Obituaries

Obituaries April 8, 2015

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obit ChaffeeIda Edna Chaffee

Ida Edna Chaffee, 91, of Albany died peacefully on April 3, 2015, in Newport.

She was born on November 16, 1923, in Albany to Mark and Ida (Keith) Honsinger.

On November 26, 1945, she married Dale Chaffee, who predeceased her on March 13, 2014.

She was a member of the Albany United Methodist Church. She enjoyed baking for the church dinners, tending to her flower gardens, knitting, and crocheting.

She is survived by her children: Ida Burdick and Mark Chaffee, both of Albany; her grandchildren: Willard “Andy” Burdick of Woodsville, New Hampshire, and Jonathan Dale Burdick and his wife, Joanna, of Claremont, New Hampshire; her great-grandchildren: Alyssa, Matthew, Austin, Peyton, Davan, Jacob, and Logan; her sister-in-law Beverly Chaffee of Montpelier; and by several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by half brothers: Lynn, Charles, and Harry Rowell.

Friends may call at the Curtis-Britch and Davis Funeral Home on Craftsbury Common on Wednesday, April 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 10, at the Albany United Methodist Church with the Reverend Nathan Strong officiating. Spring interment will be in the Albany Village Cemetery.

Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.

obit CresswellGregory A. Cresswell

Gregory A. Cresswell, 67, of Newport Center died on April 1, 2015, in Newport.

He was born on June 10, 1947, in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, to Stephen and Martha (Confer) Cresswell.

On April 20, 1974, he married Nancy Pollander, who survives him.

He graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He retired in 1999 as an environmental engineer for Mobil Oil Corp. He was a member of the National Guard in Connecticut.

He held memberships with the Exxon-Mobil Retirees Club, Penn State Alumni Association, OSHA Life Long Learning Group, and the North Country Swingers.

He enjoyed tending to his flower gardens, and frog hunting with his grandsons, daughter, and Bryan. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, boating, football, listening to country music with Leo, traveling, camping, snowshoeing, shoveling with his grandsons, and tending to his three aquariums.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Cresswell, of Newport Center; his daughter Desiree Cresswell and her companion, Bryan Elmer, of Coventry; his grandsons: Leo, Saige, and Travis; and by his brother Christopher Cresswell and his wife, Rita, of Longhorne, Pennsylvania.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newport, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated. Spring interment will be in Lake Road Cemetery in Newport Center.

Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Mary Wright Halo Foundation, 1071 Upper Quarry Road, Newport, Vermont 05855.

Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.

obit dalleyEthel Elizabeth Dalley

Ethel Elizabeth Dalley, 82, of Derby died peacefully on March 31, 2015, in Newport.

She was born on May 8, 1932, in Cambridge, New York, daughter of James and Florence (Gray) Hess. On October 4, 1950, in Johnson, she married Winfield Dalley Jr., who predeceased her in 2006.

During her younger years, she spent her time in Arlington and Johnson, graduating from Johnson High School with honors. After marriage, she spent her adult life living in Derby Line, Island Pond, Norton, and lastly in Derby. For many years, she was the bookkeeper for the famous Buck & Doe Restaurant. She kept herself busy volunteering in her communities holding town appointments, helping establish the Island Pond Medical Center, Home Health, working for the church suppers at the congregational church, and many hours for the Republican committee. She had very strong beliefs and shared them freely. She was the backbone of her family. Her greatest joy was helping so many during difficult times. She was extremely intelligent and a very giving person with a big heart, always thinking of others.

She loved living in the Northeast Kingdom, spending time with her family on the lake, skiing, and snowmobiling. She was known as the “White Tornado” on the snowmobile. She was an avid NASCAR fan. She enjoyed gardening and moving rocks. Mostly, she enjoyed time and talks with so many friends.

