Albert Lester Young
Albert Lester Young, 79, of Lyndonville, died peacefully on Sunday, December 21, 2025, in St. Johnsbury.
Albert’s life began on July 11, 1946, on the family dairy farm in Brownington, to the late Wilfred Sr. and Eva (St. Pierre) Young. He was the sixth of twelve children. Growing up on the farm, Albert learned teamwork, the value of family, and the importance of hard work — lessons that shaped his strong work ethic and pride in a good day’s labor.
Albert attended boot camp with the United States Navy between his junior and senior years of high school. After graduating from Orleans High School, he pursued carpentry until receiving Navy school orders. Early in his career, he helped build the tram house that sits atop Jay Peak Mountain. When called to service, Albert put his carpentry career on hold and served four years in the United States Navy as an aviation jet mechanic, stationed in Lakehurst, New Jersey.
After being honorably discharged in June of 1971, Albert returned to carpentry. He spent many years building the forms for bridges that still stand throughout Vermont today. Sunday drives often included stops to admire these bridges, as Albert proudly shared the importance of taking pride in one’s work. One of his favorite productivity tips was to “never move empty-handed — make every step count.” When asked why he chose long, hard days in construction, he would quip without pause, “Well, it was cleaner than farming.”
In his spare time, Albert enjoyed playing cards, reading Louis L’Amour novels, and watching Gunsmoke. He loved feeding birds and watching them from his window. One of his favorite pastimes was splitting and stacking wood, finding satisfaction in being prepared for winter and in the neat, tidy stacks he created. Albert was a longtime member of the Orleans American Legion.
In recent years, Albert’s health declined, and his family is grateful that he is no longer struggling with a failing body. Until his final breath, he made a lasting impression on everyone he met. Many healthcare workers remarked on how much they enjoyed his company — some even became friends, visiting him even when they were not on duty.
Albert lived simply and embraced a philosophy he often shared: the easiest way to become rich is to want less. He had no interest in flashy possessions; what he valued most was the company of others.
Gift-giving was always a challenge — what does one give someone who wants nothing? Most items he received were eventually given back or passed along to someone else. He preferred the comfort of his trusted belongings. The only guaranteed gifts were time, molasses cookies, and coffee — all of which he shared freely.
Albert especially cherished time with his grandchildren. They all knew there was always a tub of cookies in his car, fair game for raiding. He would receive a quick hug, return it with gentle “Grandpa pats” on the child’s back, and watch them disappear on their cookie quest.
Albert is survived by his children: Janel Morehouse and her husband, Brett, and David Young and his wife, Amanda Zay; his grandchildren: Tucker Morehouse, Brianna Rivera, Sage Morehouse, Madison, Noah, Caden, and Aleena Young; and his great-grandchildren: Everly, Eleanor, Waylon, and Esme Morehouse. He is also survived by his brothers: John, Rick, Robert, and Leon Young; his sisters: Marie Viens, Shirley Perry, and Sharon Faust; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents, and his siblings Alfred, Don, Wilfred Jr., and Dorothy.
Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. on Friday, January 9, at Curtis-Britch and Bouffard Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road, Derby. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Orleans, with Father Greg Caldwell officiating. A gathering will follow at the adjacent rectory hall. Interment will be held in the spring at St. Theresa’s Cemetery in Orleans, with full military honors.
Albert received exceptional care from his friends at Caledonia Home Health Care and Hospice (CHHC). In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to CHHC, 161 Sherman Drive, St. Johnsbury, Vermont 05819, or by phone at (802) 748-8116.
Online condolences are welcomed at curtis-britch.com.
Stephen Urie
Stephen Urie, 77, of Vermont, died peacefully on December 23, 2025, at the University of Vermont Medical Center.
Stephen was born on April 23, 1948, at Newport Hospital in Newport, to the late Clarence Urie and Vivian (Hammond) Urie. He graduated from Barton Academy in 1966 and went on to spend his life doing what he loved — driving trucks. Stephen was a lifelong truck driver who owned and operated his own business, Urie Trucking, for many years. Later in his career, he drove for Pike, Carroll Concrete, MBI, and McDermott’s.
