Rock N. “Rocky” Desroches
Rock N. Desroches, 67, died in Winter Haven, Florida, on March 8, 2017.
He was born December 18, 1949, in Granby, Quebec, to Raymond and Cecile Desroches.
In 1957 the family moved to North Troy. In 1973, Mr. Desroches married the late Suzanne Quirion who predeceased him in 1998. They had two children together, Alan and Nicole. In the spring of 2002, Mr. Desroches was naturalized and was proud of becoming a U.S. citizen. In 2003, he married Judy Judd Royer who survives him, as does her daughter Jessica, who Mr. Desroches treated like his own daughter.
He was a man of many talents. Whether it was working on vehicles, snow machines, tractors, chainsaws, building homes, cutting trees, planting gardens, or landscaping, he would give it a try. He would try to do any kinds of repairs himself before calling in a professional. Most of the time it worked out for him. If anyone had a project going on, Mr. Desroches would show up out of the blue, with his signature “C-gar” in his mouth, ready to lend a hand for the day. Whenever he was around people knew it. Despite his illness, Mr. Desroches was always able to make others laugh and always had a big smile on his face along with his big bushy mustache.
Mr. Desroches started as a farmer, then became a carpenter. Later, he spent most of his working career as a truck driver — first doing long haul trucking for Burkewitz Transport, then local driving for Barrup Farms.
Upon retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Desroches started spending winters in Florida and summers in Vermont. They loved traveling between the two states. Even though Mr. Desroches was retired, he just could not get the truck driver out of him. He usually made the trip in just two days, instead of taking his time to enjoy the scenery, which drove his family crazy. He would just laugh, and in return, it made them laugh, too.
Mr. Desroches is survived by his son Alan and his wife, Lisa, and their three children: Nathaniel and Natashia Brooks, and Julia Desroches; by his daughter Nicole Brewer and her husband, Jim, and their three children: Benjamin, Levi, and Alexis; by his stepdaughter Jessica Farrar and her husband, Jared, and their two children: Kadin and Kiley. He is also survived by his sisters Raymonde Mayhew, and Jocelyne Gage and her husband, Terry. He is survived by many wonderful brothers- and sisters-in-law; nieces; nephews; and their families.
He was predeceased by his parents; his first wife; and three brothers: infant Jacques, Gilles, and Jean-Pierre Desroches; and by several in-laws he always cherished.
A Catholic burial and celebration of his life will be arranged at a later date at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in his memory to the Ron Holland Dialysis Center at North Country Hospital in Newport.
Interment will take place at St. Theresa’s Catholic Cemetery in Orleans. Online condolences can be shared at curtis-britch.com.
Urban A. Flynn Jr.
Urban A. Flynn Jr, 73, of Derby, died on March 5, 2017, in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
He was born on September 13, 1943, in Newport to Urban Sr. and Louise (Rollins) Flynn. On July 4, 1996, he married Jane Royer who survives him. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
He was employed for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department before retiring after 23 years. Mr. Flynn was a member of the Newport American Legion, North Country Swingers, Derby Alumni Association, and a supporter of the American Red Cross where he had donated many gallons of blood. He enjoyed officiating at basketball and softball games as a referee and umpire. He loved going to camp deer hunting, fishing, card playing, and especially square dancing. He and Mrs. Flynn traveled to many different states. He also enjoyed gardening much to Mrs. Flynn’s delight because then she didn’t have to. He was also a danger to the neighborhood with his chainsaw in his hands.
He is survived by his wife, Jane, of Derby; by his children: Shawn Flynn and his wife, Anne, Sara Holst and her husband, Jim, Scott Flynn and his wife, Heidi, Paula Pollander and her husband, Peter, and Peter Mason and his wife, Tonya by 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; by his sister Lorraine Lontine and her husband, Raymond; by his brothers-in-law: David Royer and his wife, Diane, and Gerard Royer and his wife, Patricia. He was predeceased by his sister Judy Essaff; and by both his parents.
A Mass was celebrated on March 10 at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Derby Line with the Reverend Yvon Royer officiating. Spring interment will be in Derby Center Cemetery. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Mary Wright Halo Foundation, 1073 Upper Quarry Road, Newport, Vermont 05855. Online condolences can be shared at curtis-britch.com.
Laura B. Marin
Laura B. Marin, 65, of Newport, died on March 7, 2017, in Newport.
She was born on November 7, 1951, in Easton, Maryland, to Nelson and Olive (Bell) Yeatman. On November 22, 1969, she married Alfred Marin who survives her.
Mrs. Marin was employed in the produce department at Price Chopper. She enjoyed reading, craftwork, and animals.
