Jean C. Brochu

Jean C. (Hamel) Brochu, 78, of Bedford, NH, formerly of Methuen, MA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at her home with her loving family by her side after a long and courageous battle with MS. She was the daughter of Charles and Katherine (Davis) Hamel.

Raised and educated in Haverhill, MA, Jean met her future husband, Ronald R. Brochu, while working at the local A&P. They married on August 6, 1961 at St. George Church in Haverhill and together raised five children in Methuen. Jean loved to spend time with her family on vacation at York Beach and on camping trips throughout New England. She also loved to travel with her husband to Sanibel Island, Cape Cod, and Atlantic City.

After many years working in bakeries, Jean went on to specialize, and teach, cake decorating. Family, friends, and neighbors delighted in her fudge and Black Moons. She also loved to entertain, especially on Christmas Eve when she would welcome all to her home. Her chicken salad sandwiches were always a big hit and the grandkids, nieces, and nephews were excited to make gingerbread houses and visit with Santa! In her later years, Jean enjoyed reading, playing Skip-Bo, watching the NE Patriots, and catalog shopping.

Jean is survived by her loving and devoted husband of almost fifty-nine years, Ronald R. Brochu; her children: Debbie Musto and her husband, David, of Woodstock, CT, Ronald Brochu and his wife Jacqueline, of Richmond, KY, Donna Brett and her husband Eric, of Wilton, NH, John Brochu and his wife Colleen, of Pembroke, NH, and Lynda Doherty and her husband Robert, of Concord, NH. She also leaves her grandchildren: David, Meghan, Emily, Jessica, Philip, Jacqueline, Sarah, Tyler, Justin, Lindsay, and Madelyn; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would also like to thank the Amedisys Hospice team for the compassionate care provided.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley Street in Methuen. Services will be held at the conclusion of visitation at 12:00 PM in the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jean’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Shriner’s Hospital, 51 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114.