Family and friends are invited to celebrate the life of Jeanine C. Pratt who passed away in June of this year at the age of 92 at Chestnut Place Senior Living in Berlin, Vermont. A native daughter of Montpelier, Vermont, Jeanine attended St. Michael’s Elementary and High Schools, followed by a year at Mount St. Vincent College in New York, marrying her childhood sweetheart Larry Pratt in 1953.

All those who knew her recognized that Jeanine was a whirlwind of energy her entire life. Raising six energetic children with her husband Larry, she was a constant presence at her children’s many sporting endeavors, a steadying hand in the trials of school and life in general, and she was a surrogate mother to some of her children’s close friends along the occasional neighborhood child.

Never the shrinking violet, Jeanine was an active member in all the communities she found herself in. Beyond being a busy mother, a sample list of her constant energy found her filling the role of part-time cook at Little League games, holding court as a waitress at Montpelier’s venerable Coffee Corner, teaching religious education at St. Augustine’s Parish in Montpelier, and leading Marriage Encounter counseling weekends with Larry for years in Vermont. In 1984, Jeanine and Larry moved to Kuwait where, as a civil engineer on loan from the US Federal Highway Administration, Larry assisted Kuwaiti engineers in building out their national highway system. Living in the U.S. Embassy compound, Jeanine took on the role of part-time English teacher. In 1983, Jeanine and Larry survived the bombing of the U.S. Embassy when the compound was the site of a terrorist bombing, and both were recipients of commendation awards from the U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait for completing all of their assignments throughout the ensuing chaos associated with the bombing. As would be expected of a true Vermonter!

Upon their return stateside in 1987, Jeanine worked right alongside Larry as they cleared their homesite on Lake Champlain. They lived in their sailboat for several months while building their dream home in North Hero, VT. True to form, Jeanine was an active participant in the North Hero community for over thirty-five years where she worked tirelessly with the Women’s Auxiliary to help fund the local fire department. She was also recognized for her recovery efforts following the 1998 North Hero ice storm. But her most significant legacy will prove to be her role as a founding member of the North Hero Pelots (now Partners) Bay Restoration Association (P.B.R.A.) . The P.B.R.A. has been and continues to be, germane to the aquatic health of the North Hero island watershed. Anyone who knew her would concur that her presence was underwritten with an ever-present laugh that could fill a room. The void that she has left will be deeply felt by many.

Jeanine is survived by her six children, Jody Barna, Dean Pratt, Jeff Pratt, Tim Pratt, Eric Pratt and Carl Pratt, along with her nine grandchildren, Katie Anderson, David Anderson, Kelsey Morely, Cody Pratt, Haley Pratt, Janelle Pratt, Forrest Pratt, Alex Pratt and Sam Pratt, and six great-grandchildren, Luca and Magdalene Anderson, Hazel and Simon Morely, Sophie and Jamie Pratt, her brother Richard Canales of Montpelier and her sister Joan Lane of Connecticut.

One of Jeanine’s wishes was that this truly be a celebration, not a mourning, and with that in mind, be sure to bring a favorite story to share so we can all learn about the Jeanine you knew, and how she touched your life.

Please join us for Mass and a celebration of her life. 

DATE/TIME: 8/1/26 at 11:00 AM 

LOCATION: St. Augustine’s Church 

16 Barre St. 

Montpelier, VT 05602 

RECEPTION: Time/Location TBD

In lieu of flowers, Jeanine has asked that contributions be made to any of her favorite organizations below:

North Hero Volunteer Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary

c/o Grace Edwards

532 Savage Point Rd.

North Hero VT 05474

North Hero Volunteer Fire Department Building Fund

 c/o Deborah Benson 

P.O. Box 132 North Hero, VT 05474 

Donation by check is preferable, and please include RAISE THE LADDER in the check memo description.

PARTNERS IN BAY RESTORATION ASSOCIATION (P.B.R.A.)

334 Carry Bay Lane

North Hero, VT 05474