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HOPEWELL JUNCTION, N.Y.-- Florence Marie Beausoleil, 86, died on Wedneday, Nov. 18, with Bill Beausoleil, her husband of 60 years and her primary caregiver for the last five, at her side.
Beausoleil was born on May 14, 1929 in Franklin, Conn. to Vincent and Pauline Majchier.
Growing up in the Catholic faith on a 200 acre dairy farm, she was instilled the values of hard work and dedication to God and family from her parents and extended Polish community. She graduated from Norwich Academy in 1947 as the fastest stenographer in the area. Her administrative skills led her to become the personal assistant to the Dean of Students at the University of Connecticut. It was there where she met Bill who would change the course of life for this farm girl forever. She was in line to work for the President of the University when she chose to follow Bill to Binghamton, N.Y. in support of his career at IBM. They were married on September 10, 1955 in Lebanon, Connecticut.
The Beausoleils moved to the Poughkeepsie area in 1960 where they raised six children. Neighbors and friends will remember her opening her home for many Christmas and summer block parties. On one occasion, she was host to members of the Metropolitan Opera. In the 1990s, Beausoleil became owner and innkeeper of the Bykenhulle House Bed and Breakfast, an 1841 historic site in the Hudson Valley.
She is survived by husband Bill; her children Valerie (Dom) Rossi; William F. Beausoleil Jr.; Ellen Beausoleil (Michael Brand); Mary (Tom) Griffin; Jacqueline (Steve) Lamando; sixteen grandchildren; her sister Irene (Ray) Gantick; and her dedicated home health aide Ligia Plain. She was pre-deceased by her brother Vincent (Susan) Majchier; and her beloved son Charlie (1967-1982).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org.
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