Shawn Francis Chaput
Shawn Francis Chaput, 32, of North Troy died suddenly on March 2, 2012, at his home.
He was born September 21, 1979, in Newport, a son of Francis and Debbie (Keement) Chaput.
Mr. Chaput was a great child who grew up into a great man and a very loving and caring person. He had a love for sports and a great love for his dogs, Lincoln and Max. He graduated from North Country Union High School in 1998 where he played football the year they won the state championship. He was also chosen for the Shriner Bowl. While in high school, he worked at Grand Union with Dave Bouffard. When Mr. Bouffard purchased Derby Village Store, Mr. Chaput went to work for him there and worked many years for him.
Mr. Chaput leaves behind his parents: Francis and Debbie Chaput; his brother Matthew of Derby; his niece Aleah; his sister Amanda of North Troy; his nephews: Dylan, Cody, and Jordyn; his niece Larkyn; his brother Thomas of Florida; his sister Christina and her partner, Alan Coburn, of Newport; his nephews: Jayden and Tanner; and his niece Amaya. He also leaves behind his grandmothers: Sadie Watters and Ivah Chaput; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. He was predeceased by his grandfathers: Felix Chaput Sr. and John Keement Sr.
Mr. Chaput was truly one of a kind and will be dearly missed.
Funeral services were held on March 6, in Newport.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Faith Lighthouse Assembly of God Church, 51 Alderbrook Road, Newport, Vermont 05855-8698. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Florence J. Clifford
Florence J. Clifford, 86, died on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, in her home in Lowell.
She was born January 1, 1926, in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Mrs. Clifford was a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Parish in Lowell, and the Vermont Cursillo. She enjoyed a variety of crafts, particularly making Christmas ornaments and miniatures. She loved to watch birds and wildlife and reminisce of her days growing up on her island in Connecticut.
She also enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family.
She is survived by her daughter Cheryl Clarke of Lowell; by her granddaughters: Erin Dutton and her husband, David, of Irasburg, Tara Clarke of Bennington, and Keri Willey and her husband, Ben, of Lowell; and by several great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband George and by her three sons: James, George and Richard Clifford.
Funeral services were held on March 2, in Lowell. Spring interment will be in St. Ignatius Cemetery in Lowell.
Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 300 Cornerstone Drive, Suite 128, Williston, Vermont 05495. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
S. Eleanor (Willard) Durfee
S. Eleanor (Willard) Durfee died on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, at The Meadows in North Andover, Massachusetts.
She was the widow of John A. Durfee, who predeceased her in 1989.
Born in Derby on April 16, 1917, she was the daughter of W.A. and Lillian (Swanson) Willard. Mrs. Durfee was a graduate of Derby Academy and Burlington Business College. She was a secretary at USDA Farm Security Administration in Barton and St. Johnsbury and also at Johnson Woolen Mills.
For more than 40 years, she resided in North Reading, Massachusetts, and was a member of Union Congregational Church, Delta Pioneers and Navy Grange in West Charleston.
She volunteered to play piano for sing-alongs and hymn sings at various community events. She could play any song she heard by ear, so sing-alongs with family were special.
Mrs. Durfee loved to sing, dance, play cards, garden, braid rugs, sew and collect vases and dolls. She wrote poems about her life and family.
She was an encouragement to everyone she met, with her smile and infectious laugh.
Mrs. Durfee is survived by her loving daughters: Diana and her husband, Rick Rush, of Amesbury, Massachusetts, and Carol and her husband, Paul Michaud, of Wyoming, Rhode Island; by her brother Everett and his wife, Dorothy Willard, of Orleans; by her sister Carolyn MacLeay of Sylmar, California; by five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and several nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by her siblings: May, Charles, Ernest and Frances (Willard) Thompson.
On Saturday, March 10, at 2 p.m., a memorial service will be held at Edgewood Retirement Community in North Andover, Massachusetts, where she resided for the past 14 years. A graveside service will precede the memorial that morning at Riverside Cemetery in North Reading.
Alice Gillis
Alice Gillis, 83, of Island Pond died on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, in Newport, surrounded by her loving family.
