02/12/2026
Jeannette R. Staples of Brunswick, Maine, completed her journey in this world at Midcoast Hospital on January 16, 2026. Her medical care team, and visits from friends and family, helped her find peace and comfort in her final days.
She was born in Hartford, Connecticut to Marie and Armand Houde on January 11, 1937. In early childhood, she moved with parents and brother to Topsham, Maine, where she grew up on Main Street and formed lifelong ties to the community. She attended St. John’s Catholic School, walking across the “Green Bridge” with her brother, and later graduated from Brunswick High School.
While in high school, Jeannette met her future husband and beloved companion, David C. Staples. They married in May of 1956 and constructed their family home on River Road in Topsham over several years. Together they created a life centered on home, family, and shared purpose.
Jeannette built a career in civil service, beginning as a Budget Clerk at the Brunswick Naval Air Station. After the birth of her daughter, she devoted several years to full-time motherhood, focusing on home-cooked meals and hand-sewn clothing. She encouraged curiosity, exploration, responsibility, and consideration for others - ultimately bestowing her daughter with a foundation that led to higher education and a successful, rewarding, career of her own.
Later, Jeannette returned to the Naval Air Station as an Accounting Technician, then finished her career as a Budget Analyst at SUPSHIP in Bath - commuting alongside her husband, who worked across the street at BIW.
After retirement, Jeannette and David chose to sell their hand-crafted house and moved to Willow Grove in Brunswick, where they found a welcoming community. In “the Grove,” Jeannette contributed her gardening talents as a member of the Landscape committee, and her organizational talents as a cluster representative and activity coordinator.
Outside the home, Jeannette and David shared a passion for bowling and could be found every week at Yankee Lanes (now closed) with the Will Ryder Senior League. Jeannette served as an officer for the league, tracking scores and planning events.
Jeannette also had a remarkable talent for creating beauty in everyday life, with a special knack for color coordination. She and David shared a love of gardening and landscaping, surrounding their homes with flowering plants, ornamental trees, and carefully tended shrubs. When an above-ground pool at their Topsham home was no longer needed, Jeannette transformed the open circle of sand into an enchanting array of garden beds and paths.
While in Topsham, she developed a passion for painting stoneware ceramics, dedicating part of the basement to shelves of ready-to-paint figurines. She created nativity sets, Christmas trees, carousel horses, and intricate multi-piece scenes, many of which David helped assemble. These works remain treasured family keepsakes.
In later years, Jeannette and David transitioned from ceramics to a new artistic hobby: Jeannette painted acrylic landscapes on canvas, for which David crafted custom frames. Their collaboration expanded to balsa wood boxes and distressed furniture rescued from yard sales—repaired and sanded by David, then covered in painted flowers by Jeannette.
An accomplished seamstress, knitter, and crocheter, Jeannette gifted family members with handmade afghans, sweaters, infinity scarves, and hats. After moving to Willow Grove, she volunteered at the Parkview Hospital gift shop and noticed a pressing need for winter hats. From that point on, she knitted throughout the year, donating bags of hats to those in need each winter season.
Jeannette also loved family gatherings and established two annual traditions: Each July, she and David hosted backyard seafood boils featuring lobster, crab, and clams from local fishermen, accompanied by chaurice sausage, local tomatoes and corn, vinegar coleslaw, and blueberry cake. Christmas Eve brought the family together again for lobster bisque, creative finger foods, and an array of desserts. Many gatherings included a performance by her great nephew using an antique violin previously owned by Jeannette’s grandfather. This was always a highlight for Jeannette.
Travel was another priority for Jeannette and her family, with visits to friends and relatives on Block Island, RI, Fall River, MA, and Wethersfield, CT. Sightseeing trips included New Hampshire, Orlando, the Grand Canyon, Alaska, Hawai'i, Australia, Aruba, and the Panama Canal.
Jeannette enforced a tidy house, strived for long elegant nails, and obsessed about her hair - with frequent visits to her caring and devoted stylist. She loved hunting for bargain treasures, spending Saturday mornings visiting yard sales and craft fairs with friends. She assembled a magnificent collection of porcelain flowers, was fascinated by coins, loved campfires, and always had at least one scented candle aflame. At local restaurants, she typically ordered fish, shrimp, or scallops but, once in a while, secretly enjoyed a Whopper Jr.
A lifelong lover of cats, Jeannette had a reputation as a “cat magnet.” Cats in need of homes often found their way to her, or were rescued by her. Her most recent feline companion, Flopsie, is now safely in the care of her daughter.
Jeannette was fond of children and was a quiet but strong supporter of women’s rights. Her Catholic faith remained an important part of her life, evolving over time from active weekly practice to a more private and personal spirituality.
Jeannette was predeceased by her husband, David C. Staples in 2019. The loss grieved her deeply, and her interests evolved to quieter activities such as puzzles, mystery novels, and walks in the neighborhood. During this time, she was especially grateful for her circle of friends, who supported her with shared breakfasts and a weekly card game.
She is survived by her daughter, Karen Prieto (and spouse Michael); her brother, Normand Houde (and spouse Anita); nephews Keith Houde (and spouse Mary), Darryl Houde, David Houde, and Chris Houde; her great-nieces and great-nephews, Joshua Houde (and spouse Pamela), Sarah Houde, Joseph Houde, Benjamin Houde, and Matthew Houde (and spouse Alayna); and her great-great-nieces Isabella Houde, Maria Houde, Clare Houde, Grace Houde, and Cali Houde.
A graveside service will be held later in the year at St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Curtis Memorial Library (curtislibrary.com) or the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program (mchpp.org).
https://www.funeralalternatives.net/obituaries/obit-details.php?Staples-4022
Obituary record for Jeannette Staples, provided by Funeral Alternatives of Maine.
