Normand Beaulieu
Normand Beaulieu, 86, of Irasburg, died peacefully at his home on December 5, 2024, due to a brief illness, with his family at his side.
Normand was born in Newport on June 5, 1938. He was the son of the late Joseph and Antoinette (Laramee) Beaulieu. He lived in Coventry for three years and then moved to Irasburg with his parents.
Normand was raised and worked on the family farm where he resided for 83 years. He farmed up until 1972 and moved on to trucking for local businesses. To name a few: Foster Whipple (Champlain Oil) hauling out of Portland, Maine, and hauling material to I-91 while it was being built. He also worked for Jim Lillicrap hauling pulpwood and potatoes.
He spent 38 years working for Paul Calkins of Lyndonville, owner of Calkins RediMix, hauling cement powder from Montreal to local plants in the area. He moved on to Calkins Sand and Gravel in Coventry, where he retired as loader operator in 2013 at the age of 75.
In the winter months, he had his own plowing business. He worked in the woods, logging for himself. Normand enjoyed life to the fullest, never letting a Budweiser go bad.
He is survived by his children, Lori Beaulieu of Irasburg, Roger Beaulieu and daughter-in-law, Rita, of Irasburg, and Claire Beaulieu of Irasburg.
He is also survived by the mother of his children, Joyce (Royer) McAllister of Newport. His grandchildren, Morgan (Burnham) Smith and husband, Jeremy, of Morrisville, Eythan Burnham and wife, Morgan, of Coventry, Jessica Beaulieu and fiancé, Devon Davis, of Holland, Alyx Beaulieu of Westford, and Brittany Beaulieu of Holland. Six great-grandchildren, Channing and Maddox Therrien of Morrisville, Harper and Oakland Burnham of Coventry, and Declan and Briggston Davis of Holland. As well as his step-children Tammy, Jim, and Ken Robie.
Thank you to all his friends and family who came to visit him at Bel Aire and his last days at his home. Also, the phone calls, and to those who brought food.
Special thanks to Allen Cutting and family for always being there for Dad at any given time throughout the years.
Also, a special thank-you to Richard Cotnoir for sharing the many stories of our Dad. They will be cherished forever.
With many thanks and gratitude to Dinah Cotnoir, who upon Dad’s request, would come to the home for his scheduled haircut and daily shave. Dad always had to look his best, not a hair out of place and a daily shave, even up to his last days on earth. Your kindness will always be remembered.
Normand will be missed by many special friends and relatives.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to Felines & Friends Foundation P.O. Box 10, Barton, Vermont 05822. A celebration of life will be held at his house on June 7, 2025.
Gertrude Essaff
When someone you love becomes a memory, those memories become a treasure, and it is forever her loved ones’ hearts that will be brimming with the riches given by the vast and loving life of mother, entrepreneur, artist, and educator: Gertrude Essaff.
Born on June 6, 1922, in Magog, Quebec, to Seraphine Robert Obomsawin and Adelbert Laplante, Gertrude carried with her the roots of her Abenaki heritage, having often visited the reservation that her mother had left as a teenager in search of work and a better life. Gertrude’s grandparents, Frederic Robert Obomsawin and Celina Duperron Robert Obomsawin, remained on the reservation of Odanak, where she would later spend an extended stay to take care of her grandmother when sick and ailing. Gertrude recalled times when she would travel to Odanak with her parents to acquire sweet grass baskets that Celina had made and selling them back in the states to help support her then-widowed grandmother.
Gertrude’s family settled in Newport, where she was accompanied by her younger brother Arthur Laplante, and older sister Florence Laplante Coburn. Gertrude recalled times during the Depression when they had little to eat and would often have dinner with neighbors who still had reliable work. She also recalls having only one dress which she would wash in the sink, and having to put cardboard into the bottoms of their shoes when they would wear through, as they could not afford a vehicle, and walked to most places in town. These experiences would later inform her ethics and practices as she became a successful business owner in her hometown.
Gertrude married her husband of 57 years, Lewis John Essaff, on March 25, 1940. Together, they would have seven children, and run a thriving community establishment, the Eastside Restaurant, for over 40 years. Positioned on East Main Street next to Louisa Assaff Groceries, and across from Jacob’s Barber Shop, this family-style restaurant would serve as a hub and beacon for their extended family and the greater Newport area until its sale in 1986. Famous for its storefront rotisserie chicken and secret recipe barbecue sauce, the Eastside Restaurant continues to thrive on the waterfront of Lake Memphremagog in Newport.