She was born Alice Ruth Carr at the home of George and Clara (Langmaid) Carr on July 23, 1928, in Newark. She was the fourth and last remaining of eight children. She married Archie Joseph Gillis on February 2, 1952.
She was a loving mother of six children.
Mrs. Gillis enjoyed reading, knitting, quilting and spending time traveling to various parts of the country visiting family with Mr. Gillis. She also traveled to many exciting places with her friends from the Sunrise Manor. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Community Circle and volunteered for various organizations over the years. She enjoyed working at and retired from the senior meals site in Island Pond. She was adored by all who knew her and will be greatly missed.
She is survived by three sons: David Gillis and his wife, Linda, of Yuma, Arizona, Brian Gillis of Island Pond, and Steve Gillis and his wife, Laura, of Sterling, Arkansas; by two daughters: Betty Biggs of Barre, and Donna Chesney and her husband, Roger, of Island Pond; by 14 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Archie Gillis, and their son, Scott Allen Gillis; by four brothers: Alton, Earl, Merton and Robert Carr; and by three sisters: Thelma Cutting, Florence Meyette and Elaine Carr.
Funeral services were held on March 5, in Island Pond. Burial to be announced.
Donations may be made in her name to the American Cancer Society, Vermont Division Inc., 55 Day Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Gary Alexander Hand
Gary Alexander Hand, 61, of West Charleston died suddenly on February 25, 2012, in Newport.
He was born October 21, 1950, in Norwich, Connecticut, a son of Arnold and Esther (Hemel) Beaudoin. On November 15, 1984, he married Shirley Baker who survives him.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea during the Vietnam War. While in Korea, he was a personal driver for the Post Commander. He also was in the color guard and was a pallbearer for President Lyndon B. Johnson’s funeral service.
Mr. Hand was a maintenance man for Ethan Allen Manufacturing in Orleans, and for Pine Knoll Nursing Home in Lyndonville. He was also a mechanic for small engine repairs. His hobbies included camping, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends. He loved his Kubota tractor and working on small engines.
He is survived by his wife Shirley Hand of West Charleston; by his children: Tammy Hand and Arnold Hand both of Montreal, Quebec; by his stepchildren: Allen Marsh and his companion, Hope, of Island Pond, Mark Marsh Sr. and his wife, Linda, of West Charleston, Todd Marsh and his companion, Patty Sargent, of North Troy, and Christopher Marsh and his wife, Ashley, of Island Pond; by his daughters-in-law: Sherry Marsh of Newport, and Kristi Powers of Orleans; by his 19 grandchildren; and by two great-grandchildren. He had a special nickname for all his grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters: Cynthia Ashcroft and her husband, Ralph, of Johnstown, New York, Leroy Hand of Cincinnati, Ohio, Claire Hand of Columbia, Connecticut, Nancy Paradis of Willimantic, Connecticut, Paula McMannus and her husband, Tom, of Columbia, Connecticut, and Kevin Hand of Lebanon, Connecticut; by several nieces and nephews; and by his special friends: Denis and Cathy LaCourse of Wheelock, Tammy and Jim Wilkins, and their family, of Waterford, David Jr. and Rebecca Massey and their family of Brandford, Connecticut, Bob and Sheryl Devaney of West Charleston, Raymond and Connie Lindall of Westmore, and other friends too numerous to mention.
Funeral services were held on February 29, in Island Pond.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, Vermont Affiliate, Inc., 434 Hurricane Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Mary H. Joslyn
Mary H. Joslyn, 85, died on Wednesday, February 22, 2012, in The Converse Home in Burlington.
She was born in St. Johnsbury on May 11, 1926, the only child of Wilder Joslyn and Ruby (Dutton) Joslyn. She grew up in Orleans, always considering it her hometown, graduating from Orleans High School in 1944. She went on to graduate from Vermont Junior College in 1946, and she received her B.A. in 1948 and M.Ed. in 1949 from the University of Vermont, and in 1963 she received a master of art’s degree from Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College.
