Jeannine Ainsworth Obituary (1944 - 2026)

Jeannine LaVoie- Ainsworth, a spirited, compassionate, and generous soul, born on October 16, 1944, in Fall River, passed away on May 6, 2026 gracefully in her home on State Road, Westport, Ma. Jeannine spent the majority of her formidable years in Westport, Massachusetts. She spent much of her childhood playing on the Watuppa Pond, being raised by her elder sister Louraine Lavoie Theberge & Family. She grew up in a time where dancing, amusement parks and rollerblading took up most of her days. She spent one year in Pasadena, California when her parents moved West for a new job, but returned to the Wattuppa Pond with a love for the East coast. She met her love, Paul Ainsworth, on Easter Sunday at Lincoln Park during the annual Easter Egg hunt. They married and opened the first used car lot and autobody in Westport, Massachusetts. One year after marriage, they purchased a big red brick house on route 6, formerly the old Westport Fire Station. Jeannine studied to be a nurse, receiving her degree from Diamond Vocational School. After she began working as a nurse, she and Paul had their first and only daughter, Paula. While raising Paula, Jeannine decided to take a job at Precision Handling Devices in Assonet, Massachusetts. The Hubbard Family she worked for believed in her abilities and frequently promoted Jeannine for her technical building skills and organizational habits. Little did she realize she would co-own the company with until she died. Jeannine dedicated 45 years to the company, making sure these skills would be passed down through her business partner. Jeannine was known for opening up her house and heart to anyone who needed a safe space. She helped those going through marriage difficulties or financial challenges. Jeannine knew every teacher, town official, and donut clerk in Westport; anyone who made a difference in her small town. She valued her relationships with people; she often remarked that her memories and stories were her most prized possessions. Despite the demands of running a small women-owned business, Jeannine never lost her sense of fun and adventure. She loved going to the beach, eating lobster rolls (with butter) and key lime pie. Most Sundays she enjoyed ice cream for dinner. She loved people-watching, engaging in friendly gossip with the neighbors, and going out dancing at Oriental Pearl. Those who knew her, understood her relentless addiction to swings - with an odometer that likely breached 100,000 swinging miles. She would swing under the carport, singing nursery rhymes and providing a comforting voice to all the children who visited. Jeannine’s nurturing nature was cultivated through her training at Diamond Vocational Nursing School. She worked at Taunton State Hospital and Truesdale in Fall River, Ma in her early years. Her nursing background instilled in her a deep sense of empathy and humility; qualities that she continuously embodied throughout the years of her life. She inspired others with her words of wisdom “nurses are born, business women are taught”. Jeannine was both of these women. Her empathy from nursing shined in daily life with the people she touched while her business savvy continued to grow every day until she passed and was instilled in her daughter. Her love for life was infectious, whether she was claiming victory at the casino slots, enjoying a good party with her friends over a glass of Pinot Grigio (with ice cubes), or simply providing unwavering support to her loved ones by helping make meat pies, running a small business or putting on a dinner party. Her journey through life was a testament to her unwavering spirit and a warm heart that never failed to serve as a beacon to those around her. Her middle-adult years were spent on frigid weekends snowmobiling in New Hampshire with the Ruffet crew, skiing at Sutton Mountain in Canada, or partaking in “knitting club” with the Nitwitts, where no knitting was ever accomplished. She formed lifelong friendships filled with laughter, tears and memories that became the framework of her life. A compassionate protector of her flock, she was cherished by her small but close-knit family who loved her unconditionally. Jeannine was ambitious, driven by hardship and desired the best, most beautiful life with Paul and Paula. Jeannine was determined and succeeded in just that, with Paul by her side the entire ride. Jeannine’s greatest accomplishment was her granddaughter Samantha. She spent hours working with her as a young child, teaching her how to read and play pretend. Hours and hours were spent working on cursive penmanship and writing poetry. Jeannine always believed anything was possible, if you put in the time now, the reward will pay off. She instilled this daily in Samantha’s life. One of Jeannine’s greatest prides was watching Samantha’s career develop into an established ICU Nurse Practitioner. Grampy Paul and Mimi Jeannine were fortunate to have spent time celebrating Sam and Kyle’s marriage in 2022. Jeannine was a cherub of a flower girl, taking immense pleasure in walking down the aisle and tossing rose petals at the crowd. She was always game for fun and owned every second of a good time. She could be moved to laughter or to tears at the smallest thing. She understood how to live to its fullest. She spent her last days exchanging recipes, giggling over silly memories, and sharing stories with her daughter and granddaughter. Even at the end of her life, her front door was still open. She was visited by her extended family and favorite friends, given time to say thank you and farewell to the most meaningful and wonderful life. She felt so loved, but finally ready for her next journey to a new place that welcomes her motivation and humor. Let's celebrate the vibrancy and warmth that was Jeannine Ainsworth, a woman who truly embodied the essence of living life to its fullest. Jeannine is survived by her daughter Paula Ainsworth-Wright, son-in-law Andrew Wright, granddaughter Samantha Ainsworth-Wright and grandson-in-law Kyle Connolly. She is preceded in death by her husband ,Paul Ainsworth, her parents, Orient and Rose LaVoie, and her sister, Louranne Lavoie Theberge. As we bid farewell to Jeannine, we encourage friends and family to share their memories and upload photos to the memorial page in honor of a life beautifully lived. There will be a celebration of life on July 30th. Please note it will be an invitation only- reach out to Paula Ainsworth- Wright if you are interested in attending. Services are humbly entrusted into the care of Southcoast Funeral Homes at Ferreira Chapel "Celebrating A Life Well Lived"