Kimberly R. Avona, 53, of Barton died August 16, 2010, at her home. She was born April 2, 1957 in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, a daughter of William and Elaine (Binder) Bindrim.
In 2009 she married Joseph A. Avona. Mrs. Avona was employed as an administrative assistant for North Country Hospital in Newport retiring after six years due to health. Kimberly enjoyed reading, and traveling, including going on a trip to Europe with her daughter.
She was very spiritual and derived great peace and calm in this endeavor. Kim was a source of strength and inspiration to others. She loved her cats, and watching birds while enjoying her favorite hobby of sun bathing.
Kimberly is survived by her husband Joseph Avona of Barton; her children: Brie Lawrence of Portland, Maine, and Colin Bacon of Bangor, Maine; her stepchildren: Kelley Avona of Charlotte, and Joseph Avona of Derby; a brother, Mark Bindrim of Pennsylvania; and by several aunts, uncles and cousins.
A celebration of her life, with an open house, will take place on Saturday, August 28, at her home, 895 LeBlanc Road, Barton, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Come as you are able.
Interment will take place at the convenience of the family.
Zachariah (Zach) J. Brown, 33, died suddenly as a result of an accident in Newport Town on Friday, August 13, 2010.
Zach was born on April 13, 1977, in Burlington.
He loved to fish, hunt, go four-wheeling, ride snow machines, watch hockey, cook, gamble, and hang out with his friends. He also enjoyed traveling and saw much of the United States. Most of his family and friends at one time or another were recipients of his practical jokes.
He was a member of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Conservation Group for several years. Zach especially loved his Gram, Bessie Brown, and her home that he grew up in. At the time of the accident, he was working for ADA Traffic Control as a flagger and prior to that had worked on several farms and other jobs. He could always be depended on to give a helping hand to anyone who asked. He will be deeply missed by his family and many friends.
Zach is survived by his grandmother; his mother, Mary Brown; aunts and uncles, Willie Brown and friend Lillian Bowen of Derby, Barbara Waters and friend Jesse Swanson of Eden, Candy Brown and friend Rick MacDonald of Derby, James Brown and his wife Deborah of Derby; by several cousins; and his girlfriend, Rosalie Aiken of Derby; also by a special friends Gary and Kim Small and family of Newport Center, and Sis Rever and families.
Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, at 11 a.m. with the Reverend Michael DeSena officiating. Interment will follow in the Derby Center Cemetery. Should friends desire, contributions in Zach’s memory may be made to the Frontier Animal Society, 502 Strawberry Acres Road, Newport, VT 05855.
Rachel Ida Cercola, 68, of Spring Hill, Florida, died Tuesday, August 3, 2010, at Oak Hill Hospital after a short illness.
She was born in West Glover on December 30, 1941, a daughter of Camille and Edna (Collette) LaMadeleine. She moved to Florida 21 years ago, living in Waterbury, Connecticut, prior to that. She was retired from North American Phillips Corporation.
She is survived by Larry Cercola Sr. of Spring Hill; son Larry Cercola Jr. of Land O Lakes Florida; daughters: Myra Furbish of Waterbury, Connecticut, Laura Jewett of Bristol, Connecticut, Geraldine Johnston of Thomaston, Connecticut, and Mary Dovidaitis of Wolcott, Connecticut; by three sisters: Alice Russo and husband Matthew of Waterbury, Laurette Fontaine and husband Lionel of Barton, Helen Fontaine and husband Gerard of Barton; a brother, Ronald LaMadeleine, and his wife, Elaine, of Newport.
She was predeceased by brothers Andre, Edward, Leo, Denis and Gerard LaMadeleine; and a sister, Florence Bellemare.
Arrangements are by Brewers and Son Funeral Home of Spring Hill.
Edmund Hobbs
Edmund Hobbs, 84, died at his home in Glover on Saturday, August 14, 2010.
He was born in New Perlican, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, Canada, on May 11, 1926, to Heber and Gertrude (Sooley) Hobbs. Edmund immigrated to the United States in 1943 and in 1955, fulfilled his dream to become a U.S. citizen.
For many years he drove for Barton Cleaners in Newport, North Troy, Lyndonville, and Island Pond areas. From 1969 to 1976 Edmund and his wife Arlene owned and operated the Franklyn Store in Barton. Edmund also raised and trained Arabian and Morgan horses.
Edmund is survived by his wife of 62 years, Arlene (Potter) Hobbs; his daughter Barbara Hobbs of Barton and his daughter Susan Sisino of Chelsea; his son, Mark Hobbs of Moosup, Connecticut; by his sisters: Elizabeth and Vera of Newfoundland and Evelyn Currie of St. Catherines, Ontario.
Edmund is also survived by two grandsons; John Sisino, U.S. Army currently posted in Fork Polk, Lousiana, and Edmund Sisino of Mammoth Lakes, California; and numerous nieces and nephews.
There will be no calling hours or service and interment will occur at the discretion of the family. In lieu of flowers the family requests that a donation in his name be made to Orleans Essex V.N.A. and Hospice, Inc, 46 Lakemont Road, Newport, Vermont 05855.
Richard C. Lowe Sr., 73, died Monday, August 9, at Pine Heights at Brattleboro Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation.
