Pierre H. Cotnoir
Pierre Henry Cotnoir, 54, of Poland, Maine, died suddenly after a brief illness on Thursday, June 12, 2014, at Massachusetts General Hospital.
He was born on September 26, 1959, in Newport, to Charles and Alice Cotnoir, of Derby.
On August 31, 1985, he married his best friend and soul mate, Susan J. Hill. During this time they had recently moved from Vermont to Maine, where they began to build a life together. In the blissful years to follow, they found out they would be unable to have children. While both felt sad and a little discouraged, Mr. Cotnoir grabbed onto her and shared with her the words of the circle of love, and that no matter, what they would always be together, and that they were. He was an honest and loving man who always tried his hardest to follow through with his words and actions. Despite the fact that he was always busy working on this and that or thinking up his next project, he would drop whatever he was doing to help anyone who needed a hand. He was also known as a very unique and intelligent individual, who always had wonderful advice to give anyone who had the time to listen.
He loved to spend time figuring out tough puzzles and playing challenging games of any kind. He also enjoyed fishing and four-wheeling with his nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his loving wife, Susie; his mother, Elaine Hill; his brothers: James and Ronald. Also his family: brothers Denis, Real, Claude, Luc, Yves and Rene Cotnoir; and sisters: Claudette Grenier and Lise Gleason.
Funeral services were held on June 20, in Lewiston, Maine, and at Mount Auburn Cemetery.
Please send all donations to Susan Cotnoir, P.O. Box 1495, Auburn, Maine 04211.
Brent E. Drown
Brent E. Drown, 59, of Orleans died suddenly on June 19, 2014, at his home in Orleans.
He was born on September 21, 1954, in Newport, to Grosvenor and Lucille (Crandall) Drown.
He was a part-time cook at McDonald’s Restaurant in Derby.
He enjoyed watching NASCAR, fishing, doing crossword puzzles and buying lottery cards. He enjoyed working and seeing people.
He is survived by his children: Joshua Drown and his wife, Alice, of Orleans, Erin McGee and her partner, Steve, of Enosburg, and Deveney Wolfe and her husband, Mike, of Ohio; his grandchildren: Avery, Amelia, Isaiah, Zeke, Zoe, Benny, and Paulina; his brother Brian Drown of Barton; his sister Bonnie Bousquet and her husband, Lou, of Brownington and Florida; and by one niece and one nephew.
A private graveside service was held on June 23, at the Welcome O. Brown Cemetery in Barton.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, Vermont Affiliate, Inc., 434 Hurricane Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495.
On-line condolences at curtis-britch.com.
Betty (Filby) Masson
Betty (“Elizabeth” and “Lizzy”) Madeleine (Filby) Masson died peacefully on June 13, 2014, among family, in Newport.
She was born in Ochre River, Manitoba, Canada, on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1922. She was the daughter of Julia (Lepla) Filby Degroff (1891-1968) and Robert James Filby (1877-1947), who emigrated to Canada from Belgium and England respectively. Her mother, Julia, was one of 18 children who came to Canada to settle and farm.
Her mother and father had eight children.
She graduated from Ochre River high school, and afterward joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in Mossbank, Saskatchewan, where she met her husband, Sargent James Masson. They were married on New Year’s Eve in 1943 at the United Church in Ochre River, and enjoyed over 70 years of married life together.
Following World War II, they moved to McAdam, New Brunswick, where her husband was employed with the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1968, they moved to Sherbrooke, Quebec, for a short period of time and later to Newport, where the family settled for over 40 years.
During her lifetime, Ms. Masson worked in the retail industry. She was an active member of the Newport Baptist Church serving as treasurer, educational supply coordinator and choir member. Additionally, she was a member of the Community Circle and Forever Young Club.
She enjoyed sports, especially badminton, curling, dancing and bowling. She was a member of the Stanstad Border Curling and Ayers Cliff Club of Quebec, as well as Newport bowling leagues. She enjoyed playing card games, especially Skipboo and Uker, and cherished this special time with her grown up children, grandchildren, and friends.
