Lucienne Marguerite (Fortin) Blais
Lucienne Marguerite (Fortin) Blais, 79, died on May 24, 2011, in Derby Line.
She was the beloved daughter of the late Louis and Anna (Fontaine) Fortin.
She is survived by her husband, Russell, of Newport. They recently celebrated their fifty-ninth wedding anniversary. She is also survived by six children: Rachel Rollins McComiskey and her husband, James, of Rhode Island, Diane Malvar and her husband, Victor, of Florida, Marc Blais and his wife, Gayla, of Nebraska, Lisa Johansen and her husband, Chris, of Newport, Richard Blais of Derby Line, and Lawrence Blais and his wife, Linda, of New Hampshire. She was a sister to Lionel, Lucien, Rene, Raymond and Germaine Gosselin. Her sisters Rita Dagesse and Yvonne LaCroix predeceased her.
She was the best “Memere” to Jessica and Derek Rollins, Lindsay Chavez, Brendan and Timothy Stanley, Rebecca, Katie, Tyler and Sawyer Blais. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren: Timothy and Marion Stanley and Nathalia and Elliana Chavez.
Mrs. Blais spent all of her life caring for her husband, six children, and ten grandchildren, but was known to care for anyone, especially children if they needed her. She managed the help center in Newport for ten years. She has left an empty space that cannot ever be filled.
Funeral services were held on May 27 at the Church of God in Derby with the Reverend Laurence Wall officiating. Interment followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Dean James LeVasseur
Dean James LeVasseur, 79, died peacefully on Saturday, May 21, 2011, at his home in Lower Cabot.
He was born July 13, 1931, in Millinocket, Maine, a son of the late Onesim and Winifred (Freeman) LeVasseur.
He attended schools in Millinocket and Jackman, Maine, and later attended the St. Johns School in Watertown, Connecticut.
As a young man he helped with his parent’s restaurant, Dean’s Restaurant, in Naugatuck, Connecticut. His skills in mechanics led him to a profession as a master machinist, working in shops in Waterbury, Woodbury, and eventually retiring from Seth Thomas Clocks in Thomaston, Connecticut, in 1985.
On August 31, 1959, he married Jeanne Helen Galvin in Waterbury, Connecticut, and raised his family of daughters, first in Cedarland and Southbury, Connecticut and later in Morris, Connecticut.
He was a humble man and a loving father and husband.
Mr. LeVasseur enjoyed his family, the outdoors, animals, and fixing anything. He took yearly summer trips with his family to Maine —Chesooncook, Greenville, Millinocket and Eagle Lake. He enjoyed gardening, especially growing potatoes, and mowing lawns, which he did on the side on and off over the years. He was a constant tinkerer on engines, lawn mowers, tractors and especially clocks, of which he had quite a collection.
Mr. Lavasseur is survived by his wife, Jeanne LeVasseur, of Cabot; his seven daughters and several son-in-laws: Sharon Philbert of Florida, Annette Casilla of Winnemucca, Nevada, Cia Considine and husband, Thomas, of Cabot, Judith LeVasseur and her partner, Darrell Telke, of Terryville, Connecticut, Mary Turner of Alice Springs, Australia, Liz Herron and her husband, John, of Leadville, Colorado, and Kathleen Doychak and her husband, Rick, of Torrington, Connecticut; 15 grandchildren; one great-grandson; a brother, Patrick LeVasseur, and his wife, Wanda, of Joppa, Maryland; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother Nelson LeVasseur and by two sisters: Ruth and Clodys LeVasseur.
A private gathering will be held at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. LeVasseur’s memory may be made to the Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, Vermont 05641.
Arrangements by Northern Vermont Funeral Service.
David “Chief” Miner
David “Chief” Miner died at his home in Westmore on May 24, 2011, at the age of 87.
He was born on April 3, 1924, in Evanston, Illinois. He was the son of the Reverend Theodore Miner and Marion (Potts) Miner.
He received his bachelor of science degree from New York State College of Forestry at Syracuse University and his master’s of education from Worcester State College. From 1952 to 1975 he was the director of Wildwood Nature Camp for the Massachusetts Audubon Society. It was there that he brought a love of, and respect for, the natural world to thousands of campers and staff. He then went on to finish his career as a guidance counselor at schools in the North Brookfield School System. He was a master gardener in Massachusetts and a veteran of World War II.
He had a great sense of humor and found joy in so many activities during his life, including his church, traveling, camping, flying kites, watching football games, taking photographs, reading, fishing, tending to his gardens, cooking and canning, eating ice cream, hearing from friends and following the activities of his children and grandchildren. He died surrounded by packets of seeds and plans for his summer’s vegetable garden. He was just waiting for the rain to stop.
