SARATOGA SPRINGS — Jacqueline Berthe Poussevin, 85, passed away peacefully Sunday, August 25 at her home.
She is the wife of the late Jacques Robert Poussevin, and the daughter of the late Albert and Berthe Clavier of Tours, France.
Jacqueline met her husband, Jacques Poussevin, at the end of World War II. They married after a short engagement and then immigrated to the United States, via Canada. Their life together was a deep and ever-changing story of true love and adventure. With Jacques exuberant thirst for adventure, and Jacqueline’s strong and persistent desire for strong family ties, their life together was filled with love, laughter, much travel and the deepest of family bonds. Her life was one dedicated to service and helping others. As a young woman in France in the early 1940s, Jacqueline volunteered with the French Red Cross (Croix-Rouge française) war relief efforts. Once in the United States, she began her career in Washington, D.C at the French Embassy, and several years later changed careers to act as translator for the U.S. Department of State. There she spent 22 proud and fulfilling years. When she retired in 1988, she involved herself in many volunteer opportunities. She provided support to the Bethesda Naval Medical Center’s neonatal ward, helping many struggling newborns. She then became involved in disaster relief efforts for the Red Cross, spending many weeks away from home assisting in such disasters as the Midwest flooding disaster, the San Francisco earthquake, and, finally, the 9/11 attacks recovery effort in New York City, and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. For her hard work with the Red Cross, she received several awards. When those endeavors became too difficult for her to continue with, she volunteered her time at the Economic Opportunity Council’s (EOC’s) soup kitchen in Saratoga Springs. Perhaps her most lasting legacy, however, is the love and support she provided to our family each and every day of her life. She was our amazing “Meme” and we loved her so much. She will live on forever in our thoughts and our prayers.
Jacqueline is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and David Hrebenach of Saratoga Springs and her three loving grandchildren, Dylan, Jeffrey and Sophie Hrebenach. She is also survived by her sister and brother, Liliane Braban and Gérard Clavier of Tours, France, Georgette and Jean-René Latarche of Montélimar, France, as well as many cousins and family members in her native country of France.
A memorial service celebrating Jacqueline’s beautiful life will be held at the Presbyterian New England Congregational Church at 24 Circular Street in Saratoga Springs, New York on Monday, September 2 at 2 p.m. A reception will follow immediately on the church grounds. A graveside service and interment will be held at Parklawn Memorial Park and Menorah Gardens at 12800 Veirs Mill Road in Rockville, Maryland on Saturday, September 7 at 11:30 a.m. A reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jacqueline’s name to the American Red Cross, 74 Warren Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801.
Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs.
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com
