William A. Burgess
William A. Burgess Sr., 86, of Newport, died on April 5, 2010.
He was born in Bennington on February 29, 1924, the eldest son of Albert All Burgess and Julia (Connelly) Burgess.
He attended Bennington High School graduating in 1943. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in WWII in the 88th Division, 350th Infantry Regiment. He served in Africa and Italy as a combat medic; received the combat infantry badge; combat medical badge, two bronze stars, a purple heart and several other decorations. He received an honorable discharge in 1945.
After the war ended, he returned to Bennington. In 1949, he married Ave Maria Colgan of Bennington. They resided in Marshfield, Montpelier and Randolph. They had one son, William A. Burgess Jr.
Mr. Burgess worked as superintendent of construction on several sections of the Interstate system in Vermont in the 1960s. He went on to become the assistant director of public works for the city of Montpelier, leaving that position to become the town manager for Randolph from 1973 to 1985. In his later life, he became a business partner with the James J. Lowe Company where he served as vice president until his retirement.
He was very active in the Vermont League of Cities and Towns where he held a variety of positions. He served on the board of directors, the Unemployment Insurance Trust, the highway committee and as treasurer. In 1978, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns honored him as Municipal Person of the Year.
In his younger life he worked on the crew that helped develop Maidstone Lake State Park. His love of the Northeast Kingdom’s natural beauty eventually led him to Seymour Lake, in Morgan, where he summered with his family for nearly 50 years. He especially enjoyed hunting and fishing and shared the joys of longtime friendships with many friends who returned to the lake over the years.
His first wife, Ave, predeceased him in December 1993, after more than 40 years of marriage. In 2000, he married his second wife, Helen Laramie, of Newport who survives him. He is also survived by his son, William Jr., and his wife of Lebanon, New Hampshire; a brother, John Burgess, and his wife and several nieces and nephews; a step-son Raymond Laramie and his wife of Newport; two step-daughters Susan Monfette and her husband of Newport, and Pauline Sheehan and her husband of Florida, and several step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren and step-nieces and -nephews.
A funeral service was held on April 10 at St. Mary’s, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church in Newport. Arrangements by Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes in Newport.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Burgess’ memory may be made to Seymour Lake Association, care of Janet Selby, P.O. Box 43, Morgan, Vermont 05853.
Raymond M. Coderre
Raymond M. Coderre Sr., 62, of Barton died suddenly on April 6, 2010, in Newport.
He was born June 2, 1947, in Orleans, a son of Eddy and Fabiola (Vachon) Coderre.
On September 12, 1981, he married Tamie Ashline who predeceased him on August 13, 2009.
Mr. Coderre was a member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, both of Orleans.
He is survived by two children: Raymond Coderre Jr. and his fiancé, Jessie Bushey, of Orleans, and Tara-Lynn Coderre of Barton. He is also survived by the following brothers and sisters: Donald Coderre of Lowell, Eugene Coderre of Orleans, Giselle Damon and her husband, Robert, of Morgan, Cecile Arel of Newport, Estelle Wheeler and her husband, Alfred, of Newport Center, Desneiges Geraw and her husband, Chester, of Glover; a sister-in-law, Alice Coderre, of Irasburg; and by several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by brothers Lucien, Gaetan, Marcel and by sisters Jeannette Geraw and Rita.
Graveside services were held on April 12 at St. Theresa’s Cemetery in Orleans with the Reverend Sixmund Nyabenda officiating. Full military honors were held.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, Vermont Affiliate Inc., 434 Hurricane Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495.
Arrangements by Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Hector J. Descheneau
Hector J. Descheneau Jr., 57, of North Troy died peacefully April 6, 2010, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
He was born October 29, 1952, in Newport, a son of Hector and Theresa (Bacon) Descheneau Sr.
On August 18, 1973, he married Cheryl (Pudvah) Descheneau.
He was owner of Hector Descheneau Transport.
