Obituaries

Obituaries April 29, 2015

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obit BarrupMarilyn Lucille Barrup

Marilyn Lucille Barrup, 80, of Derby died peacefully on April 22, 2015, at her home in Derby.

She was born on August 11, 1934, in Newport, to Stuart and Helen (Livingston) Taylor.

On September 10, 1955, she married Rodney Barrup, who survives her.

She was a former member of the Stanstead United Church and the Ladies Canusa Unit. She was also a member of the Derby and Morgan United Churches. She was a member of Home Dem, and a strong supporter of United Christian Academy.

She and her husband, Rod, ran their farm and milk hauling business, Barrup Farms. They also owned and operated North Country Motors, and Green Mountain Mulch. She worked at Community National Bank as personal secretary to the late Lloyd Selby.

She graduated from Derby Academy, and the Vermont Junior College in Montpelier, with an associate’s degree in business.

She enjoyed playing the piano, going snowmobiling, spending time at their camp on Lake Seymour, and their home in Florida, as well as going shopping with Janet. She and her husband spent many enjoyable hours at the Elks parties, especially with their Derby friends.

She is survived by her husband, Rodney Barrup, of Derby; her children: Janet Barrup Slater and her husband, Robert Slater Jr., and Kevin Barrup and his partner, Pam Harmon, of Derby; her grandchildren: Taylor Gerhart and his partner, Ashley Vinal, Grant Gerhart and his wife, Brooklin, Eric Barrup and his partner, Renee Boudreault, Jessica Russell and her husband, Chris, and Martin Barrup and his wife, Carrie; her nine great-grandchildren; and by her special friend and caretaker, Velma Crowell, who made it possible for her to remain at home through her long battle with cancer.

Funeral services were held on April 25, in Morgan.

Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to United Christian Academy, 65 School Street, Newport, Vermont 05855.

Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.

obit burdickEverett Willard “Nick” Burdick

Nick Burdick, 65, of Ormond Beach, Florida, and Vermont, lost his courageous battle with pancreatic cancer, at the VA Hospital in White River Junction, surrounded by his loving family and friends, on Sunday, April 19, 2015.

He was the fourth child born to the late Willard “Gus” and Marjorie (Noe) Burdick, on June 20, 1949.

He enjoyed a normal childhood, attending Orleans Graded School, and graduating from Orleans High School.

One fond memory that he always enjoyed was the fact that his big brother Bernard, kid brother Eddie, and himself all had newspaper routes in Orleans. He and Eddie were lucky to have the Burlington Free Press routes and for a few years enjoyed trips to Boston (for a ball game, as long as it was the Red Sox playing!), and trips to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., as well as side trips to Mt. Vernan and Ford’s Theatre.

Mr. Burdick proudly served his country in the army, rising to the rank of sergeant.

After the service, he took a job at the Burlington Free Press, as district circulation manager, directing nearly 25 percent of the total circulation.

Mr. Burdick sold advertising for the Chronicle for five years, and it was here that he started writing. He then went on and finished his career at the Newport Daily Express.

He especially enjoyed writing his Kingdom Characters column, which was about local people and their lives. His sister Pat was the first person he wrote about, when she was the cook at the Orleans Senior Center.

On October 26, 1968, he married Ida Lyn Chaffee of Albany. Two sons, Willard Andrew and Jonathan Dale, were born to this union, which ended in divorce in 1986.

On July 3, 2001, after a long courtship, Mr. Burdick married the love of his life, Cora Ann Carpenter, in a private ceremony in Brownington, at the lookout tower on Prospect Hill. A large public gathering was held at the Albany Town Hall following the ceremony.

Mr. Burdick was a member of the American Legion for nearly 50 years, as well as the Disabled American Veterans (he hurt his left leg while firing a 155mm self-propelled Howetzer. He always told people after that not to fire the gun from the hip!).

