Marion Matoes Phaneuf, 79, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 9, 2026, at Sunrise of Plymouth Beach, surrounded by family and friends.

Marion is survived by her devoted husband of 56 years, John R. “Jack” Phaneuf; her sons, John D. Phaneuf and his wife Marguerite, and Jeffrey Phaneuf and his wife Jennifer; her six beloved granddaughters, Sarah, Sydney, Alexandra, Sophia, Sloane, and Stella; and her nieces, Tacey, Judith, and Tori. She was predeceased by her parents, Manuel and Lillian Matoes; her sister, Delores Hellewell; her brother-in-law, Martin Hellewell; and her niece, Hillary, all of Jamestown, Rhode Island.

Born on November 8, 1946, at South County Hospital in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, Marion was raised in Jamestown, where she formed lifelong friendships and cherished memories. She loved her parents deeply and often spoke of them with gratitude and admiration.

Marion graduated from Saint Catherine’s Academy in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1964. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in education from Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, Connecticut. In 1992, she received her master’s degree from Cambridge College and continued advanced graduate work through Simmons College, UMass Boston, and Endicott College, attaining credentials equivalent to a doctoral level educator.

Marion devoted her life to education. She taught kindergarten, elementary, and middle school students in West Bridgewater and Plymouth, Massachusetts, as well as at Bay Farm Montessori in Duxbury. She played a significant role in Plymouth’s Gifted and Talented Program and was widely respected for her dedication and creativity in the classroom. Marion was far more than a teacher. She was a mentor, advocate, and steady source of encouragement for her students. She was devoted, fair, loving, and passionate in all she did. Family, friends, colleagues, and students alike knew exactly where she stood: always on the side of kindness, integrity, and growth.

Beyond the classroom, Marion was a member of the League of Women Voters, worked with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, taught CCD, and served as a Eucharistic Minister at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Plymouth.

She loved to read, laugh, sing, and dance. She enjoyed boat rides on the lake and in the harbor, skiing, especially the après ski, and cheering on her beloved New England Patriots. She treasured her “Lunch Bunch” and the deep friendships that sustained her throughout her life. Above all, she loved her family with her whole heart.

A message from one of her closest friends and classmates from the Saint Catherine’s Academy Class of 1964 captures Marion’s spirit best: “Besides being beautiful inside and out, she was so smart and so talented that she stood out from most of us. We treasure the memories of pajama parties at her house in Jamestown and harmonizing to 1960s folk music for hours on end. Knowing Marion was mesmerizing to many of us. She was one of the top students in our class and beloved by everyone who knew her. She was the type of girl everyone wanted to be with. She truly was a charismatic woman and will be dearly missed by her sisters from St. Catherine’s.”

A memorial service will be held this spring at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Plymouth. Details will be announced at a later date.