She loved gardening and her children benefitted from fresh vegetables and berries, as well as home baked breads. Her other interests included crocheting, knitting, quilting, and sewing. She was proud of her quilt making and continued to create quilts throughout her lifetime.
She is survived by her children: Marlene and her husband, Angus Dalley, Lawrence, and Robert “Bob” and his wife, Betty Ann Yetter; five grandchildren: Robert Masson and his wife, Arla, Andrew Dalley and his wife, Cecilia, Jennifer Masson and her husband, Rick Morin, Michael Dalley and his wife, Alana, and Darlene Masson and her husband, Patrick Haugwitz; and by her 11 great-grandchildren: Hunter and Kaitlyn Masson, children of Robert; Maeve and Lydia Dalley, children of Andrew; Christopher, Riley and Gabriel Morin, children of Jennifer; Baron and Stuart Dalley, children of Michael; and Alex and Sophie Haugwitz, children of Darlene.
She was predeceased by the following siblings: Cecil, Murray, Renee Meunier, Norman, and Bill. Her sister Amelia died at birth and her brother Roy died at age 41 in a train yard accident.
Funeral services were held on June 19, in Newport. Interment will take place at the cemetery in McAdam, New Brunswick, at a later date.
May heaven give you many happy days!
In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Newport Baptist Church, 306 East Main Street, Newport, Vermont 05855; or to the Forever Young Club, in care of Lorraine Sargent, 3936 Lake Road, Newport Center, Vermont 05857.
Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.
Thomas H. McConville
Thomas H. McConville, 69, of Newport Center died at the Veterans Hospital in White River Junction on June 17, 2014.
He was born on November 26, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, to James and Edna (Condon) McConville.
On November 13, 1989, he married Jadwiga Wojdat, who survives him.
He was a high school graduate and received an associate’s degree in Chicago. He was a Vietnam War veteran and obtained the rank of sergeant first class while serving his second tour.
He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Chicago, a past member of the American Legion in Bloomington, Illinois, and a member of the Disabled Veterans Association.
He was a great historian. He loved reading the history of World War II and the Civil War. He was very patriotic, loved his country, wildlife and being outdoors. Mr. McConville loved life and didn’t waste a moment.
He is survived by his wife JadwigaMcConville of Newport Center; his stepson Jaromir Baykowski of Poland; his stepdaughter Malgosia Baykowski and her friend, Christian, of Montreal, Quebec; his grandchildren: Ewa, Katie and Alexandre, all of Montreal; and by his special friends: John and Karen Stevens of Newport Center, Harmon Olmstead, George “Little G” Azur, Sherry Provencher, and Sue Prue, all of Newport.
Funeral services were held on June 20, in Newport. Interment followed in the Lake Road Cemetery in Newport Center, with full military honors.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to Wounded Warriors Project, National Processing Center, P.O. Box 758540, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8540.
Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.
Lori Stratton
Lori Stratton of Newport died peacefully at her home in the early morning hours of June 20, 2014, after a valiant, courageous, five-year battle with cancer.
She was born on March 14, 1959, the daughter of William “Bill” and Gwendolyn “Sally” Blake. She grew up in Orleans and graduated from Lake Region Union High School in 1977.
She possessed an indomitable, positive spirit that cancer could not take away. She dearly loved her family and friends, and she was a joy to spend time with. She touched the lives of many and she will be greatly missed.
On July 27, 1996, she married Kelly Stratton, who survives her.
Additional survivors include her son, Seth Cartee; her beloved grandbabies: Landyn, Bentley and Mekenna; her sister Vicki Strobridge and her husband, Roger; her brother William “Bill” Blake and his wife, Gloria; her brother-in-law Monte Stratton; her sisters-in-law: Becky Ladouceur and her husband, Craig, and Heidi Stratton; and by several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
For 20-plus years, she worked at North Country Hospital in Newport where she developed a network of valued co-workers and friends she lovingly referred to as her “hospital family.” She also had a loving circle of friends from near and far, including those in her “Jasper’s family.”
