Adrienne Michelle (Farley) Wilson
Adrienne Michelle (Farley) Wilson died peacefully on September 17, 2026, with loved ones at her side.
Michelle was born on June 15, 1930. She was the daughter of Charles Gordon and Violette (Pimer) Farley. She grew up in White Plains, New York, until her sixteenth year when the family moved to Utica, New York. She graduated from Utica Academy and California State College Sacramento with a major in history and minors in archeology, art and education.
Michelle was predeceased by three husbands, the last being Ramon Douglas Wilson. She taught school in El Dorado County in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California for 21 years. At the same time, she owned a horse ranch where she bred, raised, trained and showed Appaloosa horses. She loved competing in horse shows throughout the west coast and in endurance and competitive 50- and 100-mile trail rides, from which she has many trophies and ribbons. She was also a horse show judge in that area.
Michelle had many varied interests. She sang with a Western band and wrote articles on local historical life and legends as a freelance journalist for a local California newspaper. She loved painting, photography, family genealogy, treasure hunting with her metal detector, and traveling around the world. She worked for a while as a tour guide in Europe working out of London. She traveled in the British Isles, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Morocco, South Africa, and Hong Kong, as well as closer to home in Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, Nova Scotia, Greenland, Iceland, several islands in the Caribbean and 48 states.
Michelle came to Vermont with her late husband in 1991 and was very active in the United Church of Irasburg, which she regarded as “her family” since all her family, other than her son, is deceased. She is survived by her son, Randy Gordon Smith, of Irasburg.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 24, at 11 a.m. at the United Church of Irasburg with Reverend Susan Johns officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be sent to Orleans Essex VNA and Hospice, 46 Lakemont Road, Newport Vermont 05855 (orleansessexvna.org) or to the United Church of Irasburg, P.O. Box 177, Irasburg VT 05845. Online condolences are welcome at curtis-britch.com.
Milton “Mit Willis
Milton “Mit” Willis, 92, a lifelong resident of Westfield, died peacefully at his home on September 30, 2026.
Mit shared 72 years with his devoted wife, Annette.
Mit loved his family, he also leaves behind his daughter Debra (Bob), and his son Don (Cindy). His legacy continues through his grandchildren: Aaron (Virginia and Barrett), Krista (Dodson), Garett (Nicole), and Bria (Patric). His sisters Hilda and Beverly (Dick); sister-in-law Rose; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings: Shirley, Marion, and Harold, and his parents, Helen and Ray Willis.
Mit enjoyed his outdoor hobbies. He loved fishing, hunting, and feeding the birds that visited his front yard.
Mit’s life will be celebrated on October 17, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Westfield Cemetery on Cemetery Road in Westfield. A luncheon will follow.
Mit was deeply loved and will be missed and forever remembered.
Online condolences are welcomed at curtis-britch.com.
Lucille Rita (Fontaine) Patenaude
September 18, 1929 — October 8, 2026
Lucille R. Patenaude, 97, of Derby Line, died peacefully surrounded by her loving family. She is now in heaven with her loving husband, Joseph. She was born in Morgan to Albert and Aurora (Emond) Fontaine on September 18, 1929. She grew up in West Charleston in a large family of two half-sisters, two half-brothers, seven sisters and seven brothers.
She married Joseph Patenaude on August 21, 1948. They had 9 children: Adrien, George (Gale Hansen), Diane (John) Forcier, Susan (Bert) Letourneau, Marcel (Gaetane Roberge), Joanne (Mike) Aulis, Christine (Gary) Sykes, Alan Patenaude, and Anna (Patenaude) Hutchins. She has 21 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Also, special friend Pat Warner.
After their marriage, she and Joe lived and worked on their dairy farm in Holland until 1985. They sold their farm to their son Marcel and his wife, Gaetane. At which time they moved to their home in Coventry for 15 years, and then in Derby for 15 years. After Joe died in 2015, Lucille moved in July to live with Anna’s family in Holland and shortly after she lived in Westford also with Anna’s family for six years. She moved to Michaud Memorial Manor in August of 2021.