Late in their time as restaurant owners, Lewis and Gertrude would go out for a nightly drive around Newport. “Gertrude, you wanna go for a spin?” Lewis would say. They would venture out near dusk, rolling through town slowly to see the sights and enjoy the setting sun. It was often that they would encounter a homeless or empty-handed individual walking along the city’s sidewalk. They would stop and offer this person a ride, and sometimes, would take them back to the restaurant, even if it were closed. They would sit the individual down at a booth and make them a meal of their choice, of which they would eat by the light of a single lamp. Gertrude would sit across, and Lewis would stand at the edge of the table, hands on his hips, until the meal was done. With no desire for payment, they would then return to the car and offer the stuffed individual a ride to any (local) destination. Now dark, the nightly spin would conclude, and they would return home to their recliners for pudding and sitcoms, having given back in the ways that were received when times were lean, and food was scarce.
Not only was Gertrude generous and civic-minded, she was also innately creative and prolific in the arts, having mastered the production of kiln-fired ceramics; the creation of floral arrangements; the precision of hand-cut stenciling; photo album decoration; the making of mop head dolls; knitting, sewing and crocheting; making and repairing clothing; stained glass; and many other forms of crafting that can be viewed and enjoyed in the homes of her loved ones for years to come. Gertrude was so accomplished that she was commissioned by a local academy to teach a weekly ceramics class out of her home, having a kiln in the back apartment of the Eastside Restaurant building. In later years, Gertrude would produce creations to frequently sell at local bazaars and holiday craft shows, carrying out a similar trade to that of her Native American grandmother so many years before.
In retirement, Gertrude still enjoyed the beauty of creation, tending to a vegetable and flower garden in the backyard of her Newport home. She enjoyed fine things. She loved good food, was a wonderful cook, and even if it were only the two of you, she would still cook for seven. She was fashionable, adorned often in colorful, well-coordinated outfits and accessories, exuding the light and love for life that she carried within. She loved her family. She was a nurturing mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother to a hearty and fortunate lineage. Only a year ago, Gertrude spoke of the wonder that she was still here at 100 plus years. “Can you believe I’m still here? I never thought I would still be here at 100. I would stay here for 500, if they would let me.” Her faith in Christ has called her home. Home to her husband, her mother and father, her brother and sister, and her son Paul. A wonderfully long and loving life lived that has touched so many, and graced all with the abundance and joy of knowing a woman so strong, so talented, and so compassionate. Thank you for the memories, Gertrude. Her loved ones will forever count their treasures.
Gertrude is preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Essaff, and son Paul Essaff, and is survived by her children, Joann Anderson, Roland Essaff, Diane Essaff, David Essaff, Carol Sanville, and Michael Essaff, with countless grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A service for Gertrude will be held in the spring in Newport. Details can be acquired at a later date through the family.
Roger R. Geoffroy
Roger R. Geoffroy, 77, of Derby, died at his home in Derby on December 17, 2024. He was born on March 1, 1947, in Newport to Armand and Evelyn (Mayhew) Geoffroy. On August 22, 1970, he married Rachel Marcil, who predeceased him on October 5, 2023.
He graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1965. Roger was a dispatcher for Fred’s Energy for many years where he retired on May 1, 2014. In his earlier years he was a truck driver. He entered the United States Air Force and served during the Vietnam War.
Among his many hobbies, he was a fan of the Boston Red Sox, and the New York Giants. He enjoyed attending the games at Fenway Park in Boston, playing cards, traveling, and spending time with his cats. Roger also enjoyed his time as a volunteer at North Country Hospital.
He is survived by his son Shawn Geoffroy and his wife, Christina Oravec, of Reno, Nevada, and by his siblings: Donald Geoffroy and his wife, Carmen, of Arizona, Rachel Sterns of Thornton, New Hampshire, Diane Beadle and her husband, Keith, of Derby Line, Susan Daudelin of Newport, and Norman Geoffroy and his wife, Donna, of Barton, and by several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his son Patrick Geoffroy in infancy, his brother Michael Geoffroy, and by his brothers-in-law, Yvan Daudelin, and Larry Sterns.