She began her teaching career at Windsor High School. She moved on to Hunt Middle School then Burlington High School, retiring in 1989 after 30 years with the Burlington school system. In 1988, students at Burlington High School recognized Ms. Joslyn’s energy and enthusiasm for teaching, with a yearbook dedication. They noted that her sense of humor, caring and dedication inspired them to live up to high standards.
A highlight of Ms. Joslyn’s life was when she attended Middlebury College’s writer’s conference and met Robert Frost. One of her favorite experiences after retirement was her extended trip to Ireland. Ms. Joslyn had a love of cats, gardening, and literature, especially mysteries.
She is survived by Ernest Emerson, as well as by several other cousins.
A funeral service will be held at Orleans Federated Church in the spring, the date to be announced. Corbin & Palmer Funeral and Cremation Service is in care of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Converse Home, 272 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont 05401.
Larry Maurice Perry
Larry Maurice Perry, 62, of Granbury, Texas, died Wednesday, February 22, 2012, surrounded by family.
He was born August 17, 1949, in Brownington, the son of Irene C. Perry and the late Maurice E. Perry. He was the oldest of seven siblings. He spent many loving years with his longtime partner, Jimmy Holliman, who predeceased him.
Mr. Perry was a founding member of the Trinity River Bears and an avid volunteer for the American Association of Retired Persons and Oak Trail Shores Home Owners Association.
He is survived by his four children and four grandchildren: James and Lynn Perry and their daughter, Jamie; Edmund and Pat Perry and their son, Alex; Ellen and Jacinto Gaona and their daughter, Kristen, and their son, Jacinto Jr.; and Shaun and Debbie Perry. He is also survived by his mother, Irene C. Perry; by his brothers: Michael, Andre, Roland, and Dennis; and by his sisters: Dianne and Louise.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, April 22, at 2 p.m., at Celebration Community Church in Forth Worth, Texas.
Carolyn Barbara Swenson
Carolyn Barbara Swenson, 95, died on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, in Newport.
She was born March 25, 1916, to Lee Allen and Alice (Carlson) Allen. She attended Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, schools and continued her education at Wheelock College in Boston, Massachusetts. She operated her own kindergarten until she married Arthur Swenson on June 14, 1941. She was a school crossing guard for several years and also taught in the Head Start Program. Mrs. Swenson had a special love for children.
Her hobbies were knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, jig saw puzzles, word finds and reading. She enjoyed time with her family and especially her great-grandchildren.
During Mr. and Mrs. Swenson’s retirement years, they lived in Eastham, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, in a home that Mr. Swenson had built. She enjoyed walking the beach and watching the birds. She was a member of a knitting club. After her husband’s death, she moved to Kingsbury Village in Derby to be closer to family. She had some “special friends” from the four and one-half years in Vermont.
She leaves her two sons: Clifford, and his wife, Joan, of Barton, and Alan of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; two daughters-in-law: Dorothy of Salisbury, New Hampshire, and Linda of Worcester, Massachusetts; six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren: David and his wife, Tonya, and their two daughters: Annika and McKinley of South Whitley, Indiana; Paul and his wife, Ellen, and their three sons: Samuel, Hazen, and Noah of Newport Center; MyLinda Murray and her husband, Rob, of Grafton, Massachusetts; Thuri Swenson of Spencer, Massachusetts; Melissa Underhill and her three children: Brittany, Bryan, and Bradyn of Belmont, New Hampshire; and William Jr. and his two children: Michael and Jacoby of Salisbury. She also leaves one nephew, Howard Allen of Shrewsbury; and one niece, Elizabeth Waterhouse of Windsor, Connecticut. Mrs. Swenson was predeceased by her husband of 63 years in 2004; by her son, William Sr., in 1993; by her grandson, Eric, in 1997; and by two brothers: Dr. Roger Allen and Howard Allen.
There will be a private celebration of her life with family and close friends.
In her memory, contributions may be made to the Irasburg Grace Brethren Church Youth Ministries, P.O. Box 41, Coventry, Vermont 05825; or to Eric T. Swenson Scholarship, Merrimack Valley High School, 106 Village Street, Penacook, New Hampshire 03303; or to The American Heart Association, 434 Hurricane Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
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