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In sorrow and peace, the family of Jeannine Marton of Richford, Vt., has announced her passing on Jan. 6, 2019 at the age of 89.

Helene and Robert Schuster of Hamilton Twp., N.J., Jacques and Wendy Marton of South Burlington, Vt., Cecile and Matthew Druzba of South Burlington, Vt., and Marc and Sarah Marton of Roswell, Ga., encourage all family and friends to honor her memory through a donation to the Alzheimer's Association, alz.com.

Jeannine began her life's journey as Jeannine Georgette Maitre in the suburbs of Paris, France, daughter of Leon and Cecile.

Fiercely independent and adventurous, Jeannine set off on her own as a young woman to attain fluency in English in the UK as a pathway to experience the world. She then moved to Morocco after accepting an administrative position with a prominent U.S.-based firm involved in major infrastructure projects throughout the Middle East after WWII.

It was in Morocco where Jeannine met New Jersey native Paul Marton, who served as a chef at the same construction firm. They wed in June 1955 at a U.S. consulate office in Tangier.

After years of travel throughout North Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Jeannine gained her U.S. citizenship and settled with Paul and new son Jacques in Centerville, N.J. around 1960. Son Marc was soon followed by daughter Cecile, with Paul's daughter Helene completing the family.

Jeannine wasted no time in becoming as much a Marton as an American. She immediately endeared herself to all of Paul's relatives, most of whom lived in and around Somerset County, N.J. Over three decades, she tirelessly juggled her family responsibilities while working full time in the international customer service department of Ortho Diagnostics, then a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, based in nearby Raritan. Attending night school earned her a college degree late in her career.

The family household, which Jeannine anchored, remained in Centerville until Paul's death in 1998.

In retirement, Jeannine resided for extended periods in Upstate New York, Wisconsin, Georgia and Vermont to help raise grandchildren Claire and Hannah Marton, Sierra Gryson, Joseph "Cole" and Madison Druzba and Eva Marton, taking on the moniker of "MéMé." She is also "Maminette" to grandsons Christopher and Robert Schuster, Jr.

Wherever she went, Jeannine attracted as much love and adoration from the friends she made, perhaps her greatest gift.

We say goodbye, but her light will shine on all who ever knew her for generations to come.