He was a member of the Orleans High School Alumni Association, and served as its president for 18 years. He was always proud of the fact that he got the trophies back to Orleans, and helped with the building with a case to house them as well as the high school yearbooks. These cases were built by Ethan Allen Corp., when Wendall Herman, a fellow alumni, was manager there.

In 1973, at the direction of the late Doris Cubit, Mr. Burdick joined Maple Valley Grange #450 of Albany. He worked his way through the chairs, and joined the Prospect Pomona Grange, Vermont State Grange, and the National Grange. In 1980, he hosted the annual Vermont State Grange in Newport!

In 1994, sponsored by the late Roy Ingalls, Mr. Burdick joined Central Lodge #62, Free and Accepted Masons, in Irasburg. He worked his way through the “blue lodge” chairs, and was honored by his brothers when he was elected by the district to serve two years as the district deputy grand master for the tenth

Mason district of Freemasons of the Grand Republic of Vermont. This was indeed a great honor for him, and he did the best job he could possibly do.

He also joined the York Rite Bodies of Vermont, the Tenth Masonic District Past Masters Association, the National Sojourners, Inc. Green Mountain Chapter #527, and the Mount Sinai Shriners of Montpelier. This is the third oldest shrine in the world.

Mr. Burdick loved helping people, and for a number of years he worked with small, ten-man prison work crews from St. Johnsbury. In all, his crews were able to repair and paint the Albany Town Hall, the Albany Methodist Church, the old fire station, and the Grange hall on the way into town. They also cut brush around the outside edge of all the cemeteries (seven) in town. In Glover they did the church, the Town Clerk’s Office, the library, and brushwork. In Brownington they replaced the fence around the Village Cemetery, painted the Grange Hall, and cleared brush from all of the cemeteries. (In Brownington Center, the only prisoner to ever escape, walked away through the back of the cemetery. He surrendered!)

Many of the buildings at the Orleans County fairgrounds were also repaired and painted. What the prisoners enjoyed most were the cigarettes they got to smoke on break and lunchtime, the delicious meal every Friday to celebrate the week’s work, and Cora Ann’s homemade cookies just about every day.

With all of the activities, Mr. Burdick was always happiest spending time with his beloved Cora Ann, and his son Jonathan. Joining them was Jon’s wife, Joanna, and his six grandchildren: Alyssa, Matthew, Austin, Payten, Davan, and Logan. These precious grandchildren were the apple of “Papa’s” eye!

He also leaves behind to mourn him, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great-nieces and -nephews; 3,000,000 Masonic brothers worldwide; his sisters-in-law: Susan Eileen, Nancy, Mary, Connie, and Tracey; his brother-in-law Paul; and his three “special daughters”: Karen Karlovich, Donna Burdick, and Julie Lavine. He adopted them years ago. He also leaves behind two uncles and one aunt. Although he leaves many friends and family members behind, he leaves special friends: Waldo Potter of Albany, Darlene (Austin) Miles of North Troy and Ormond Beach, Rachel Rose of Barre, and Francoise and Daniel Milea, of Irasburg.

He was predeceased by his grandparents, his parents, his siblings, and a baby sister, as well as those already listed.

Friends and family will gather at Central Lodge #62, Free and Accepted Masons, on beautiful Irasburg Common, at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, May 23, for a memorial Masonic service with Grand Chaplin Mike Ford officiating, followed by lunch provided by his brothers at the lodge. Burial, with full military honors, led by CMS Kenneth Johnson, USAF/Retired, will follow at the family lot in Pleasantview Cemetery in Orleans. Mr. Burdick’s nephews, Scott and Michael, will be the bearers of the urn.

For those wishing, donations in his honor may be made to the Shriners’ Hospital for Children-Boston, 51 Blossom Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02114. Please mark the donation. This hospital deals in prosthetics for children, as well as burns.

obit DonnellyBrendan Patrick Donnelly

Brendan Patrick Donnelly, 28, of Norwood, Massachusetts, formerly of Newport Center, died peacefully on Sunday, April 12, 2015.