Funeral services took place on January 4, at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newport, where a Mass of Christian burial was celebrated. Spring interment will take place in St. Mary’s Cemetery with full military honors. Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.
Elizabeth (Betty) LeRoy
Elizabeth (Betty) Jane LeRoy, born May 15, 1933, died on December 18, 2024. Betty was the only child of Raymond and Bertha Miles. In 1958, she married Winston LeRoy. She lived much of her life in Newport and graduated from Newport High School in 1951.
From 1951 to 1955, she attended Middlebury College in Middlebury and graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree (Phi Beta Kappa) with majors in French and English. In 1982, she received her master’s degree in education from the University of Vermont, followed by a Certificate of Advanced Study in administration.
Betty became an educator with her first job, teaching French and Latin at Peoples Academy in Morrisville from 1955 to 1958. Education became her lifelong profession and passion. She continued her teaching career at the Derby Academy in Derby (1958-1960), Newport High School (1963-1967) (French and social studies), then North Country Union High School (1967-1981) (French and English).
During her time at NCUHS, Betty was also the foreign language department chairperson. In 1981 she started the first high school foreign language exchange program in Vermont. The companion school was in Asnières, France, outside of Paris. She devoted herself to making the program thrive with fundraising, including annual spaghetti dinners, and sponsors for students. To save the program money, she got her school bus driver’s license so she could drive when the French students came here. She also opened her home to her French colleagues during their visits. In 1987, she was awarded Vermont’s Teacher of the Year.
In 1987, Betty became principal of the North Country Union Junior High School. From there, she moved to Director of Curriculum and Instruction at NCUHS until 1998. During this time, Betty was chosen as the National Distinguished Principal for the state of Vermont. In 1998, she became principal at Craftsbury Academy in Craftsbury. In 2002, she retired. Or as Betty liked to say, she “remained dedicated to education and just slowed down.”
Betty was on the board in the Area Agency on Aging and did volunteer work at the Old Stone House as well as the Northeast Kingdom Spay/Neuter Program. She lived in Glover in the house she had designed, overlooking Lake Parker. She also filled her time with her beloved dogs, even writing two illustrated books about Parker and Berry. There were days of hiking, kayaking, and working outdoors, classes at the swimming hole in Stowe, and elaborate Christmas gatherings with great food, good company, and a fun round of Yankee swap.
In 2017, Betty moved to Copley Woodlands in Stowe. She enjoyed an active regime of exercise, poetry, and books. She loved sitting on her patio with her dogs, Sami and Tico.
Betty is survived by her two daughters, Karen and Linda. Donations in her memory may be made to Craftsbury Academy to establish a scholarship for a senior who plans to enter the teaching field, or to the Area Agency on Aging. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Theresa McAvinney
Theresa Ann (Leonelli) McAvinney died suddenly on the evening of Saturday, December 21, 2024, in the arms of her beloved husband. Born January 22, 1959, in Newark, New Jersey, to Matthew and Ann Leonelli, she was the oldest of six children. She grew up in Roselle, New Jersey, and graduated from Roselle High School in the class of 1977. Theresa always had a big heart, so it is no wonder she chose to pursue a nursing career. She graduated with an associate in nursing degree from Muhlenberg College and began her career at Elizabeth General Hospital in Elizabeth, New Jersey. For over 30 years she cared for countless patients both physically and spiritually.
In 1988, following a deep spiritual conversion, she began working in the religious education program at her local Catholic church in Milford, New Jersey, which began her lifelong passion of serving in her church communities wherever she lived. Following the promptings of the Holy Spirit, she relocated with her two youngest daughters to the Northeast Kingdom in 1995. In August 1997, she met the love of her life, Daniel McAvinney, originally of Lake George, New York. Following a brief courtship, they were married on January 17, 1998, and she lived her remaining days in their old farmhouse in Westfield.
