WINCHESTER, NH- Geraldine “Jerry” (Hurlburt) Augustine, 97, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2022 in Winchester, NH.
She was born at home on March 8, 1924 to Bonnibell Hurlburt and Fred Hurlburt. She was brought up on the family farm in Orange, MA with her beloved brother Ron. They worked along with their mother who ran a dairy and poultry farm. Though farming was a hard life she loved working with, and helping her mother with the business. When she was old enough to go out and get an education, she chose hairdressing. She would take the train to Fitchburg to attend school, return at the end of the day, walk from the center of Orange back to the farm on Holtshire Road to help with chores. Jerry wasn’t afraid of hard work. She enjoyed a long hairdressing career.
She married Ludwig Augustine, a WW2 veteran, on June 22, 1946. Upon starting their family, she became active in 4H, the school committee, PTA, and had a farm stand along with raising four active children.
Jerry was a distributor of Rawleigh Products and she and Ludwig traveled to many fairs to set up, sell, and visit with people, making friends along the way. Later in life, it became Watkins Products and kept that business going on a limited basis into her 90’s.
A skilled seamstress and avid knitter, she donated hundreds of hats and mittens to her family and hospitals.
Always a person looking for a challenge, she got her first computer at 86 years and mastered using it.
She was very much into the Hurlburt genealogy and along with her niece, Pam Harris, began gathering of Hurlburts across the country starting in 2012 and is still going on today.
Much to chagrin of her family, she was still driving at 96 years old! She and John loved to go out to lunch locally and was not about to give that up. Did we mention that she was stubborn!
Geraldine is survived by her children: Roger Augustine (Kathy) of Gill, Rey Augustine (Beruta) of South Deerfield, Jerel Augustine (Celine) of Montana, and Cheryl Wills (Tracy) of South Carolina; Grandchildren, Gregory Augustine, Kelly Kicza, Rey Augustine Jr., Kyle Augustine, Kelsey Augustine, Amy Figgins, Sadey Pulin, Heather Mansour, and Heidi Dalton; Several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Special nieces Pam Harris and Debbie Eastman (Miles). She also survived by her companion of 28 years, John Shonbeck.
She was predeceased by her husband, Ludwig, in 1983 and her brother Ronald and his wife, Evelyn.
At the request of the deceased there are no services.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Northfield VFW Post 9874, 545 Mt. Hermon Station Road, Northfield, MA 01360
Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.
Guest book online at WWW.WITTYFUNERALHOME.COM
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