Lucille and Joseph lived a very strong Catholic faith-filled life. Lucille and Joe always welcomed many family and friends during the years on the farm and in their homes. She always had a big garden and did many years of canning and freezing produce. She enjoyed music, making puzzles, playing cards, playing bingo, telling jokes, making cookies and making apple pies. Her specialty was making chocolate chip cookies for all to enjoy. Besides enjoying her own family with Joseph, she cherished the times she spent with her siblings and in-laws on both sides of the family over the years. Many happy memories were made at her parents’ home in West Charleston and Joe’s parents’ home in Derby Line; other gatherings were numerous over the years. Many trips to Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts and locally were made to enjoy family. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
Her much older half-siblings were Yvonne, Midas and Felix Boivin, and Jeanne (Boivin) Levecque. Her Fontaine siblings and in-laws were Theresa (Jim) Peterson, George (Germaine), Lawrence (Gertrude), Adelard (Anita), MaryJane (Ray) Perkins, Lionel, Dorillard (Georgette) Angeline, Anita (Lee) Shorette, and Helen (Robert) Beauregard. She enjoyed a special bond with all of her siblings.
She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph, their twin baby-girls, sons Adrien and Alan, grand-daughter Jennifer and her husband, Benjamin, and many siblings and other family members. She is survived by her brother Dorillard Fontaine, brother-in-law Robert Beauregard, sisters-in-law Rose Patenaude and Pauline Patenaude.
Her 20 surviving grandchildren are: Aaron, Celestiane, Hannah, Christian, Kim, Chad, Jill, Troy, Patrick, Bobbi Jo, Andrew, Natalie, Matthew, Steven, Pamela, Stephanie, Rachel, Nicole, Jordan, and Joanna.
Calling hours will be at Curtis-Britch and Bouffard Funeral Home at 4670 Darling Hill Road, Newport on Sunday, October 18, from 5-8 p.m. and the funeral will be on Monday, October 19, at 11 a.m. at St. Edward’s the Confessor, 59 Elm Street, Derby Line. Burial will follow at St. Edward’s Cemetery in Derby Line.
The family would like to thank Dr. Patrick Keith and staff, and the North Country Hospital and staff. Also, a very special thank-you to all the staff at Michaud Memorial Manor for excellent, compassionate care for Lucille. Donations can be made to Vermont Catholic Charities, P.O. Box 2367, South Burlington, Vermont 05407 for Michaud Memorial Manor.
Online condolences are welcomed at curtis-britch.com.
Douglas “Chip” Nelson Jr.
Douglas “Chip” Nelson Jr., 62, of Derby, died on October 7, 2026, after putting up one hell of a fight.
Chip was a great cow man who never lost his excitement for another day on the farm. Farming was his life’s passion, and getting to share it with his boys was his greatest pride.
He was a man with a lifetime of stories, and few could tell one better. Chip was famous for having nine lives and had the stubbornness to stretch them into ten.
Above all, Chip loved his family. He was endlessly proud of his three boys, to whom he was both a father and a friend. And there was perhaps no role he cherished more than being a grandfather to his eight grandchildren.
He gave freely, laughed often, and never lost his sense of humor, even at the end. He fought until he couldn’t fight anymore, and then, somehow, he fought some more.
He leaves behind a family who loved him fiercely, countless stories worth telling, and a life worth celebrating.
Chip is survived by his parents, Doug Nelson, Sr. (Rosemary Lalime) and Amy Curtis; his siblings: Richard Nelson (Susan), Jen Delabruere (Dan), Jackie Jewett (Matt), Missy Nelson (Devan Biron), and Cy Nelson (Andrea); his sons: Doug Nelson III (David Aranjo), Dylan Nelson (Meg), and Dale Nelson (Bailey); their mother and his friend, Teresa Nelson (Scott Davidson); twenty-one nieces and nephews; and his eight beloved grandchildren: Wylder, Wyatt, Wayden, Warren, Whitney, Crew, Cleo, and Capri.
A celebration of Chip’s life will be held at the East Side Restaurant and Pub on Sunday, October 25, at 2 p.m. Online condolences are welcomed at curtis-britch.com.
DEATH NOTICE
John B. Kenney
John B. Kenney, Colonel, United States Air Force (Retired) died on October 6, 2026, at the age of 98 of natural causes. His cremated remains were placed by his pond at his home in West Glover.
0 shares