She is survived by her husband Alfred Marin of Newport; by her son Alfred Marin Jr. and his wife, Susanne of Levitton, New York; and by her grandchildren: Leandra and Francis. She is also survived by her siblings: Bernard Yeatman and his wife, Gail, of South Carolina, James Yeatman and his wife, Annie, of Delaware, Larry Yeatman and his wife, Nell, of Easton, and Linda Street and her husband, Joseph, of Preston, Maryland; her brother-in-law Frederick Marin and his wife, Lisha, of Proctorsville; and by several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. She was predeceased by her brother Michael.
Funeral services were held on March 11 at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road, in Newport, with the Reverend James Merriam officiating. Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter, 502 Strawberry Acres, Newport, Vermont 05855.
Online condolences can be shared at curtis-britch.com.
Dorothy V. Monfette
Dorothy V. Monfette, 90, died in Newport on March 7, 2017, surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Monfette was born in Newport on January 12, 1927, to William and Elizabeth Curtis (Laplante). The family lived in St. Johnsbury for a time before moving back to Newport and settling on Orchard Street where she grew up. A child of the Great Depression, her young life was difficult at times. She never dwelled on that part of her childhood. She told stories of winter days sledding on the hill below Bogner’s, and in summer picking berries there. When our Mom was 14 years old a family moved into town and she met and fell in love with Paul Monfette. They married on August 9, 1942. The following year they welcomed their first child into the world and soon after Mr. Monfette was drafted and off to war. He was gone for more than two years and Mrs. Monfette carried on raising her baby and living on rations. When Mr. Monfette returned, it took a few years but they were able to build a home of their own on Hill Street in Newport. They had four more daughters and lived in that house for the rest of their lives. Mr. Monfette died last April after 74 years of marriage.
Mrs. Monfette had a few different jobs over her lifetime, but her children and home were her passions. The family spent many a night in bed falling asleep to the sound of her at the sewing machine making new school clothes. She made sure we went on a vacation every year, singing in the car on our way to our adventure. Her energy knew no bounds. She turned an old cow pasture into a yard where all the kids in the neighborhood came to play baseball or go down the slippery slide. Once the children grew older, Mrs. Monfette reclaimed that yard and turned it into one of the prettiest in the city. Her flowerbeds are a true labor of love — full of perennials that will keep her memory alive. Over the years Mrs. Monfette worked mostly as a nurse’s aide but also made custom cakes at our home. She would make giant wedding cakes and every surface in the house would be covered with little sugar flowers she had made and left drying on waxed paper. Her homemade candy was the best around. After the daughters were out on their own, Mrs. Monfette began volunteering. Her work as an advocate for the poor, and the victims of domestic violence have had a lasting impact on the community. She worked on countless toy drives and collected every year for the American Cancer Society. Mrs. Monfette’s work as a hospice volunteer brought comfort to so many families through the years. She gave her time and energy freely and with love and great compassion for others. Mrs. Monfette is survived by her five naughty daughters and three sons-in-law who were her sons: Shelia and Alan Sisco, Paulette and Alvin Simard, Sue and Maury Tinker, Jackie Monfette, and Tammi Monfette. She leaves her grandchildren: Larry Maxwell, Jennifer Simard, Joseph Simard, Jeffrey Markum, Barry Shelton, Sarah Soskin, Emily Soskin, and Jonah Monfette; her great-grandchildren: Amanda, Christopher, Nicholas, A.J., Lexi, Dylan, Ava, Austin, Kaya, Kingston, Elsie, Isabelle, Alyssa, Jackson, and one on the way. She had one great-great-grandchild, Ivey; and is survived by two sisters-in-law: Blanche Monfette and Marilyn Curtis. She was predeceased by her husband, Paul; her siblings: Vivian Hamlin, Shirley Miller, Alice Hackett, Gladys (Red) Theberge, and William Curtis. She was also predeceased by her beloved granddaughter Jackie Simard.
Funeral services were held on March 13 at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Newport. Spring interment will be on May 10 at 2 p.m. at St. Mary’s cemetery in Newport.
Online condolences may be made at www.curtis-britch.com.
Helen Pauline Ricard
Helen P. Ricard, 79, of Canton, Connecticut, died unexpectedly in Hartford, Connecticut, on February 22, 2017.
She was born in Newport, on August 21, 1937, to Raoul and Arlene (Robitaille) Ricard. Ms. Ricard is survived by four siblings: Andre Ricard of Newport, Gerald Ricard of Canton, Connecticut, David Ricard of North Carolina, and Cecile Ricard of Canton.
Ms. Ricard loved her five devoted children: Cathy, Peggy, Lynn, Michael, and Lisa. She is also survived by ten grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was employed at the Hartford Insurance Company for 20 years, which she retired from in 1996. She became a member of the Second Congregational Church of Winsted in Winsted, Connecticut, in 1998. Not long thereafter, she became a member of the church choir. Her hobbies were sewing and music. She enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as many friends.
Services were held on March 4 at the Second Congregational Church of Winsted.
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