Robert Beerworth Sr.
Robert Beerworth Sr. of Jay died on November 24, 2011, in Newport.
He was born on December 11, 1931, in Newport to Alton and Bernice (Hazard) Beerworth, who predeceased him. Mr. Beerworth lived in North Troy and attended graded and high school in North Troy where he graduated in the Class of 1949.
In June of 1949, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a high school airman recruit and had 18 months as an aviation machine mate. During the Korean conflict, he served in flight-testing new Navy fighter planes at Pawtuxet River, Maryland. At this same time, the eight astronauts were flying these test planes. Mr. Beerworth was honorably discharged from the Navy in April 1953.
For several years, he worked at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, Connecticut.
In 1955, he married the former Christine Gebler. They made their home in Rockville, Connecticut. In 1968, he moved his family to Jay. He was employed at Jay Peak for 28 years where he wore many hats, retiring in 1993. Mr. Beerworth served on the school board at North Country Union High School for twelve years and was chairman for two years. He was also a selectman for the town of Jay for several years and served as chairman for four years.
He leaves his wife Christine; his children: John Beerworth and his wife, Mary, of Shrewsbury, Susan Kopec, and Robert Beerworth, Jr., both of Jay; by the following grandchildren: Caeleigh and Connor Beerworth, and Kathryn, Candice, and Jonathan Kopec; his two brothers: Donald Beerworth and his wife, Dorothy, of Vernon, Connecticut, and Steve Beerworth and his wife, Mary, of Milton; and by several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services were held on November 28 in North Troy. Interment followed in Jay Village Cemetery.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Vermont, 300 Corner Stone Drive, Suite 128, Williston, Vermont 05495; or to Maple Lane Nursing Home, 60 Maple Lane, Barton, Vermont 05822. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Veronica Jeanne (D’Antonio) Finnegan
Beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Jeanne Finnegan, 91, died on November 16, 2011, in Gardner, Massachusetts.
Mrs. Finnegan was born on March 30, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York, to James and Veronica (Murphy) D’Antonio, the eldest of their four children, and grew up in Queens, New York. She married John D. Finnegan in 1946 and moved to Burlington. In 1950, Mr. and Mrs. Finnegan moved to the Finnegan farm in Lowell where they raised seven daughters. After Mr. Finnegan’s death, Mrs. Finnegan moved from the farm to South Burlington and subsequently to Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Mrs. Finnegan was a member of the first graduating class from the City of New York Queens College in 1941 where she earned a bachelor’s degree.
Mrs. Finnegan was a lifelong learner, keenly interested in civic affairs and current events. She enjoyed reading biographies, and historical accounts of the founding fathers and early U.S. Presidents and their wives. Mr. and Mrs. Finnegan enjoyed heated discussions on political issues, and believed it was their civic duty to form an educated opinion. Every election day, she voted, no matter the circumstances. Mrs. Finnegan served on the school board in Lowell, taught remedial reading in the elementary school for a few years, was a substitute teacher, and volunteered in the town library after her children were grown.
She cared deeply about individual rights and treated everyone with respect. She loved meeting new people of all ages and was eager to converse about their lives and interests. Her daughters’ extended families became her friends. Tiring of the Vermont winters, she moved to Virginia in 2003 where she owned a co-op apartment, enjoyed gracious retirement in a mild climate, and interacted with dozens of peers equally interested in lifelong learning and current events.
After her health declined, she moved to Gardner, Massachusetts in January 2010 to be near her daughter, Veronica, and family.
Mrs. Finnegan is survived by her brother James C. D’Antonio and his wife, Elizabeth; by countless nieces, nephews and cousins; by her seven devoted daughters: Alice Finnegan of Longmont, Colorado, Mary Rising and Peter of Brightwaters, New York, Elizabeth Ellis of Chinle, Arizona, Barbara Naramore of Suffolk, Virginia, Theresa Osborne and Bill of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Catherine Finnegan-Doyon and Marcel of Denver, Colorado, and Veronica Guay and Mario of Gardner; by her fifteen grandchildren: Sean Givens, Erika Grace and Melanie Sieger, Adalia, Badi, Ruhi, Vahid and Ruhiyyih Ellis, Justin Naramore, Mark and Blaire Osborne, Sara and Allison Finnegan-Doyon, and Joseph and Andrew Guay; and by nine great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, John Finnegan; her brother John D’Antonio and his wife, Bernadette; her sister Elizabeth D’Antonio; and her dear son-in-law Bill Naramore.
Funeral services were held in Lowell.
In lieu of flowers, the families asks people to consider donating to Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation, Inc., care of Darlene Morrilly, executive director, MWCC Foundation, Inc., 444 Green Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440; or to City of New York Queens College Foundation, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Kiely Hall, Room 1306, Flushing, New York 11367.
Bonnie Jean Gendron
Bonnie Jean (Page) Gendron, 69, of Shorter, Alabama, died on Tuesday, November 22, 2011.
Mrs. Gendron graduated from North Troy High School in 1960. She loved the Red Sox and was a great fan of NASCAR. She also enjoyed cooking a lot.
Mrs. Gendron is survived by her husband Robert; her son Brian Gelo and his wife, Tuesday; her grandsons: Shawn and Jessie; her sisters: Marilyn Page and Sheila Joyal; her lifetime family friend Helen Corliss; her stepchildren: James Gendron, Robert Gendron, and Wendy Robere; her grandchildren: Bobby, Brian, and Christopher; her sisters-in-law: Gabrielle Page of Berwick, Maine, Racheal Page of Lakeland, Florida, and Susan Page of Traverse City, Michigan; and by many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Walter and Evelyn Page; and by three brothers: Ronald, Dale and Jerry Page.
A celebration of both Mrs. Gendron’s life and her brother, Jerry, will take place in the spring with family and friends.
Contributions can be made to St. Jude for Children, 189 Prouty Drive, Newport, Vermont 05855.