Outside of work, Stephen found joy in the simple things. He loved playing guitar at home with his daughter and was part of several rock and roll bands throughout his life, playing the bass guitar. He enjoyed having coffee with his buddies on Tuesday mornings, mowing his lawn, tinkering on cars, eating Oreos, and, most of all, spending time with his family.
Stephen was predeceased by his parents; his brother David Urie; and Doris Ryan, the mother of his daughter Chelsea.
He is survived by his daughters: Chelsea Urie and her partner, Olivia Lacoss, and Mari-Jo Urie; his former son-in-law Peter Judd; his grandchildren: Kyle Judd and Jazmine Judd; his sister Gail Palmer; his brother Gary Urie and his wife, Donna Urie; his stepdaughters: Miranda Ryan, Ashley Ryan, and Katina Huntington, as well as their children; and many extended family members and friends who will miss him dearly.
Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. Please visit www.awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.
Bert Traver
Bert Traver expected to live a long life as her parents did and thanked God every day upon awakening. She died peacefully on New Year’s Day 2026, at the age of 99, at the Union House in Glover, where she resided for six years. Before that she lived in Glover and previously lived in Watertown, Connecticut
She had the joy of being with her four children for her birthday celebration in December.
A fond memory from her party was watching her carry slices of her requested homemade carrot cake to others in the building, sharing the bounty with friends and caregivers.
She is survived by her four daughters: Martha Day (Peter), Peg Baer (Bill), Jean Bohan (Jerry), and Ellen Traver (Rod), and by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bert was the queen of crossword puzzles, traveled the world, was an avid quilter, reader, and bridge player, loved to feed her family, enjoyed her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and was dedicated to her husband.
She was predeceased by her husband, Alfred, whom she’d been married to for 76 years, her parents, two older sisters, and one of her grandchildren.
She was very much loved by Alfred. On the porch at their home was a sign that read, “A golfer lives here who made the best score of his life.”
The family is thankful for their mom’s friend Susan Guilmette and grateful to the staff at the Union House who cared for her so kindly.
Any contributions in her memory can be directed to the Glover library, 51 Bean Hill Road, Glover, Vermont 05839.
Rudolph Racine
Rudolph James Racine, 95, formerly of the Newport/Derby Line area, died in Sun City Center, Florida, on December 16, 2025, with his family by his side. Rudy married Joan Hull in 1950. They had four children: Laurie, Jim, Bruce, and Rudy. In 1952, he went to school to prepare for his funeral director’s license. He received his Vermont funeral director’s license in 1954. Rudy and Joan opened their own funeral home in Derby Line in 1957 and later merged with Converse Funeral Home. After several years, he took a one year leave to oversee construction of a new funeral home in Newport, where he continued to work until he retired in 1986.
His many accomplishments included the founding of the Derby Academy Alumni Association, he was a member of the Elks Lodge, a member of the Derby Lions Club, president of the Vermont Funeral Directors Association, served on the board of Community National Bank, and was a lifetime member of the Shriners. Rudy and many other locals initiated a hockey team that eventually became North County Union High School’s hockey team.
He is survived by his wife, Joan; daughter Laurie; son Jim (Kathy); son Bruce (Janel); and son Rudy II (Candy). They have eight grandchildren: Derek (Jamie), Brandon (Caitlin), RJ (Felicia), Colby (Hannah), Josh, Caitlyn, Gabriel, and Sullivan. They have seven great-grandchildren: Danielle (LJ), Zachary, Oliver, Cameron, Rylee, Macie, and Kynslee. They have four great-great-grandchildren: Maddie, Amber, Delilah, and TJ.
Arthur Prive
Arthur Prive, 96, of Newport, died and went to Heaven on November 19, 2025. Arthur was the eighth child of nine children. He was born in Hyde Park on January 26, 1929, as the son of Vital and Alice Prive. The family moved to Newport in the fall of 1930, where he had spent his entire life. He did odd jobs as a youngster like raising chickens to sell eggs, painting, cutting wood, mowing lawns, working on cars, and helping neighbors in any way to earn money.