Born on May 27, 1986, he was a beloved son of John and Suzanne (Beaucaire) Donnelly of The Villages, Florida; loving brother of Conor Donnelly of Burlington and Garrett Donnelly of Newport Center; the husband of Katerina Donnelly; and the proud father of Joshua Brady Donnelly, both of Walpole, Massachusetts. He was a cherished grandson of Claire (Rogers) Donnelly, with whom he lived in Norwood, the late John Donnelly and the late Donald and Gertrude (Buschenfeldt) Beaucaire; adored nephew of Paula Donnelly and Scott Davis of Marina, California, Mark and Lynda Donnelly of Walpole, and Steven and Deborah Beaucaire of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts; and a dear cousin of Lily Donnelly, Brian Beaucaire, Kerri Besagi and her daughter, Kailyn.

Mr. Donnelly graduated from North Country Union High School in Newport with the Class of 2004, where he played soccer and hockey and was a member of the state championship team in 2001. He later graduated from Porter and Chester Institute. He worked in the electrical field for several years while pursuing his professional license. He loved New England sports, and was an especially avid Bruins fan.

For almost four years, he was a member of AA, where he actively helped others in their recovery, both in Massachusetts and Vermont. Anyone fortunate enough to have met him knows just how caring he was. Whether lifelong friends or new acquaintances, he always put others first. He had a big heart.

Funeral services were held on April 18 in Norwood. Interment was private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Joshua Donnelly Education Fund via www.gofundme.com.

Online condolences at www.gilloolyfuneralhome.com.

Leona Catherine Lucas

Leona Catherine Lucas, 98, of St. Albans, formerly of Derby, died on April 22, 2015, in St. Albans.

She was born on October 8, 1916, in Derby, to Joseph and Roseanna (Boulet) Pepin.

On April 27, 1936, she married Arthur H. Lucas Sr., who predeceased her in 1988.

She graduated from Newport High School. Among her hobbies, she enjoyed working in her flower gardens, and feeding the birds.

She is survived by her children: Arthur Lucas Jr. and his wife, Crystal, of St. Albans, and Linda Sheltra of Richland, New York; her five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; her brother Andrew Pepin and his wife, Ernestine, of Newport; and by several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her brothers: Alfred, Lewis, Theodore, and Arthur Pepin; and by her two sisters: Eva Parker and Grace Hummers.

A graveside service will be held at the Derby Center Cemetery on Friday, May 29, at 11 a.m.

Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Mary Wright Halo Foundation, 1071 Upper Quarry Road, Newport, Vermont 05855.

Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.

obit mccandlessLucille Margaret McCandless

Lucille Margaret McCandless, 90, of Orchard Park, New York, and formerly of Irasburg, died on March 7, 2015, at the home of her daughter in Orchard Park.

Born in New Britain, Connecticut, on July 17, 1924, she lived there until 1994. She married George Thomas McCandless on June 10, 1947, and was married for 47 years.

She was one of the first female computer programmers in Connecticut. She moved to Irasburg in 1994, following the death of her husband.

She enjoyed many hobbies and activities and could be found gardening in her yard on Burton Hill in Irasburg as soon as the weather permitted. She opened her home to her family and friends, always creating a memorable time. She was an active member of the Irasburg United Church and the Irasburg Ladies’ Aid. She was a major contributor to the Irasburg Church Fair, donating her time and beautiful crafts.

She is survived by her three children: George T. McCandless Jr. of Buenos Aires, Argentina, his wife, Maria Rosa, and children: Micaela, Thomas, and Isabel; Sharon Reardon of Orchard Park and her husband, Michael, and children: Rebecca Gillis, Ben Garvey, and Sara Reardon; and Deborah Johnson of Irasburg and her husband, Gary, and children, Bjorn, Rowan, and Aelin Johnson. She was the great-grandmother of Jack, Grace, and Jacob Gillis, and Caelin and Ronan Garvey.