She will be deeply missed by her family: her son and his wife, Robert and Annette Dalley, of East Burke, and their two children: Jennifer Dalley of Breckenridge, Colorado, and Joshua Dalley and his wife, Ivy, of Mancos, Colorado; her daughter Denise Shannon of Plant City, Florida, and her children: Angel Shannon and Kaylan Murray of Rutland, Luis Shannon and Heather and Peter St. Onge of Plant City; and five great-grandchildren: Onnalise and Damon Shannon of Rutland, and Heavyn and Neese Shannon and Brynley St. Onge of Plant City. She also leaves her extended family, which includes these cherished children: Janice Wing of South Burlington; Al and Sharon Canfield of Milton and daughter Amie of South Hadley, Massachusetts; Speedo Deskins of Holland and his children: Damian and his wife, Abbie Deskins, and their daughters: Iliana of Holland and Anna Deskins and her daughter Kaya of Newport; and Steve Lontine of North Troy and his children: Ashley and Colby of Georgia. She also leaves many other special friends: Roberta “Tootie” Chesney of Island Pond and Donald Phillips of Florida.

She was predeceased by her son-in-law Randall Shannon on March 28, 2015; and by her two brothers: James Hess Jr. of Belchertown, Massachusetts, and Charles Hess of Morrisville.

obit DubeStephen J. Dube

Stephen J. Dube died on the first day of spring, on March 20, 2015, at home, with his family at his side.

He was born in Brattleboro on December 29, 1946, to Michael Angelo and Beulah Hefflon Dube. He moved to Connecticut with his family and later graduated from Bassick High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He then graduated from Bridgeport Engineering School and worked for Avco and Sikorsky Aircraft as a technical writer.

In 1980, he returned to Vermont and built his house on Willoughby Lake, where he lived for over 30 years. He made molds and cement statuary, particularly gargoyles and Buddhas. He brokered church salvage, especially stained glass windows and architectural elements. He loved nature, flowers, plants and animals. His wild birds were very special to him. He moved to Newfane two years ago.

He leaves a brother, Jack, and his wife, Jean; his sister Carol Courcier; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was predeceased by his parents; his sister “Babe” and brother “Mickey.”

There will be a celebration of his life on Saturday, April 25, at All Souls Church in West Brattleboro.

obit okeefeKeith O’Keefe

Keith O’Keefe, 27, of Newport died suddenly in Jay on April 3, 2015.

He was born on August 17, 1987, in Newport, to Roger O’Keefe and Kimberly Ovitt Henderson. He was employed at Jay Peak Ski Resort in the IT Services Department, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He lived life large and to the fullest. He had many friends who claimed him as a best friend. He always kept them on their toes with his sharp wit. He absolutely loved music and jamming with his friends. He loved to strum on his guitar and had recently discovered karaoke. He also loved writing. He will be missed by many although he is joining his beloved Grammy Bertha, whom he loved and missed dearly.

He is survived by his father Roger O’Keefe and his wife, Shawnda, of Ferdinand; his mother Kimberly Ovitt Henderson and her husband, Kevin Henderson, of Roanoke Alabama; his brothers: Matthew Gray and his wife, Sherry, and their daughter Adalee Grace of Delta Alabama, and Jacob O’Keefe of Ferdinand; his grandparents: Alan Ovitt and his wife, Wanda, of Lithia Springs, Georgia, Cathy Irvin and her husband, Pete Irvin, of Sylacauaga Alabama; his uncle Michael O’Keefe and his partner, Linda Deslandes, of Island Pond; his favorite uncle, Pat O’Keefe, and his wife, Lisa, of Island Pond; his uncle Gary O’Keefe and his wife, Ginette, of Island Pond; his aunt Vicky O’Keefe of Island Pond; his aunt Vicki Ovitt Lyons of Roanoke; his aunt Heidi Irvin of Vincent, Alabama; his uncle Robert Leigh of Carrolton, Georgia; his cousin Jon O’Keefe and his wife, Crystal, of Island Pond; his cousin Laurie Adams and her husband, Jeff Adams, of Jericho; his cousin Tom O’Keefe of Silver Springs, Maryland; his cousin Molly Ducharme and her husband, Lucien Ducharme, and their daughter Alexis of Weathersfield; and his cousins: William Lyons and Romello Lyons of Roanoke.

He was predeceased by his grandmother Bertha O’Keefe; and by his grandfather Lawrence “Muscles” O’Keefe of Island Pond.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, at 1199 Railroad Street in Island Pond. Friends may call at the funeral home on April 11, from 9 a.m. until the hour of the funeral. A reception will follow at the American Legion Hall in Island Pond.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made at any Passumpsic Savings Bank branch for the Keith O’Keefe Memorial Fund.

Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.

obit seubeHelen Seube

Helen Seube, 85, of Staten Island, New York, died on Friday, March 27, 2015, at Staten Island University Hospital.

She was a retired teacher, a beloved fixture in her West Brighton neighborhood community and a woman whose passions were singing, art and people.

The lifelong West Brighton resident was born Helen Lesch. She graduated from Notre Dame Academy High School and earned her bachelor’s degree from the former Notre Dame College, both in the Grymes Hill neighborhood in Staten Island. She received her master’s degree in education from Wagner College, also Grymes Hill.

Mrs. Seube embarked on her long teaching career at PS 20 in Port Richmond in Staten Island, where she taught art for over ten years. She then taught first-graders at PS 45 in West Brighton for 20 years, until retiring in 1994 to care for her husband, Laurent Sr., during his illness.

She started the PS 45 Retirees Club for teachers in 1996, and enjoyed catching up with colleagues and meeting newly retired teachers.

Growing up, she loved to play tennis and was a mainstay on the courts at Walker Park in Staten Island. She also loved music and singing, and with her brother Carl Lesch, the late well-known choral director and music teacher, sang at functions and venues all over the island. She was honored in 2009 at the St. Peter’s Girls and Boys Glee Club/Seton Chorale

Mrs. Seube’s creativity and artistic bent were expressed in the many original quilts she made. She loved going to her house in Vermont and spending time there. She vacationed at Willoughby Lake in Westmore for over 50 years, spending summers at her home there, “The Bug’s Ear.” And although she considered herself a bit shy, she was a true people person.

“She was one of the dearest, sweetest, most wonderful people. Everyone loved her, and she knew so many people from her teaching and singing, they would stop her on the street, and in her neighborhood. She was just remarkable,” said her daughter Cheryl LaBelle.

Mrs. Seube also enjoyed the companionship of her miniature poodle, Susie.

She was a parishioner of Sacred Heart R.C. Church in West Brighton, where she was a soloist in the choir and also counted the collections on Monday mornings.

She is survived by her daughter Cheryl LaBelle and her husband, Mark, of Summit, New Jersey; her sons: Laurent Seube Jr. of Staten Island, and Mark Seube of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania; and by her two grandchildren: Katie and Mark Seube of Hamilton, New Jersey.

Laurent Seube Sr., her husband of 48 years, died in 2000.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Funeral services were held on April 1 in West Brighton. Burial will take place in the spring in Lakeview Cemetery in Westmore.

Marcel G. Therrien

Marcel G. Therrien, 70, died on March 30, 2015, in Orleans.

He was born on January 17, 1945, in Newport Center, to Leo and Simone (Rondeau) Therrien.

After graduating from Sacred Heart High School, Mr. Therrien served in the U.S. Air Force as a C-141 aircraft mechanic.

On June 24, 1972, he married Janice Sargent, who survives him. They enjoyed traveling, especially going to Utah to visit their daughter and her family. In their younger years, they enjoyed going to dances. Mr. Therrien liked to tell stories and jokes and would carry on a conversation with anyone he came in contact with. He also enjoyed haying, mowing the lawn, and any activity that gave him the opportunity to drive a tractor. He always took pride in keeping his farm and property looking nice. He would readily lend a hand to family and friends when needed and he was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He is survived by his wife, Janice, of Derby; his two children: Evan Therrien and his wife, Fran, of Derby, and Meredith Hand and her husband, Joshua, of Hooper, Utah; three grandchildren: Serena and Kallie Hand of Hooper, and Samantha Smith of Derby; and by his brothers and sisters: Andre Therrien and his wife, Wilma, Francine Thayer and her husband, Ronald, Helene Suhr and her husband, Dean, Maria Osias and her husband, Paul, Roland Therrien and his wife, Joan, Gilles Therrien and his wife, Jeanette, and Julien Therrien. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and several brothers- and sisters-in-law.

He was predeceased by a sister and her husband, Monique and Ken Washburn.

Funeral services were held on April 7, in Derby Line. Spring interment will be held at the Derby Center Cemetery in Derby.

Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the United Service Organization (USO), Department WS, P.O. Box 96860, Washington, D.C. 20090; or to Disabled American Veterans (DAV), care of Winston Dowland, Whittier Road, Derby Line, Vermont 05830.

Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch.com.

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