastor will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Pat’s name to the Stephen C. Record Scholarship Fund, Post Office Box 14, Jaffrey, NH 03452.