A memorial service of her active and joyful life will be held at the Irasburg United Church on Monday, July 13, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at the home of Deborah and Gary Johnson.

obit MorrillEmelda “Millie” Morrill

Emelda “Millie” Morrill, 88, of Newport died suddenly on April 23, 2015, at her home.

She was born on January 24, 1927, in North Troy to Honore and Belle “Rose” (Benjamin) Roberts.

On November 17, 1947, she married Dean Morrill, who predeceased her on May 20, 2005.

She was a sales clerk for Sears and Roebuck in Newport for 25 years, from where she retired in 1986.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Newport and the Newport Elks Lodge #2155.

She had many friends over the years. She enjoyed camping at their camp at Lake Salem and going on vacations with family and friends throughout the years. Her flower gardens brought her joy and were always beautiful. She also enjoyed the beauty of Lake Memphremagog and going to Cole’s Pond, dancing with her husband.

She is survived by her children: Patricia Tracy and her husband, Wayne, of Valrico, Florida, Barbara Donovan and her husband, Patrick, of Troy, Beverly Morrissette and her husband, Henry, of Troy, and Betty Lackie and her husband, Frank, of Westmore; her grandchildren: Derek and Jamie Racine of Valrico, Jennifer Young of Gardner, Massachusetts, Travis Degre and his wife, Christine, of Newport, Mari-Jo Urie of Newport, and Ashley Lackie of Westmore; and by several great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings: Dorio Roberts of North Troy, Aldemand “Joe” Roberts of Connecticut, Maurice Roberts of Florida, Roger Roberts of Tennessee, Oscar Roberts of Newport Center, and Gabrielle Hilliker of Newport; and by several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by two sisters: Yvette Parenteau and Jackie Hamilton; and by her brother Ranald Roberts.

Funeral services were held on April 28, in Newport. Interment followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Ronald Holland Dialysis Center, in care of North Country Hospital, 189 Prouty Drive, Newport, Vermont 05855.

Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.

obit rexfordElla J. Rexford

Ella J. Rexford of St. Johnsbury died on Friday, April 17, 2015. She was 83 years old.

She was born on November 21, 1931, in Morristown, New Jersey, daughter of Russell and Elgie (Paddleford) Williams.

She attended St. Johnsbury Academy and graduated in 1949 from Lyndon Institute. In 1950, she married Reginald Rexford.

She loved life, family, and friends. She had hobbies that included horses, and later camping with her husband, Reg. She always liked to read and knit. She was a member of the Red Hat Club and the Women’s Club.

She is survived by her three daughters: Wanda Waugh and her husband, William, of Lyndonville, Linda Pilotte and her husband, Doug, of Lyndonville, and Paula Carpenter and her husband, Ken, of St. Johnsbury; one step-brother, George Andrews, and his wife, Evelyn, of Glen Ellen, California; one sister, Marion Gero, of St. Johnsbury; 11 grandchildren: Matthew, Alexander and his wife, Marisa, Karen, Lisa, Mandy, Chad and his wife, Ashley, Meagan and her husband, Sam, Carrie and her husband, Geremy, Andrew and his wife, Erica, Kenneth Jr. and his wife Khadizhat, and Tara and her husband, Matt; 16 great-grandchildren; and by two great-great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, Reginald Rexford, in 1999.

A memorial service was held on April 24.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be marked in her name to the Canterbury Inn Activity Fund, 46 Cherry Street, St. Johnsbury, Vermont 05819.

obit RyanDoris T. Ryan

Doris T. Ryan, 52, of Newport died peacefully on April 19, 2015, in Newport, surrounded by those who loved her, after her battle with cancer.

She was born on December 14, 1962, in Newport, to Pauline (Cotnoir) Ducharme, and the late Marcel Cotnoir.

After she graduated from North Country Union High School she remained in Newport, where she raised her girls surrounded by family. She spent many years as a waitress at Martha’s Diner, where she served friends, family members, and many strangers. Her wonderful generosity and love for life, family, and friends as well as her strong faith, were present in everything she did until her last breath.

