Jacqueline M. Veillette

Jacqueline M. Veillette

1947 – 2019

Jacqueline M. Veillette, age 72, a resident of Lowell, passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2019, at the Lowell General Hospital after a brief illness. 

Born in Lowell on October 23, 1947, she was a daughter of the late Roland J. and Leda M. (Hebert) Veillette.

In Memoriam: When a loved one dies, it is expected that the family and friends mourn their loss. While we grieve, we must remember the unparalleled strength of her love which knew no bounds. Today is not a time for mourning, but for celebration; Jacqueline would tell us to celebrate because she won the fight. Jacqueline, known for her straightforwardness, would want us to celebrate and remember her for her toughness, for her labor, for her fierceness.

Inspired by the poetic words of Dylan Thomas, Jacqueline would “not go gentle into that good night,” and fight for her family, but would put aside her differences to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. She would “rage, rage against the dying of the light,” and encourage her loved ones live through her example—to continue the good fight and know when there are moments when a family’s needs come before one’s own.

We will forever be inspired by her love for all around her—the meals she would cook for neighbors even when they did not think they needed the food, the tough-love unleashed on her children and grandchildren in moments of pain when they needed to hear what was difficult, and her presence at every celebration, no matter how small.

Jacqueline’s legacy is the strength she inspired in all of us. So, although we are “there on the sad height”, we must, like Jacqueline would wish, be fierce in our remembrance of her. We must remember the fight she started. We must remember to not let her light dim. Let us “rage, rage against the dying of the light” like she would, to let her love and memory sustain us, as we move forward and honor her. For we should make sure she does “not go gentle into that good night”, for our love for her will be how she wins the battle.

She is survived by three sons and a daughter in law, James and Mary Sarantakis of Lowell, Thomas Sarantakis of Lowell and Nicholas Sarantakis of OK; two daughters and two sons in law, Virginia Sarantakis and her husband Paul Dion Jr. of New Hampton, NH and Jacqueline R. Garland and her husband Wayne of Plymouth, NH; nine grandchildren, Dana, James Jr., Robert, Thomas, Desiree, Samantha, Steven, Andrew, Robert C.; two great grandchildren, Akhliyana, Cody; three brothers and a sister in law, Jean-Paul Veillette and his wife Carol of MO, William B. Veillette and Bruce E. Veillette of Lowell; a sister, Norma J. Veillette of Lowell; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also the sister of the late Roland H.J. Veillette, Sr., Richard Veillette and Henry “Hank” J. Veillette.

According to her wishes, there will be no visitations.  Relatives and friends are invited to her Committal Service on Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Chapel at St. Joseph Cemetery, Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may make a donation to a charity of your choice.  

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