Jessie Caroline Bigelow (Reichert, née Dawson), a dedicated educator and cherished matriarch, peacefully passed away on January, 15th at the age of 94. Born on April 26th, 1930, in Millbrook, Ontario, Canada, to the late Bruce Brenton and Lillian Beatrice (Clarke) Dawson, Jessie grew up in a lively household as one of nine siblings, where she developed the strong family bonds and values that defined her life. Jessie dedicated her professional life to education, serving as a second grade school teacher and later as a vice principal. Her passion for fostering learning and growth left an indelible mark on her students and colleagues. On July 5th, 1952, Jessie married John Whitney Reichert, with whom she had two children and built a life centered on love and family until John's passing in January 1998. On August 15th, 2009, Jessie married Robert Swain Bigelow, her high school sweetheart, sharing joyful years together until his passing in April of 2016. Jessie is survived by her children, Barbara (Scott) Williams and George (Wendy) Reichert, her grandchildren Katherine (Mike) Ahmed, Jonathan (Veronica) Williams, Julia (Mason) Ben-Yair, and Sarah (Neil) Everett, and her great-grandchildren, Angeni Ahmed, Juliette Ahmed, Liliana Ahmed, Brenton Williams, Alan Williams, Solomon Ben-Yair, Orion Ben-Yair, Arthur Ben-Yair, Jacob Everett, and Eliza Everett. As a devoted sister, Jessie is survived by Margaret (Robert) Rehder, Frances Palmer, Dorothy (Stan) Fletcher, and George (Barb) Dawson. She was predeceased by her brothers Brenton (Mary) Dawson and Roy (Melba) Dawson, and her sisters Mary (Harold) Lunney and Anne (George) Smith. Jessie had a deep love for nature, spending countless hours tending to her garden and finding joy in feeding hummingbirds, befriending foxes, and enjoying other wildlife. Her love for the natural world was a reflection of her nurturing spirit and gentle heart. Her life was defined by her kindness, wisdom, and dedication to her family, community and the beauty of the world around her. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the memories she created. A memorial service to celebrate Jessie's remarkable life will be held at Riverdale Cemetery, Lewiston, NY, during the summer of 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to a local children's cancer charity of your choice honoring Jessie's commitment to family.

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