She is survived by her children: Katina Cotnoir and her fiancé, Dan Ortiz, Ashley Weikel, Miranda Ryan and her partner, David Morse, Chelsea Urie and her dad, Steve Urie, and her step-daughter Windee Young and her husband, John. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Enrique and Jaymyn Ortiz, Parish and Carter Weikel, and four step-grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Johnathan, Matthew, and Andrew Young. She is also survived by her mother, Pauline DeLaBruere; her brothers: Donald and his wife, Noella Cotnoir, and Richard and his wife, Dinah Cotnoir; and by her sisters: Francine Cotnoir, Rejeanne and her husband, Elby McBreairty, Yvette and her husband, Norman Patenaude, and Denise and her husband, Larry Royer Jr.; members of the Ryan family; nieces and nephews; multiple cousins; special friends; and many brothers and sisters of the New Hope Bible Church.

She was predeceased by her father, Marcel Cotnoir; her sister, Linda Drageset; and by her former husband Bill Ryan.

Funeral services were held in Irasburg, on April 24.

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to the Mary Wright Halo Foundation, 1071 Upper Quarry Road, Newport, Vermont 05855.

Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.

obit SparrowEdward Grant Sparrow

Edward Grant Sparrow of West Glover died on April 23, 2015, after a short illness, with his wife by his side.

He was born in Paris, France, on July 28, 1929, the son of Edward Grant Sparrow and Catherine Groth Sparrow. His family returned to the United States when he was ten, and lived in New York City, where he attended Buckley School. After attending St. Mark’s in Southborough, Massachusetts, he went on to Harvard University, where he earned his baccalaureate and law degrees. Having decided to pursue a career in teaching, he earned a master’s degree from Columbia University Teacher’s College.

He married Lydia Huntington in 1953, and then joined the army, where was sent to West Germany as part of the U.S. occupying forces. Upon returning to the United States, he was hired as a tutor at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. For 36 years, he taught the entire curriculum of great books. From 1964 to 1966, he was acting director of the integrated liberal arts curriculum at St. Mary’s College in California. He then returned to St. John’s College in Annapolis, and subsequently served as dean of the college from 1977 to 1982.

He married his present wife, Margaret Sparrow, in March of 1995.

A colleague and friend, Curtis Wilson, wrote of him, “We hold him in especial esteem for traits and accomplishments that are peculiarly his: his boldness, persistence, and courage in investigating the foundations of the liberal arts; his wisdom and judiciousness in guiding…the college polity; the generous hospitality that he and Lydia extended to members of the faculty and their families, and to countless students on innumerable occasions; the loyalty and public spiritedness with which he gave himself to the college…. We respect him as a man of principle; we admire him for his dashing and aristocratic style and for the great joie de vivre of his waltzing; and we deeply value his friendship.”

His conversion to Catholicism in 1957 was a profoundly important event in his life. He became an oblate of Mt. Savoir Monastery in Elmira, New York, in 1993, and his Catholicism and faith informed his writing.

Mr. Sparrow was a man of warmth and kindly spirit. He taught his students at St. John’s with a sense of wonder, which never left him. He loved literature, poetry, and classical and popular music and old time radio. He could deliver the lyrics to any Gilbert and Sullivan opera with verve and style. After he began to lose his eyesight, he memorized many, many beloved poems so that he would always have them “available.”