In honor of her wishes, there will be no services. There will be a celebration of life at Jasper’s Tavern in Newport on Saturday, June 28, beginning at 1 p.m. She wanted family and friends to gather to remember her, the good times spent together, and the happy memories made. She wanted family and friends to remember her love and know that she’s left a little piece of her heart with everyone.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to the Mary E. Wright Halo Foundation, 1071 Upper Quarry Road, Newport Vermont 05855.
A tribute to the best neighbor and friend forever
Words cannot express the feeling I had on December 19 when I received the call that Francis Valley had been taken away. It was a very bad car accident. You’re in shock. You’re not believing what you just heard.
Francis was truly the kindest, most caring, thoughtful, helping and loving neighbor anyone could ask for.
Francis and Nancy built their home in 1976. Then I built my home in 1977. So we basically all grew up together you might say.
Francis and Nancy had three wonderful children. The first being Joey, now married to Katrina with three children. Then came Barbara, married to Mylo with three children. And then there was Tommie with his companion, Katrina, with three children.
Francis had been a member of the National Guard in Lyndonville, for what seems to be all of my years knowing him. He so enjoyed the National Guard. I remember him getting packed to go for his two-week stay, which seemed to be most of the time at Fort Drum, New York. He would call himself a weekend warrior, and was so proud of his time helping serve his country. I always told him he looked so handsome in his uniform.
Francis was at one time a member of the Barton Fire Department, which he very much enjoyed. Then he and Nancy became active members of the Barton Ambulance Squad. You always knew when there was a call. You’d see Francis and Nancy take off with their lights going.
They were always willing to help anyone. They have done a lot of on-duty call at the Barton fairgrounds, during the fair. Francis would say he’d get to see a lot of family, a lot of people he worked with.
Francis spent a big share of his life working at Ethan Allen in Orleans. He also spent a short time working at the cheese factory in Cabot. Then he started working as a flagger. He most recently was working with NVT Control. He was able to pretty much make his own hours, which was great for him. And it never mattered when you called him. He was ready to go.
Francis and Nancy got into camping a few years ago, and absolutely loved it. They parked their camper around Littleton, New Hampshire. He loved the relaxing part of camping, taking rides to different areas. They enjoyed going out to restaurants all over.
Another big part of his life was he enjoyed hanging out with Eddie and Sandy playing cards and games — lots of laughs. Francis said you couldn’t help but laugh when Sandy was around. He also thought there was a little bit of cheating going on at times. But he loved every minute of it.
We talked about his mother, and all his brothers and sisters. He said he had a very big family.
Francis has done so much for me, from plowing, to mowing my lawn, to fixing things for me. He was always willing to come whenever I was having a crisis.
I miss him blowing his horn in the mornings. He would go to hang out with friends at the Candlepin Restaurant, then go to Pierce’s Pharmacy, and most recently at Parson’s Corner.
I asked him why he went to the restaurants one day. He said to get all the local gossip, get the newspaper and have a good cup of coffee. On occasion he also rescued me with two quarts of milk, or bread, whatever I needed.
Francis always told me he never wanted a funeral service. But he never told me I couldn’t write this article on how special a neighbor he was to me. I will so miss him coming up on his tractor with Little Miss Alexis — she loved riding on the tractor with Grampa.
The other day I went by the scene where the accident was, and there was a little building with a sign on it that says Ashley’s Garden of Eden.
I can only imagine Francis is working hard planting a garden which he so loved, or mowing the lawn, building a garage or maybe just going for a ride on his tractor. Whatever he may be doing I know he’s doing it with a big smile, lots of laughter and, for sure, helping someone in need.
Francis Valley, you are so missed, in so many ways. I could talk forever about your kindness.
Leblanc Road just isn’t the same.
You take care, my bestest neighbor ever.
I will never forget your smile and your laugh.
You will always be in my memories and in my prayers.
Love you always, Francis
Your neighbor,
Karen Chaffee
Death notice
Arvid M. Deuse
Arvid M. Deuse, 97, of Derby died suddenly on June 18, 2014, at his home.
Services will be held at the convenience of the family.
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