
Gisele (Mémère ) Mientka of Leeds passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones in the comfort of her home August 31, 2023. Born to the late Alfred and Eléonore Fortin of Highgate Springs, VT on November 23, 1924.
She was one of nine children raised on the family dairy farm. Gisele attended school in Swanton, Vt and after graduating from high school she went on to nursing school at Fanny Allen in Colchester, Vt. In her senior year Gisele was sent to the Leeds VA Hospital as a Cadet Nurse for the returning soldiers of WWII. She continued working there as an RN until her retirement in 1986.
Gisele was married to Stanley Mientka in 1947 until his passing in 1983. Together, they raised their family in their Leeds home, where, despite having seven children to care for, she welcomed every kid in the neighborhood as if they were her own.
She was predeceased by her son James and her brothers Roger, Yves, and Gilles and her sisters Sr. Agnes Lucille DHS, Yvette McCann, Sr. Constance Fortin SGM and Gaetane Fortin.
Gisele leaves behind to cherish her memory, her children Francis, Michael, Donald and wife Elaine Howes, Peggy, Jane and husband Glenn Scott and Lisa and husband Scott Tanguay. Nine grandchildren; Bryan, Ben and Brett Scott, Tucker, Mick and Madison Mientka, Kristen and Matt Mientka, and Jeremy Tanguay. She also leaves her sister Martha Brisson of Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Our mom was loved by all that knew her. She was affectionately known as Mémère even by family and friends. Even her grandchildren’s friends, a true testament to her kind, gentle ways. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention her love of traveling and her fondness of cribbage, bingo, scrabble and the casino. So sorry she never won a big one!
Donations in her memory may be made to Cooley Dickinson VNA/Hospice 168 Industrial Drive Northampton, Ma 01060. They were such a tremendous help and support.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday September 15th at 10AM at Our Lady of the Hills in Haydenville for Gisele and her son Jimmy who passed on March 21, 2020 during Covid. Burial will follow at Saint Mary of the Assumption Cemetery in Leeds.
If you can’t make it to the church, we would love to have you come to the Bluebonnet at 11:30AM for a celebration of a life well lived.
Williamsburg Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Comments