Jacqueline "Jackie" Knowles

Jacqueline “Jackie” Knowles passed away on July 22, 2025, surrounded by her family. Born to loving parents Dorothea (Fessenden) & Harold Beaubien, Jackie was raised in Brookline surrounded by generations of family she held dear. She was a member of the graduating class of Nashua High School in 1953. In her teenage years, Jackie was a member of the NH Grange, Brookline’s Youth Group and played trumpet in the Brookline Drum and Bugle Corps.

Jackie earned her R.N. from Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1957. Shortly after that, she met the love of her life Alan “Mickey” Knowles. They were married in 1959 and made their home in Brookline, NH.

Her entire life was dedicated to nursing. A true care giver, Jackie, was a nurse in the emergency room at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg, MA for 35 years retiring in 2000. Those she worked with became her “Burbank Family” and remained so until her passing. In addition, Jackie was a school nurse at Montachusett Regional Technical High School from 1973 to 1976. Following retirement in 2000 she decided she was not ready for retirement and became a wellness nurse first at River Court in Groton MA and later at Nashoba Park in Ayer, MA where she worked until retiring again in 2018. Still feeling the need to help others, she returned to work part time at McNabb’s Medical Equipment in Townsend, MA until 2020.

Always a volunteer, Jackie was a member of the Brookline Emergency Response Team. For decades gave her time once a month to the Share Clothing Barn, worked on the Church of Christ Fair and co-chaired the busy hands booth at Burbank Hospital’s Annual Fair.

Predeceased by her parents, husband, and by her brother Theodore Wirtanen. Jackie is survived by her three children, son Scott and his wife Michelle Knowles of Milford, NH, daughter Betsy Knowles of Brookline, NH and son Randy Knowles of Manchester, NH. She was affectionately known as “Mugga” to her grandson Michael Knowles and granddaughter Samantha Knowles both of Milford, NH.

Jacqueline is also survived by her siblings Howard Beaubien of Monrovia, MD, Beth Gay of Milford, NH, Harold & his wife Kathy Beaubien of The Villages, FL, and Bonnie Beaubien of Deerfield and her partner Marylou Kosmatka.

SERVICES: Calling hours will be held on Sunday, July 27, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. A funeral service will be held on Monday, July 28, 2025, at 9:30 AM in the Brookline Community Church, 2 Main Street, Brookline, NH. Burial will follow in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Brookline.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SHARE Outreach, 1 Columbus Ave., Milford, NH 03055. Share is a non-profit organization that provides emergency and on-going support services to families in need in Milford, Amherst, Brookline and Mont Vernon NH.