Jane B. LaFountain

Jane Booth LaFountain passed away very suddenly at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, early Tuesday morning, March 26, 2024. 

Jane was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, who loved children, reading, gardening, birds and other small animals, music, sports, art museums, flying, sunsets, the ocean, and, especially, spending time with her family. Jane was born February 17, 1947, in Plattsburgh, New York, She was the only child of James and Ruth Booth and grew up in neighboring Keeseville. Her parents loved animals, and she grew up with a leopard, ringtail monkey, bighorn sheep, llamas, a red fox, raccoons, pig, and other unusual pets. She graduated from Keeseville High School in 1965, and in her teens and early adulthood Jane worked with her father at his butcher shop and then at a nursing home caring for the elderly. As a result of her early care work, Jane decided to attend nursing school, to become a nurse as her mother had been. She graduated from nursing school in 1987 and, upon relocating to Derry, New Hampshire, with her family, she worked for three decades as a nurse, first in the town hospital and then at a local pediatrics office

Jane was a deeply humble person, nearly always putting others before herself. She was extraordinarily generous and compassionate to her loved ones and the children for whom she cared during her work life. As a pediatric nurse, she took pleasure in helping to raise hundreds of area children and even—as time went on—those children’s children. Jane was endlessly supportive of her spouse and children, through all of life’s joys and struggles. 

She is survived by her loving husband, Michael LaFountain, whom she married in 1977, and who cared for her at home during her later years. She is survived by three sons: James (Remi) Witherbee of Derry, John Witherbee of Derry, and Jason LaFountain of Evanston, Illinois. In addition to her husband and children, Jane is survived by beloved grandchildren, including Cassie (Connor) Bachrodt of Mulberry, Florida, Josh (Krista) Witherbee of St. Albans, Vermont, Erica (Nate) Tillis of Reston, Virginia, and Paige (Morgan) Witherbee of Cooperstown, New York. Very dear to her, too, were her niece, Brenda Messemer, other members of the Messemer family of Troy, New York, as well as her cats, Toby and Jeter. 

Jane was predeceased by her parents (d. 1972 and 1976), a son, Michael Witherbee (d. 1988), her cousin and best friend, Joan Messemer (d. 2017), and many pets.

Calling hours will be at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover St., Manchester on Saturday, March 30th from 2 to 4 PM. For more information, go to www.phaneuf.net In lieu of flowers, donations in Jane’s name can be made to the Greater Derry Human Society.