Mr. Lowe was born in Brattleboro on August 26, 1936, the son of George and Ruth (Knowlton) Lowe.
He worked at the cheese plant in Bellows Falls, at American Optical in Brattleboro, Unified Data in Grafton, and Basketville in Putney.
He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict and was proud of the ship he served on, the USS Benham. Mr. Lowe was an avid hunter and fisherman.
He loved to hunt and fish around the Glover area. In fact, he won the fishing derby of Orleans County Rod and Gun Club that took place on June 5, 2010, on the club grounds.
On October 6, 1960, he married Phyllis Hall. He was later remarried to Giffard O’Connor on October 16, 1976. She predeceased him.
Mr. Lowe leaves behind his sons: Daniel Lowe of Westminster, Rick Lowe of Littleton, New Hampshire, and Jim Lowe of Barnett; his daughter, Debbie Fiske of Monroe, New Hampshire; five stepsons; his brothers: George Lowe of Barre, Michael Lowe of Westminster, Edward Lowe of Westminster West; his stepbrothers Kenneth and John Babbitt, both of Putney; his sister, Mary Mitchell of Westminster West; more than 30 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, his son Charles Lowe, and his brothers James, William and Joseph Lowe.
Services were under the direction of Fenton and Hennessey Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Community Christian Church in Athens, Vermont.
Rachel Sylvester
Our mother wanted no formal obituary. She made that clear to my sister. However, I was not present when the conversation took place. She did not want to talk about how she loved all that she did. She only wanted to be remembered as Dad’s wife, our mother, a grandmother, and great-grandmother. Well, she so does deserve more.
Rachel Estelle was born October 19, 1925, in Irasburg, a daughter of Henry and Antonia Poutre. She was the sixth child of the union. Her parents owned and operated a dairy farm in Irasburg, which today is owned by the Poutres, Dennis and Carol, nephew of Rachel, grandson of Henry. They raised their own food and the boys worked the fields and did barn work with their father, and the girls worked with their mother in the house and helped on the farm as needed. Our grandfather made home brew and there was always some to sample.
She started school in Irasburg and later went to the convent in Newport. She told us stories about when she would hide in the halls after being dared by her so-called friends. They all wanted to see what was under the head cloths that the nuns wore. Mom would be the one who pulled it off. She said it was worth the punishment. She was disciplined and later, after a series of events, she left this school and she and her younger sister went to Canada to school, where she learned to read and write in French.
Our mother was a great storyteller. She recalled events of her childhood, her life growing up on the farm, her brothers and sisters, all the activity of living in Irasburg, and shared them with us. She told us how in the winter they would roll the roads and they would ski from the farm down into the village. After supper, they would all kneel in the dining room and recite the rosary together, and someone would have to leave because of behavior and receive discipline later.
During hay season, Mom would drive a wagon and a team of horses and at the end of the summer, she would receive a dollar for her work and take that dollar to the fair for a day full of activity and still come home with change. Easter was Mom’s favorite holiday as a little girl. They would celebrate the day by going to church and later relatives would all come to the farm, where there was a great feast. Later, the furniture was moved, and the violin and piano were played and all would dance. Because of the Lent season the men had abstained from smoking and drinking, so they were all able to taste the home brew again.
She met Percy Sylvester at a town hall dance. When she needed a ride home, Dad said he would be happy to take her and invited her out on a date. They went to see a movie, Sentimental Journey. They were married on November 11, 1946. They honeymooned in Montreal. Returning home, there was a party in their honor in Irasburg with “so many people and so much beer,” said Mom.
They lived on School Street in Orleans and later bought the house on top of Water Hill, which still is the family home. They had two daughters, Martha Jean and Suzanne. In addition to their own children, Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester also provided Ken Mason with a home and guidance during his high school years and beyond, treating him as they would a son and brother to their daughters from that time forward.
Mom and Dad had 39 years together and traveled to Dad’s dream — Alaska — in the summer and fall of 1985. In December of that year, he died. Mom said that was the saddest day of her life. Some years later, she married Gabriel LeBlanc and had a few years with him until his death.
Last summer, with her daughters, she traveled to many places to meet new family members that Martha found on the Internet. She was happy to go. Here again, she was able to give them stories they had not heard. At the end of the summer we took her back to the family farm for a gathering of the Poutre cousins. She told them tales of their parents that they had not heard. Cousin Dennis and Martha Jean and her husband, Steve, rode with Mom in a utility vehicle all over the property, and they listened to her describing the homestead according to her eyes while she was growing up.
Rachel died with her family by her side on July 23 in Lebanon, New Hampshire, She leaves her two girls; a son; and four grandchildren. A granddaughter, Sarah, predeceased her in 1990. She also leaves nine great-grandchildren; her youngest sister, Martha Coburn, from Washington State; and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of her life will be held on August 28 at the family farm in Irasburg. Family and friends are invited to join us at this special place to celebrate her life. — submitted by Suzanne Sylvester.
Graveside Service
Graveside services for Constance M. Parady who died on December 9, 2009, in Troy will be held at 11 a.m. August 20 at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph with the Reverend Richard Whitehill officiating. Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
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