Jeannette (Knight) Caynon

Mrs. Jeannette Caynon (née Knight), of Windham, NH died at the Eliot Hospital in Manchester, NH surrounded by her family on October 7, 2018 after a brief, unexpected illness. She was 76 years old.  Jeannette resided in Pelham, NH for 40 years, before moving to Warde Health Center in 2016 after suffering a catastrophic stroke.

Jeannette was born on November 17, 1941 in Faceville, GA to Eugene and Annie Mae (Knox) Knight.  The family moved to Fort Pierce, FL during her childhood.  There, Jeannette attended Lincoln Park Academy, where she met and married Jackie L. Caynon, Jr in 1959.  The couple lived in Orlando, FL with their children before relocating to Tustin, CA for several years, finally settling in Pelham, NH. 

Jeannette is survived by their four children: Jackie Louie Caynon III and his wife Carla of Lake Oswego, OR, Jessie Caynon and her husband Eric Mooney of Deering, NH, John Caynon and his wife Willette of Litchfield NH, and Joanna Combs and her husband Allen of Hudson NH. In addition, they have nine grandchildren: Talesha Saint-Marc, Jacqueline Traynor, Allison and Chelsea Caynon, Jessica Combs, Jared and Kendra Samuel, and Joanna and Jackie Louie Caynon IV. She is also survived by her younger siblings, Ted Knight of Pensicola, FL, Catherine Knight Crimley, Eula Ross, Ulysses Knight, and Eugene Knight, Jr. of Fort Pierce, FL.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Jackie, her parents, Eugene and Annie Mae Knight, her brothers, Abner Benjamin Knight, Ernest Knight, Amos Knight, James Knight and Fred Knight, and her sister, Eugenia Knight.

Jeannette was well known for her southern style cuisine and she used those skills throughout her career, preparing food for children and faculty in the Tustin, CA school district, the Anne Sullivan Center in Tewksbury, MA and the Salem, NH school district.  She operated her own café/catering business in a corporate building in Billerica, MA where among her specialties, was her famous fried chicken, which many customers placed extra orders to take home to their families!

Jeannette spent much of her retired years supporting her husband as office manager for his desktop support company and caring for her grandchildren when they were younger, much to the sincere appreciation of her children.  She loved singing and was a member of the Rhythm of New Hampshire Show Chorus in Derry, NH, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International and Harmony Incorporated.  She enjoyed several years of singing and competing with the group, along with her daughter, granddaughter and close friend. Although health issues forced her to retire from the risers in 2011, she continued to attend performances to support her sisters in harmony from the audience.  She also enjoyed gardening, caring for her home and spending time with her family.

The viewing will be held Tuesday, October 16th from 5 pm - 7 pm, followed by the funeral service at New England Pentecostal Ministries, 955 Bridge St., Pelham NH. The graveside service and burial will take place at Gibson Cemetery, Marsh Rd., Pelham NH on Wednesday, October 17th at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in Jeannette’s memory to the Warde Health Center, 21 Searles Road, Windham, NH 03087.

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