He leaves behind his children: Bradford and Ginger Miner of Warren, Massachusetts, Brian Miner of Petersham, Massachusetts, Cheryl Williams of Craftsbury, and Alison and Terry Valley of Westmore; his grandchildren Anne Jarek of Charleston, Massachusetts, Marco and Sarah Quina of Waltham, Massachusetts, Edward and Kate Tagai of Craftsbury, Christopher Williams of Craftsbury, Megan Valley and Kevin Choquette of Westmore, Tyler, Morgan, and Jeremy Valley of Westmore; great-grandson Benjamin Choquette of Westmore; his brother Norman Miner; and sisters-in-laws Jane, Sally, and Ollie Miner; Holly Jarek of Groton, and Priscilla Wall of Saugus whom he considered his daughters. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Sylvia Tyler Miner; his parents, Theodore and Marion Miner; his brothers Teddy, Paul, and Don; and his son-in-law Stephen Williams.
A memorial service will be held at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree in his memory and treat yourself to a sundae at Tim and Doug’s. According to his final wishes, his ashes will be joined with those of his wife and he is sending his family on one final road trip to spread them at various locations that held special meaning to them. He will be missed.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Beverly C. Potter
Beverly C. Potter, 76, of Albany, died at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in West Lebanon, New Hampshire, on May 25, 2011, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born in Albany on August 30, 1934, a daughter of Preston and Doris (Clegg) Smith.
She attended graded school in Morrisville and Albany and graduated from Orleans High School in 1952. On October 18, 1958, she married Waldo Potter and they made their home on the family farm in Albany Village.
Mrs. Potter was employed a couple of years at Ethan Allen Manufacturing in Orleans and helped her husband on the farm. In 1969 she and her husband purchased and operated the B&W Snack Bar on the Barton-Orleans Road until 1989. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Albany, as well as the Maple Valley Grange.
Mrs. Potter was devoted to her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She leaves her husband, Waldo Potter; a daughter, Billie Jean Rivers, and her husband, Richard, of Albany; two sons, Gary Potter and Jeff Potter and his wife, Laura, all of Albany; grandchildren Julie Lavine and her husband, Jeffrey, Nicholas Rivers and his wife, Amanda, Jesse, Emily and her friend, Tyler Hacking, Justin and Karen Potter; great-grandchildren Joshua and Jamison Lavine and Paislee and Lydia Rivers; two sisters, Ardys Goodwin and her husband, Glen, and Marty Hilliker and her husband, Archie, all of Newport; brother-in-law Bruce Potter and his wife, Pat; and sister-in-law Carlene Pierce and her husband, Maurice; and several cousins, nieces, nephews and extended friends and family. She was predeceased by her parents; her father- and mother-in-law, Hugh and Mary Potter; a sister, Priscilla Goad, and her husband, Percy; and a niece, Debbie Goad.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., on Saturday, June 4, at the United Methodist Church in Albany with the Reverend Nathan Strong officiating. Interment will follow in the Albany Village Cemetery. Friends may call Friday, June 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Davis Funeral Home on Craftsbury Common.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lamoille Area Cancer Network, P.O. Box 38, Lake Elmore, Vermont 05657.
Arrangements by the Malcolm R. Davis Funeral Home in Craftsbury Common.
Virginia S. Wallace
Virginia S. Wallace of Barton died on May 26, 2011, with her family at her bedside.
She was a woman of deep faith and a person whose family meant the most to her. She spent the majority of her life caring for her husband, her children, and her home.
She was born on March 23, 1925, to Harold and Honora (Morse) Swett in Newport.
On October 24, 1942, she married Albert Wallace of Island Pond. He died in 1998.
Mrs. Wallace’s family includes her children David Wallace and his fiancé, Dao Phuong, of Milton, Donna Wallace and her partner, Audrey Kowalski, of Conway, New Hampshire, and Diana Fielder and her husband, Malcolm, of East Montpelier; her sister Jean Percy and her husband, Lester, of North Troy; her brother Stanley Swett of Newport; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Albert Wallace; her son Douglas; her parents; and her brothers Harold, Dean, Stanley, and Melvin and an infant sister, Mary.
A graveside service was held on May 31 at Lakeside Cemetery in Island Pond.
Contributions to honor her charitable work may be made to The Vermont Foodbank, 33 Parker Road, Barre, Vermont 05641.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Committal Services
Committal services for Geneva White will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 3, at Welcome O. Brown Cemetery in Barton.
Committal services for Donald Brown will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, at Derby Center Cemetery. Fellowship will follow at the Derby Line Town Hall.
Committal services for Wayne Whittemore will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 4, at Irasburg Cemetery.
