Birth Born on 1925 in Waterbury, New Haven Co., CT Death Died on October 30, 2016 in Palmer, Northampton Co., PA Buried in Saint Anthony's Catholic Cemetery in Nanuet, Rockland Co., NY Marriages BILL, John Caleb Married on 1952 Children BILL, Michael C.: December 28, 1953 BILL, Martha J.: April 14, 1956 BILL, Charles Andrew: February 27, 1958 BILL, Carol A.: October 23, 1959 BILL, Elizabeth M.: November 16, 1964 Notes Occupation: Chemmist - Head of Regulatory Affairs Becton Dickinson Immunodiagnostics Obituary: Jeanne A. Bill, Palmer Twp., PA passed away on Sunday, October 30th, 2016 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in 1925 in Waterbury Connecticut, the daughter of the late Hector and Anna (Withey) Auray. Jeanne was raised to be fiercely independent and lived her life to the fullest. At her core was her devout Catholic faith. Jeanne graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1946 with a B.S. in Chemistry. She married John Caleb Bill in 1952 and together they raised five children. After twelve years as a stay-at-home mom, her husband became permanently disabled. She returned to the work force and had a successful thirty year career with Becton Dickinson Immunodiagnostics. She started with the company as a bench chemist and when she retired in 1992, held the position of Head of Regulatory Affairs. Jeanne was a Renaissance woman, skillful in her many hobbies which included painting, piano and organ, singing in many choirs, sewing, leather-working, canning and preserving, quilting, knitting, playing golf, fishing, gardening, building rock walls, playing bridge, solving crossword and cryptogram puzzles, and target shooting. With her parents and beloved brother Bob, the family built an island cabin on Otis Lake in southern Massachusetts in the mid -1930's. All the materials for this project she and Bob rowed to the island using the family rowboat. At Otis began a lifelong love for wild blueberries...! One of Jeanne's most precious memories was her experiences singing with the Rockland County Catholic Choir. The choir traveled to Europe in the late '90's where they sang for Pope John Paul II in Assisi, Italy. She was known by all for her strength and politeness, and will always be cherished by her family for her unconditional support and steady, patient advice - "do the best you can, and don't hurt yourself!" As we all grew and started our own families, she taught us that Christmas was not on Dec. 25th, but on the day when all our family was together. She would sacrifice the 25th to our married families and traditions, so long as we all got together on some other date. This was our 30+ year tradition that was never broken. She raised her children to be as independent as she was, and as the sole caregiver for her kids, was so very proud that they all attended college and went on to successful careers in their chosen fields. The lessons she taught were usually communicated by setting a great example in the loving, resilient and strong way she raised her family. Ma was always available to help her kids with school projects, take on the role of Boy Scout Den mother, and teach them how to drive a stick shift, or bait a fishing rod. The most important thing, always, was her family and she cherished the time they spent together. In her later years, she enjoyed watching the joyful and lively interaction of her kids, their spouses and grandkids. Jeanne is survived by her five children and their families, including Michael (Olga) of Turnersville, NJ and their daughters Laura and Emily, Martha (Richard Cruet) of Monroe, NY, Andy (Cindy) and their sons Gordon and Victor of Nazareth, PA, Carol Ronovech (John Moylan) of Cherry Valley, NY and Besty O'Mara (Dan) of Geneseo, NY. She is also survived by many loving nieces Mary Ann, Barbara, Patty, Lori and Suzie; nephew Robert Auray, Jr, and Robert Sr.'s wife Renata Auray. Jeanne was predeceased in 1984 by her husband of 32 years, John Caleb Bill and in 2011 by her brother, Robert Auray of San Antonio, Texas. Services will be held at 10 AM on Thursday, November 3, 2016 in the Bartholomew Funeral Home 243 S. Walnut St. Bath, PA., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 AM in Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish 210 E. Northampton St. Bath. Call, Thursday, from 9-10 AM in the funeral home. Graveside services will be private at the convenience of the family in St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery, Nanuet, NY. The Express Times Easton,PA Oct. 31,2016 Sources Newspaper Obituary: The Express Times Easton,PA Oct. 31,2016 Images John & Jeanne (Auray) Bill