Over the course of her nursing career, she worked at various locations and in different positions, including in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Elizabeth General Hospital, visiting nurse at Orleans Essex Visiting Nurse Association, North Country Hospital at the Barton Clinic, nurse at Newport Correctional Facility, Our Lady of the Meadows in Richford, Michaud Manor in Derby Line, Immaculate Heart of Mary Monastery in Westfield, and as director at the Meeting Place in Newport. But her true passion was her work in the church. To say she was an active member at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Troy would be an understatement. Her motto was, “See a need, fill a need.” Theresa was a doer. Serving God and her community was her life’s work. Whatever she did, she gave 110 percent. She is best known for her role as director of religious education, and for her music ministry and beautiful singing voice. She used these God-given talents of teaching and singing to draw others to the real love of her life, Jesus Christ. She welcomed the stranger, exuded joy wherever she went, and hugged with her whole heart. In all that she did, her faith and love of God inspired her.
Theresa was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Her sixteen grandchildren adored her, and will always remember her bingo games, candy rewards, ice box cake, making cookies together and endless games of Yahtzee.
Theresa is survived by her husband, Daniel McAvinney, of Westfield; daughters Sanene Talcott Stetter of Laguna Beach, California, Christina Guertin and husband, Tim, of Parker, Colorado, Melissa LeBlanc and husband, Justin, of Newport Center, and Lori Strauss and husband, Michael, of Derby; grandchildren Emma, Jake, Corine, Joseph, Sean, Damian, Vincent, Simon, Jack, Mira, Samuel, Juliana, Lily, Luke, and Evelyn. She is also survived by her father, Matthew Leonelli, of Simpsonville, South Carolina, mother-in-law Berne Kouba of Queensbury, New York, her siblings Louis Leonelli of Wurtsboro, New York, Philip Leonelli and wife, Kirsten, of Simpsonville, Nicholas Leonelli and wife, Jody, of Cranford, New Jersey, Sr. Mary Matthew (Catherine Leonelli) of Manchester, New Hampshire, Matthew Leonelli and wife, Sandra, of Union, New Jersey, in-laws David (Cindy) McAvinney, Patricia (Robert) Morse, Julie (William) Valenza, Meredith Bub, and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins from around the country. Theresa was predeceased by her mother, Ann (Fortunato) Leonelli, grandson Jordan Carpenter, and father-in-law Gerald McAvinney.
Friends and family may call from noon to 2 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, January 10, at the Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road, Newport.
A funeral Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. on January 11, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Troy, with a reception to follow at the parish hall. Committal will take place in spring 2025.
Donations in Theresa’s memory may be made to St. Andre Bessette Parish for the religious education program, P.O. Box 109, 130 South. Pleasant Street, Troy, Vermont 05868.
Roger Menard
Roger R. Menard of Berlin, formerly of Barre, died Sunday, December 22, 2024, after a short stay at Woodridge Rehab and Nursing Home.
He was born April 7, 1935, to Laurent and Eva (Deschamps) Menard in Hardwick. Roger attended school in Craftsbury and graduated from Craftsbury Academy in 1954. After graduation, he worked for several farms in the area before joining the U.S. Army in 1958. He served his country as a medic at Fort Meade in Maryland, followed by Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver, Colorado, and Fort Sam Houston in Texas. Following his discharge in 1960, he was employed by Heaton Hospital in the clinical lab and stayed on in that position after Heaton Hospital and Barre City Hospital merged to become Central Vermont Medical Center. He was employed for 40 years before retiring and stayed on with them in a part-time capacity for 17 more years.
Roger married Barbara Lord on October 26, 1963, in Craftsbury. They resided in Montpelier for many years raising their two sons, Dennis (Sarah) of Barre, and Daniel (Christine) of Cary, North Carolina, before moving to Barre to be closer to their two granddaughters, Lauren of Graniteville, and Lindsey of Burlington.
Together they owned a 1930 Model A Ford Roadster. They attended many antique car shows over the years, and Roger was a judge in the Model A division for many of those years.
Roger spent many years cutting his own firewood to heat the family home. He was a great dad and was involved with his sons’ sports and school activities. He carried on this tradition with his granddaughters, attending school and sporting events whenever possible with Barbara.
In addition to his wife, sons, and their families, he is survived by seven siblings. Ronald (Nancy) Menard, Lorraine (Larry Abbot), Gerard, Gerald, Stewart, Eugene (Kathy), and Rachel (Blaine Kinsey) as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Calling hours were held on January 4 at Guare & Sons Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcome at the Central Vermont Humane Society in East Montpelier or to the Aldrich Public Library in Barre.
June Ella Mitchell
June Ella Mitchell, 85, of Lynburke Road in Lyndonville, died at her home early Tuesday morning, December 31, 2024, following a decline in her health.