Arthur served during the Korean war from January 1951 to January 1953 and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. He was part of the gunnery squad running a 105-millimeter Howitzer.
Arthur drove the bakery truck delivering bread and milk, which was owned by an uncle of his future wife. In August of 1954, he went on his first date to a wrestling match with his loving wife of 68 years, Jeanne (Boulanger) Prive. He retired at 62 from Butterfield after working for 27-and-a-half years. He worked for Hester Rice, a childhood neighbor, for 61 years and continued working for her son. He survived five different cancers after retiring. He was a member of Saint Mary’s Star of the Sea Church.
Arthur is survived by his four children: Elizabeth (Richard) Sargent, Monique Prive, Fabian (Laura) Prive, and Maurice (Robin) Prive. He was predeceased by his wife, Jeanne, and all his siblings and in-laws, except for his wife’s sister Lucille Belcourt.
Arthur leaves behind many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends made throughout his life. The grandchildren have fond memories of his Christmas village that he set up every year that lit up the whole front porch. Arthur was easy-going, calm, and willing to help anyone in need. He was a jokester and talked of innocent jokes they played on co-workers.
Sympathy cards may be sent to Liz Sargent, 464 Cemetery Road, Jay, Vermont 05859, and she will share them with the siblings or visit www.awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.
A celebration of life will be held on May 2, 2026, at Paul’s Sugarhouse in Derby, at 11 a.m., with lunch provided at noon.
A military burial service will be held at the chapel on May 4, 2026. It will be at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph, starting promptly at 1 p.m.
Shirley Moulton
Shirley Moulton, 76 of East Charleston, died on December 21, 2025, in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
She was born in Newport and graduated from North Country Union High School. On October 4, 1969, Shirley married her husband, Dwight, and together they raised their three children on the family farm. She worked 20 plus years at Brooks Pharmacy, then Rite Aid where many people were greeted with her love for customer service. She enjoyed going on trips with her husband and her Community Circle friends. She was a sweet lady. In her spare time, she most enjoyed crocheting and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Shirley is survived by her husband of 56 years, Dwight Moulton, her children Scott Moulton, Todd Moulton, and Carol Piper, and Cindy and Jerry Bosley. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Sierra and Nick, Travis and Mary, Troy, Trent, Tabitha, Timmy, and Tyler. Shirley is survived by many great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly.
The family will hold a private celebration of life at a later date.
Laura J. Houle
Laura J. (Boomer) Houle, 56, of Irasburg, died suddenly on December 25, 2025, surrounded by her loving family in Newport. She was born on October 3, 1969, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Donald and Wanda (Wood) Boomer.
Laura was a graduate of Lake Region Union High School, Lyndon State College, and received her master’s degree in special education from Johnson State College. She was a special educator in several local school districts, most recently at Derby Line Elementary. She liked horses, attending country and pop/rock concerts, doing word game puzzles, and working with children, especially providing them with educational support to accomplish life goals and growing their personal confidence. Armed with a warm smile and infectious laugh, Laura’s determination helped her fight leukemia for many years.
She is survived by her parents, Donald and Wanda Boomer; husband, Denis Houle; son Brandon Houle; and her brother David Boomer and his wife, Amy, all of Irasburg. She is also survived by brothers- and sisters-in-law Ronald and Collette Houle of Irasburg; Tom and Elaine Baxter of Geneva, Illinois; Fred and Diane Yunggebauer of Berwick, Maine; Bernie and Lorraine Brasseur of Berwick; aunts and uncles Dick and Robin Hulbert of Walpole, New Hampshire; Paul Tole of Walpole; Ricky and Beryl Wood of Walpole; DeeDee Laware and partner, Chris, of Sharon; Deborah and Rich Lobdell of Chester; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and numerous cousins.
She was predeceased by her grandparents, her aunt Terry, and aunt Karen.
