Mary Jane “MJ” Turcotte, 82, of Webster, NH, died June 21, 2026, in the comfort of her home after a period of declining health. She was surrounded by family, friends and her beloved cat, Molly. Born in Manchester, NH on June 13, 1944 she was one of the five daughters of Romeo B. Turcotte and Geraldine Jackson Turcotte.

In her younger years, she performed with her sister in the Our Lady of Perpetual Help St. Patrick’s Day concerts for many years as well as participated in the dance troupe for Sally Zyla Dance Studio. Mary Jane was a talented singer and guitar player, also teaching herself how to play the ukulele.

MJ attended Manchester Central and graduated from Memorial High School Class of ’62. She later pursued a Bachelor’s Degreen in Education at Plymouth State College, graduating in 1966, and then taught Physical Education at Tilton Northfield High School.

Always a patriot, in 1971, MJ joined the United States Women’s Army Corps. (WAC) as an officer and served domestically, running logistics at various stations including Fort McClellan, Alabama, as well as Fort Chaffee in Arkansas, where she assisted tens of thousands of Vietnamese refugees after the Fall of Saigon. After WAC was disbanded in 1978, she integrated into the US Army as a member of Quartermaster Corps. She was later stationed abroad in Korea, eventually leaving active duty in 1979.

Following active duty, she enrolled in the University of New Hampshire to earn a Master of Business Administration. From 1983 to 1999, Mary Jane worked for the NH State Legislature in the Office of the Legislative Budget Assistant (LBA) counting numerous legislators among her colleagues.

She was later employed by NH Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Commissioner, and retired from state service in 2004. Concurrent to her state employment, MJ served in the US Army Reserves in places like Fort Lewis and Fort Huachuca, earning a meritorious service medal for her initiative, expertise, sound guidance, professionalism, leadership, and dedication, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2004.

She was most at home in the great outdoors and had a spiritual connection with the natural world. Her favorite hobbies included camping, fishing (catch and release), and boating. She shared her love of Nature with her nieces and grand nephews at her home on Pillsbury Lake, teaching them to paddle a kayak, or catch a sunfish. Her greatest lesson to them was to have respect for Nature and all its wonders.

The Lieutenant Colonel was active in the Webster Community and a fierce advocate for the protection of its natural resources. She always counted numerous friends as part of her family, including neighbors from Pillsbury Lake, her poker pals, and the local ladies group.

Mary Jane was never without a dog or cat, and would fondly share the latest stories about her dogs including: Lance, Christian, Gandolf, Beaugest, Willy or Loki and rescued cats, Dante, Garp, Joey, Chance, Jackson, Yoda or Sir Knight.

She is predeceased by her parents, Romeo and Geraldine Turcotte and two sisters, Jacqueline Dorr-Bernier and Marthe Turcotte-Carr. She leaves behind numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and close family from Manchester including two sisters, Adair Turcotte, and Gail DeGoosh (Edward); nieces, Patricia Devereux (James), Katie DeGoosh-DiMarzio (Eric), and Robin Bernier Paradie; and two close grandnephews, Mathias and Tristan Devereux.

All are welcome to attend a memorial service at the chapel at the New Hampshire State Veteran’s Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Hwy, Boscawen, NH on July 2 at 11:00 a.m. to celebrate her life with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Pope Memorial SPCA of Concord, 94 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH. The Cremation Society of NH is assisting the family with arrangements. To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolence, or for more information, visit www.csnh.com.