June was born in Peacham on December 15, 1939, daughter to the late William Arthur and Ella (Rock) Payette. She grew up in East Burke and attended school and graduated from Lyndon Institute High School in the class of 1957. She married Leslie W. Mitchell on February 6, 1960, and they shared almost 65 years together. June was able to stay home and raise her three boys as well as operate a daycare.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Leslie, of Lyndonville, her three sons: Timothy “Tim” of Lyndonville, Theodore “Ted” (Debra), of Lyndonville, and Leslie Jr. “Lee” and Lori Jones of Derby, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Burial will take place privately at a later date in the Lyndon Center Cemetery.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.guibordfh.com.
Robert Norris
Robert Norris, 72, of Barton, died unexpectedly on December 22, 2024, at his home. He was born on March 9, 1952 in Connecticut to the late Earl Norris and Jeannette (Coderre) Geraw.
Upon graduation from high school Robert was drafted into the United States Army. During his lifetime he worked as a construction worker, painter, and carpenter. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and spending time with family and friends. Robert was a very social person with many friends. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 23 in Orleans.
He was predeceased by his parents Jeannette Geraw and Earl Norris, wife Rosemary Norris, and brother Charlie Geraw.
He is survived by his children: Robert Norris and his girlfriend, Barb White, Tammy Croteau and her husband Leo, Lucien Norris and his wife Tesia, Liza Barber, Ira Martel and his wife Chasity, Fawn Norris and her boyfriend, Derrick Ferrand, and Dawn Norris and her boyfriend, Matthew Demers. He is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, sisters Irene Norris and Debbie Hamel, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins, and his good friend Fred Croteau
A celebration of life will be held on January 18 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Irasburg Town Hall. Online condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch & Bouffard Funeral Home & Cremation Service, locally family owned and operated.
Sandra Royer
Sandra Royer, 74, of Orleans, died on December 19, 2024, in Springfield. She was born on August 21, 1950, in Worcester, Massachusetts, to Elmer and Beverly (Herman) Chaffee.
She married Raymond Royer who predeceased her on November 15, 2019.
During her lifetime she was a nurses’ aide at the Maple Lane Nursing Home in Barton. Her many hobbies included editing photos, cross-stitching, and playing board games with her family. She was a jack-of-all-trades. She loved her family and her special cat, Jasmine.
She is survived by her children: Dennis Royer and his wife, Stacy, Matthew Royer and his wife, Gail Kent, and Steven Royer and his partner, Tamara Michels. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Miranda, Dustin, Cole, Corrinne, Steven, and Michael, and by her great-grandchildren: Kristiana, Landen, Isabella, and Lucas. She is survived by her sister Barbara and her husband, Michael, by her nieces and nephews Michael, Heather, and Troy and by her special friends: Marie and Betty Maloney.
A graveside service will be held in the spring in Pleasantview Cemetery in Orleans with the Reverend Kelly Deslauries officiating. Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Society, 243 Woods Farm Road, Newport. Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.
Ronnie Vander Veer
Ronnie Vander Veer died peacefully on December 24, 2024, at the age of 80. Born to Mildred and Abraham Leeds on November 1, 1944, in Newark, New Jersey, Ronnie went on to study at Rutgers University and received a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling.
As a child of the ’60s, she wasn’t quite a hippie, but she did see The Beatles at Shea Stadium and traveled to San Francisco with a friend, where rumor has it, she wore flowers in her hair. She returned east and met the love of her life, Richard, in a bar during a ski trip to Mt. Snow. At one point, he romantically said, “If we’re still together by the end of the summer, let’s get married.” And so, on August 29, 1969, they were married. For their honeymoon, they took their little boat, “Joey,” to Block Island, which began their lifelong love for that special place.
They loved spending their weekends exploring the New England coast on their boat, but in 1975, they gave up nautical life and their professions to open The Jay Country Store on the Canadian border in northern Vermont. Far from their friends and family, Ronnie and Richard took the closed, dilapidated store and transformed it into a vibrant hub for the community. They lived above the store and soon welcomed two children, Jennifer and Gregory. Ronnie was a wonderful, loving mother who would do anything for her children, including planning the best birthday parties and making very elaborate Halloween costumes.
