Jean (Hepburn) Daigle

89, of Smithfield, passed away on Monday, July 1, 2024, surrounded by family, at Mount St. Rita Health Center, Cumberland. She was the beloved wife of the late Ronald Daigle, Sr.

Born in Cranston, Jean was the daughter of the late Frederick Hepburn Sr. and Margaret (Jackson) Hepburn. She maintained a lifelong love and connection to Cranston, particularly Pawtuxet Village where she grew up.

Jean was a classy, well-dressed woman with impeccable taste and many talents. Being extremely adept at knitting, crocheting, and sewing, she created boutique-quality sweaters, afghans, and finely tailored clothing. Jean enjoyed interior decorating and design, flower gardening, and was a meticulous bookkeeper, both personally and professionally. She was also an award-winning harpist, who was awarded a treasured bronze harp as a child, for her skill. 

Also notable was Jean’s love for all animals. She had a special gift for connecting with horses, cats, dogs and even had a pet raccoon. She would never deny help, love, or care to any animal or person.

The spirit of Christmas was perpetually alive in Jean. She had an extremely generous heart and enjoyed gifting others. She was always concerned with everyone’s physical and spiritual needs, offering continuous prayers for family and friends. Jean was a woman of fierce love and loyalty. She will always be remembered for her compassion. She offered a listening ear that many turned to, day or night, along with good advice and the promise of her prayers.

Jean was a woman of ecumenical faith. She appreciated and connected deeply with her early Protestant and Baptist roots while also developing a deep love for the reverence of the Catholic faith and sacraments, after converting as a young adult.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Thomas Hepburn and Frederick Hepburn, her daughters, Denise Carlson, Janice Simpson and Laura Vincent, as well as her son Steven H. Daigle, Sr. She is survived by her sisters, Georgina and Jeanette Hepburn, a brother, Henry Hepburn, and stepmother Jean “Suzie” Hepburn. She leaves behind four sons: Paul Daigle, Ronald Daigle Jr., Donald Blake and Marc Daigle as well as three daughters, Sandra Canty, Tonja Freitas, and Karyn Starnino. She is also a beloved grandmother to dozens of cherished grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Jean's memorial service or “graduation ceremony” as she would say, will be held on Friday the 9th of August, at 11:00 am at the Ocean State Baptist Church, located at 600 Douglas Ave., Smithfield, RI 02917 followed by a reception/graduation/celebration of life at the Pawtuxet Athletic Club located at 12 Aborn St., Cranston, RI 02905 at 1:00 pm.