Jean H. Maxwell

COLEBROOK – Jean Harding Maxwell, 94, of Colebrook, died peacefully early on Friday morning, Aug. 13, 2021, at the Coös County Nursing Hospital in West Stewartstown. Jean was born in East St. Johnsbury, Vt., on July 9, 1927. Her early childhood was spent living “up and down the Connecticut River,” always among a large, loving extended family. Though she ultimately settled in New Hampshire, she considered herself first and foremost a Vermonter. She graduated from Hanover High School, then blossomed at Keene Teacher’s College. Following college, Jean taught for one year at Moore School in Candia, NH, before marrying the love of her life, Reg Maxwell, who she met at work, where he drove a school bus. The couple bought a house on four acres in Candia where they raised their children, Robin, Dana and Susan. Jean returned to teaching at Moore School in 1967 and soon established the successful “no-nonsense- fundamentals-first” approach that she maintained throughout her career. It was during this time that she discovered baseball through her sons’ participation in Little League. In furtherance of her passion for the Boston Red Sox, she managed to smuggle a portable television into her classroom to follow that team’s fortunes in the 1967 World Series. Jean and Reg attended the final game of their favorite player, Carl Yastrzemski, in 1983. Jean was notorious for misremembering certain names, and would refer to Rico Petrocelli as Rico Citronella, to the never-ending delight of her family. Jean and Reg made their final home in the North Country, where she taught junior high English in Colebrook. Throughout her years there, Jean adhered to a curriculum based on spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and literature. She read aloud to her students from children’s classics, and walked to school every day. Jean loved clothes and was always smartly dressed, often in high heels. Despite her seeming reluctance to stand in the spotlight, she was thrilled to be invited to deliver the Colebrook Academy graduation address in 1995. Jean and Reg enjoyed an active social life, and were beautiful dancers; they went dancing frequently at The Colebrook House, Colebrook Country Club, The Northland, and The Balsams. They spent many happy weekends in Maine attending the Portland Symphony Orchestra concerts with Jean’s brother and sister-in-law, Chris and Marge Harding. For many summers, they were avid season pass holders at The Weathervane Theatre. After her retirement in 1992, they travelled throughout America on trains, planes, and boats, often with best friends Frank and Claire Owen. Jean meticulously organized memorabilia from each trip, an effort that served her well after she moved to assisted living and had time to relive the memories. In her final days, she looked quietly out her window at a lovely view of her beloved Vermont hills. Jean was a member of the Metallak Retired Teachers Association, the Assembly of Overseers at UCVH, the N.H. Retired Educators Association and the Golden Circle Alumni Association of Keene State College. She is survived by two children, Robin Maxwell and wife Irene of Colebrook, and Susan Sambito and husband, Bill; grandchildren, Sabin Maxwell, Thomas Sambito, Sarah Fadenrecht and her son Karson Smith; three very dear sisters-in-law, Linda and Janice Maxwell and Marjorie Harding; and her namesake and great-granddaughter, Mia Jean Maxwell. Jean was predeceased her beloved husband, Reginald Maxwell; a son, Dana Maxwell; her father, Lloyd Harding, her mother, Zilla (Densmore) Emond and step-father, Isaie O. Emond; and a brother, Christie Harding. Memorial calling hours will be held at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook, NH, on Thursday, Aug. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. A graveside memorial service and committal will take place the next morning, Friday, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m. in the Colebrook Village Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mrs. Maxwell may be made to the NH Food Bank, 700 East Industrial Park Drive, Manchester, NH 03109, or The Weathervane Theatre, PO Box 127, Whitefield, NH 03598. Condolences may be offered on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, NH.

Jean H. Maxwell

July 9, 1927 - August 13, 2021