In the country store, there was a loft that was not being used, so Ronnie decided to fill it with Christmas products, and thus, The Christmas Loft was born. It quickly showed promise, and Richard and Ronnie began opening more Christmas Loft stores. They eventually sold the Jay Country Store to focus on their new business. Together, they grew The Christmas Loft into a successful New England-wide retail chain with seven stores and 120 employees. Ronnie was a passionate leader with a great talent for decorating and creating long-lasting relationships with her employees.
As they approached retirement age, Richard and Ronnie decided to return to their love of the sea (or, as she saw it, his love for the sea and her love for him) and bought their boat, Two Drifters, named after the lyrics in her favorite song, “Moon River.” She named herself “The Reluctant Sailor” and began documenting their travels through humorous poetry and stories. Their adventures brought them to a summer in Alaska, a perilous journey down the West Coast and through the Panama Canal, and many voyages to their secret spot, Green Turtle Cay.
Ronnie enjoyed writing poetry, painting, and gardening. She had a deep love for her flowers and all the birds that regularly visited her busy bird feeders. She was a good cook and always made sure her family sat together for mostly delicious meals — except perhaps her infamous peanut butter soup. Ronnie was a strong, opinionated, and driven woman who worked tirelessly for her business and family and always went out of her way to maintain relationships with her loved ones.
Things slowed down a bit as Ronnie bravely battled health issues for many years. Throughout it all, she kept smiling and was always happy to be with her family, friends, and especially Richard, her husband and best friend of 55 years.
Ronnie is survived by her husband, Richard Vander Veer; children Jennifer and Gregory Vander Veer; son-in-law Stephen O’Farrell; cousins, including Eileen Sarhoff and Rhea Austin; brother-in-law Paul Vander Veer; sister-in-law Faye Vander Veer; nieces and nephews Pam Vander Veer Lake, Julie Prochorena, and Jeff Vander Veer; and many longtime friends and employees.
Alan Vanier
Alan Earl Vanier died at home on December 23, 2024, at the age of 57. He was born in Newport on February 27, 1967, to the late Monique Harbec and Earl Vanier.
Al married Sue Pigeon in 1997 and started their life together in Newport Center. Here they raised their daughter Sydney. Al spent countless hours in the woods hunting, at camp with his friends, and enjoyed watching the Rams play football. He worked for over thirty years at Ethan Allen where he was project manager. Al had a great sense of humor and was an incredibly kind and generous man, and deeply devoted to his family.
Al is survived by his wife, Sue, daughter Sydney and her partner, Cody Crouch, and three brothers Andrew Vanier and wife, Sandi, Dean Vanier and wife, Shelly, and John Vanier, brother-in-law Wil Pigeon and wife, Catie, a niece Shea, and nephews Patrick, Galen, Conor and Taran. He will be missed by many longtime friends and family.
A celebration of life for Al will be held on June 28, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Windy River Farm, 1195 Loop Road, Westfield.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the Newport Ambulance Service.
Rachel Wright
Rachel Wright, 76, of Lowell, died on December 22, 2024, in Coventry. She was born on July 8, 1948, in Newport to the late Philip and Gloria (Morse) Geoffroy. On June 20, 1970, she married Ernest Wright who predeceased her on March 9, 2000.
Rachel graduated from Newport Center High School before attending O’Brien’s College and earning her hairdresser license. She started working at Jay Peak in 1989 and retired as a housekeeping supervisor after working 25 plus years. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and bird watching. She was a member of the Ladies of St. Ignatius, Community Circle, and the Red Hat Society.
She is survived by her children: Daniel Wright and partner, Julia Gates, of Lowell, Donald Wright and his wife, Danielle, of Coventry, and Kristin and Michael Wright of Grantham, New Hampshire, grandchildren Coty and Emma Wright, Tyler and Emily Wright, Josh and Kylie Sickles, Colby Wright, Austin Wright and Chase Wright, and great-grandchildren Noah Wright and Cameron Wright. She is also survived by her brother Raymond Geoffroy and his wife, Elaine, of Lowell, sisters-in-law Ellen Barton and Linda Wright, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her brother Philip Geoffroy and sister Susan Geoffroy.
Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Troy. If friends desire, memorial contributions in Rachel’s name may be made to St. Andre Bessette Parish, 130 South Pleasant Street, Troy, Vermont 05868. Online condolences may be made at curtis-britch.com.
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