In his later years, he found a special happiness and peace in his second marriage. As his eyesight slowly failed, there came the quiet dawning of a new internal light; a broader vision; an ever greater forbearance, compassion, and respect for his fellow man. He was always learning. He learned to love dogs, or at least one dog; he learned to stack firewood and shovel snow; he learned to appreciate the simple peace of a summer day; he loved to hear the peepers in the spring and would sit outside, with his little kitty Willie on his lap, happily listening to the chorus of birds singing from the maple trees surrounding his home. He mellowed. May we all.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Margaret, of West Glover; his former wife and friend, Lydia, of Concord, New Hampshire; his sister Helen Roosevelt of New York City; his seven children: Katherine, Sophie Sparrow and her husband, Christopher Eldredge, of Sunapee, New Hampshire, Bartholomew Sparrow and his wife, Polly, of Austin, Texas, Helen Sisk of Flagstaff, Arizona, Elizabeth Sparrow of Westbrook, Maine, Edward Sparrow and his wife, Cynthia, of Dallas, Texas, and Richard Sparrow and his wife, CJ, of Hong Kong, China; and by 12 grandchildren: Kai, Edward, Silas, Carl, Lucinda, Paula, Elinor, Alexandra, Nicholas, Jacquelyn, Edward, and Christopher.

He was predeceased by his eldest son, Christopher Sparrow.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, May 4, at the St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Barton, with the Reverend Timothy Naples celebrating a Mass of Christian burial. A reception will follow the service at the Barton United Church hall. Interment will be in St. Paul’s Cemetery in Barton at a later date.

Should friends desire contributions in his memory may be made to the Barton Public Library, 100 Church Street, Barton, Vermont 05822; or to the Glover Public Library, 51 Bean Hill Road, Glover, Vermont 05839.

Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.

obit sussmanLeonard R. Sussman

Leonard R. Sussman died peacefully at his home in Craftsbury on March 29, 2015, at the age of 94, with his sons Mark and David and his caregiver Tina Maynard of Wolcott at his side.

Born and raised in Manhattan, he attended DeWitt Clinton High School, graduated from New York University (NYU), and attended Columbia University’s School of Journalism.

During World War II he served in the army in Puerto Rico and was awarded the Legion of Merit. After the war, he became the press secretary to the governor of Puerto Rico. He returned to New York and, after working for daily newspapers, went to work for the American Council for Judaism and eventually ran that organization. In 1967, he became the executive director of Freedom House, an institution devoted to promoting democracy and freedom around the globe. After leaving Freedom House, he taught press ethics at NYU and focused on his lecturing and writing, producing 18 books on international affairs and autobiographical subjects.

In the 1990s, he and his wife, Marianne Sussman, began visiting the Inn on the Common and they became regular summer guests. In 2001, they moved to Ketchum Hill Road in Craftsbury and adopted Craftsbury and its environs as their other home.

A passionate New Yorker, Mr. Sussman loved to walk the streets of the city. His wanderlust carried him to more than 75 countries. In his later, years he came to call Craftsbury, the community that welcomed him and his wife so warmly for two decades, his year-round home. He enjoyed watching the corn grow each season and photographing the landscape. He was a fan and supporter of Sterling College, the Art House, and the Craftsbury library.

His first marriage to Frances Rukeyser ended in divorce. In addition to his sons, he had a daughter, Lynne, who predeceased him in 1999.

He is survived by his grandchildren: Jane, Rebecca, Benjamin, Sam and Finn; by his son Mark’s wife, MJ Thompson; and by his daughter Lynne’s husband, Philip Hyde.

A memorial gathering to honor Mr. Sussman will be held at home in Craftsbury.

Services

Randy Carpenter

Committal services for Randy Carpenter will be held on Saturday, May 2, at 11 a.m., at the Coventry Village Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Coventry Community Center.

Laurette Houle

Committal services for Laurette Houle will be held on Monday, May 4, at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Irasburg at 10:30 a.m.

Camille Deslandes

Committal services for Camille Deslandes will be held on Monday, May 4, at 1 p.m. at the Lakeside Cemetery in Island Pond.

Marjorie Breault

Committal services for Marjorie Breault will be held on Tuesday, May 5, at 10 a.m., at Pleasantview Cemetery in Orleans.

Marilyn Messier

Committal services for Marilyn Messier will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, at Pine Grove Cemetery in Newport.

William Ming

Committal services for William Ming will be held on Friday, May 8, at 10 a.m., at the Lakeside Cemetery in Island Pond.

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