Funeral services were held January 3 at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Orleans, with Reverend Greg Caldwell celebrating a Mass of Christian burial. Online condolences are welcomed at curtis-britch.com. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a local school of one’s choice, to the American Red Cross to support blood drives, or to St. Jude’s Children’s Cancer Research Fund.
Jay Gochie
Jay Lynne Gochie, 47, of Irasburg, died peacefully at home on Thursday, December 26. Jay worked at Jay Peak Ski Resort. Jay had a huge heart and loved the outdoors and the animals. One of his favorite things to do was spend time with his granddaughter Paisley.
He is survived by his mother, Candy Cubit, and stepfather, Marvin Cubit Jr., of Irasburg; daughter Addison, son Taylor Emerson and his wife, Naomi, and granddaughter Paisley of Richford; sister Ann Johnson of Albany; sister Melissa Mason and her husband, Ronald, of Albany; brother Jonathon Cubit of Irasburg; grandmothers Capitola Pray and Marion Cubit, both of Albany; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and his friend Jeremy Hemphrey. He was predeceased by his father, Jerry Gochie, grandmother, Marilyn Gochie, and grandfathers, Richard Pray and Marvin Cubit Sr., both of Albany.
Contributions in his name may be sent to Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter, 4473 Barton Orleans Road, in Orleans.
Nancy Castle
Nancy Thomas Castle, 95, of Holland, died on December 16, 2025.
Nancy was born on November 15, 1930, to William and Charlotte Thomas in Jersey City, New Jersey. Nancy graduated from Dickinson High School and attended St. Lawrence University.
At St. Lawrence, she met Robert (Bob) Castle, and they married in 1951. In 1955, they moved to Lincoln Park, New Jersey, where Reverend Robert W. Castle became rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. In 1960, they returned to their hometown of Jersey City and became immersed in the parish of St. John’s Episcopal Church. Though Nancy played a supporting role in supporting Bob’s active involvement in the civil rights movement, she played the lead role in raising four children.
The family moved to Holland in 1971 after spending several summers at the old farmhouse on Mead Hill. Nancy and Bob ran the East Charleston Country Store and dabbled in homesteading, planting big gardens, and raising a wide range of animals. Nancy then worked at the North Country Career Center.
Nancy was a long-term, active member of St. Mark’s Church, where she served on the vestry and then the parish administrator for many years. Her “church family” was an important part of her life and she was always committed to serving those in need.
Nancy enjoyed summers in Holland and was an enthusiastic gardener. She found great pleasure in picking wild blueberries and flowers of all kinds, with special affection for wildflowers, lilacs, pussy willows, and apple blossoms. Nancy was an excellent cook and took great joy in preparing meals for her family. She continued to cook and bake from scratch up until the last month of her life. She loved the ocean, rejoiced in family trips to Maine and delighted in any chance to partake in eating oysters, steamers, or a lobster roll. It was always a great joy for her to be a part of summer gatherings with family and friends at Mead Hill Farm.
Nancy was always able to make genuine connections with people of all backgrounds and in many ways was a great connector of people. She was always happy to see friends and family and quick in sharing the good news of others. Nancy was a strong believer in social justice locally and globally and always a supporter of those who were dedicated to advancing racial, economic, and social equality.
Nancy is survived by her children: Jane Castle and husband, Norm, of Holland; Paul Castle and wife, Carol, of Derby; and John Castle and wife, Jill of Holland. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Jessica Moulton Owen, Ben Moulton, Adam Moulton, Elizabeth Castle, William Castle, Grace Castle, Emma Castle, and Parker Castle; as well as four great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents, her son Robert, former husband, Bob, and her sister Janet Hauck.
A memorial service will be held at St. Mark’s Church in Newport on Saturday, January 17, at 1 p.m. Reception to follow in the parish house. Burial will be held in the summer at Mead Hill Farm in Holland.
Contributions can be made in her memory to St. Mark’s Church, 44 2nd Street, Newport, Vermont 05855.
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