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.
Harry Smith Royea Jr.
Harry Smith Royea Jr., 68, died suddenly on November 22, 2011, at his home in Derby.
He was born on July 27, 1943, in Newport to Teresa Snay and Harry Smith Royea Sr. Mr. Royea was a veteran of the Vietnam War where he was a helicopter mechanic stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. He was employed for the last 21 years as a car man for CP Rail. He also worked for the state of Vermont Department of Corrections as a corrections officer and as a part-time night guard at North Country Union High School. Mr. Royea was a member of the Veterans of Foreign War and of American Legion Post 21.
He loved playing his guitar, flying, and he loved trains.
Mr. Wilson is survived by his children: Bernie Royea and his wife, Tracey, of Derby, Sheryl Royea and her companion, Brad Fortin, of West Charleston, and Michelle Kelley and her companion, Pat Lanoue, of Derby; by his longtime companion, Holly Byers of Derby, and her children: Shawn, Tracy, and Christine Priest; his beloved dog, Mindy; the mother of his children, Roxanna Prue, of Newport; his sisters: Miriam Carr of Newport and Carolyn Elliott and her husband, Charles, of Newport; his grandchildren: Nicholas, Melissa, Brent, Michael, Justin, and Collin; his great-grandchildren: Aiden and Brooke; three nieces: Teresa Liberty, Melanie Elliott, and Courtney Elliott; and by his nephew Glenn Elliott. He is survived by his aunts: Joyce Bushaw of South Burlington and Phyllis Badger of Milton; his special friends, Maurice and Rhonda Besaw of Derby; and by his former sons-in-law: Kimball Kelley and George Kimball.
Funeral services will be held at the Church of God on Crawford Road in Derby at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 1, with Reverend Laurence Wall officiating with military honors. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall at the church.
Should friends desire, contributions may be made in his memory to the Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter, 502 Strawberry Acres, Newport, Vermont, 05855. Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
Royce Paul Wilson
Royce Paul Wilson, 87, a lifelong resident of Derby Line, died on November 25, 2011, in Newport.
Born in 1924, Mr. Wilson graduated from Derby Academy and worked for several years on the A.S. Palin Farm in Holland. He became employed by Caswell and O’Rourke, Inc. in 1951 and retired in 1989 after 38 years of service.
Mr. Wilson was an accomplished classical pianist and played the organ at the South United Church for many years. One of his hobbies was painting nature scenes in oil, pastel and water color. It was a proud moment for Mr. Wilson the day he was invited to display his artistic work for public viewing at the Haskell Free Library.
Mr. Wilson is survived by his twin sister Joyce Wilson of Denver, Colorado; his niece Lexie Rye and her husband, Arthur, of Fairfax; his nephews: Randy Bronson and his wife, Cindy, of Waterbury and Dale Wilson and his wife, Rachel, of Charlestown, New Hampshire; and by several grandnieces and -nephews as well as many lifelong friends including Mary, Bruce, Analesa and Eilish Muir of Derby Line. He was predeceased by his parents, Burns and Bessie (Monteith) Wilson; his sister Martha Bronson; and his brothers: Giles, his wife, Ruby, and Bernard.
Funeral services will be held in the spring at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home on Lake Road in Newport with the Reverend Fred Barker officiating, followed by spring interment in Derby Line Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Wilson’s memory to the Haskell Free Library, care of Nancy Rumery, P.O. Box 337, Derby Line, Vermont 05830. Online condolences may also be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch-converse-rushford.com.
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