Obituary: Joanne Marie "Jan" Vienne, 64, Teacher

Joanne Marie “Jan” (Gavic) Vienne of Newport passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 at home surrounded by her loved ones. She leaves Jean-Michel Vienne, her devoted husband and best friend for nearly forty years. 

Mrs. Vienne, daughter of the late Harvey M. and Joan M. Gavic of Newport, was born in Portland, ME, on February 3, 1950.

She was a graduate of St. Catherine Academy, Class of 1968, and Rogers William College, Class of 1972. Upon graduation, she began her twenty-nine year teaching career with the Newport Public Schools, specializing in elementary education, an area which she loved, to which was dedicated, and in which she excelled. She was a member of the Teachers Association of Newport.
She formerly taught CCD at St. Joseph Church, served on the board of directors of the Martin Luther King Center, and served as president of the Newport National Little League. 

Mrs. Vienne is survived by her children, Eric Martin Vienne and his wife, Sarah, of North Kingstown; Elizabeth Ann Decker and her husband, Brian, of Frisco, CO; and Nicolas André Vienne of Newport; her sister, Patricia A. Leonard and her husband, Jeffrey, of Holliston, MA; her grandchildren, Augustine Michel and Harley Sage Decker and Sophia Dorothy Vienne; her nephews, Jeffrey C. Leonard and his partner, Channa Jodoin, of North Providence, and Daniel J. Leonard and his wife, Amy, of Papillion, NE; her grand-nieces, Victoria and Maria Leonard of Gainesville, FL, and her grand-nephews, Matthew and Ryan Leonard of Papillion, NE; and many dear friends. 

Above all else, Jan cherished her family and the time that she spent with them. She was thoughtful, caring, and selfless and loved life, the outdoors, and all of God’s creatures. She will never be forgotten.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 from 4:00-7:00pm in the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.

Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, April 9 at 9:00am, from the Memorial Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am in St. Joseph’s Church, Broadway, Newport. 

Burial will follow in St. Columba Cemetery, Brown’s Lane, Middletown.