He held memberships with the Newport Elks Lodge #2155 of Newport, the American Legion Post #28 of North Troy, and the North Troy Fire Department.
Mr. Descheneau enlisted in the Vermont National Guard.
Among his hobbies he enjoyed snowmobiling, NASCAR races and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Descheneau, of North Troy; two children: Chris Descheneau and his wife, April, of North Troy, and Jeremy Descheneau and his wife, Katie, of Deering, New Hampshire; four grandchildren: Aaliyah, Kloey, Wyatt J., and Ryder J; his mother, Theresa Descheneau, of Derby; three brothers: Robert Descheneau and his wife, Marsha, of West Charleston, Richard Descheneau Sr., and his wife, Diane, of North Troy, and Dennis Descheneau and his wife, Kathy, of Newport Center; his mother-in-law, Matilda Pudvah, of North Troy; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.
He was predeceased by his father, Hector J. Descheneau Sr., in 1993.
Funeral services were held on April 8 at a Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home in Newport with the Reverend Laurence Wall officiating. Interment followed in St. Ignatius Cemetery in Lowell with military honors by members of the American Legion Post #28. Members of the Newport Elks Lodge #2155 conducted an Elks service.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network through www.pancan.org.
Arrangements by Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Roger R. Fortin
Roger R. Fortin, 62, of Groton died on April 1, 2010, in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
He was born on May 26, 1947, in Barton, a son of Jules and Albertine (Twofoot) Fortin.
Mr. Fortin was a self-employed logger for most of his life. He enjoyed farming and the outdoors.
He is survived by his children: Brian Fortin and his wife, Holly, of Berkshire, Jody Tilton of Fairfax, and Paula Tardiff of Cambridge; and by his brothers and a sister, Paul Fortin of Derby, Ernest Fortin and his wife, Rolande, of Enosburg, Dennis Fortin and his wife, Jackie, of Newport Center, Mary Haskins of Groton; a sister-in-law Judy Fortin of East Charleston; and by numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, a brother Jules Jr., and a sister Linda Lucas.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 17, at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home in Newport with the Reverend John Genco officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home on April 17 from 9 a.m. until the hour of the funeral service. Interment will follow at the St. Edward’s Catholic Cemetery in Derby Line.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mr. Fortin’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 55 Day Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495.
Arrangements by the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Harold Byron Nunn
Harold Byron Nunn, 86, of Stannard, died on April 8, 2010, at his residence.
He was born March 17, 1924, in Hardwick, a son of the late Byron and Elizabeth (Porter) Nunn.
He attended Hardwick Academy and continued his education at radio school in Waterbury.
In July 1967, he married Mavis Winchester in Stannard. She died December 3, 2009.
Mr. Nunn was a licensed ham radio operator. He was an amateur philosopher, historian and anthropologist whose passion for the history of Native Americans in Vermont was relentless.
After retiring as a radio and television sales and serviceman in Hardwick, he and his wife moved to the Winchester family farm in Stannard.
Together they walked the land, hunted, gardened and sugared. As Mr. Nunn recently said, “Stannard was the perfect place to retire.”
His family, friends and neighbors will miss his stories of times and people gone by, as well as his warm and independent spirit.
Survivors include a step-brother-in-law, Stewart Daige, of Eden; a niece, Kelly Daige, of Eden and a nephew, Steve Daige, of North Carolina.
Burial was held on April 12, in the Stannard Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name may be made to the Stannard Historical Society, care of Rachel Hexter, 41 Old Pasture Road, Greensboro Bend, Vermont 05842.
Arrangements by Northern Vermont FuneralService.
Committal Service
Phyllis Smith
A graveside service for Phyllis Smith will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 16, at the Troy Village Cemetery.
Arrangements by Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rsuhford Funeral Homes.
Memorial Service
Stephen G. Grant
A memorial service will be held for Stephen G. Grant on Saturday, April 24, at 6 p.m. It will be at the Brownington Center Church in Brownington Center.
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