Obituaries

Obituaries September 5, 2012

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Arthur H. Blouin

Arthur H. Blouin, 72, the last of his generation, died on August 27, 2012, in Burlington.
He was born on December 14, 1939, in Barton, the son of George and Roseanna Blouin.
He was a carpenter and handyman who also loved tinkering on cars and helping friends and neighbors in need.
He is survived by the mother of his children, Elizabeth Blouin; Arthur Blouin and his wife, Cheryl Blouin; April Blouin and her companion, Travis Cole; step-children:  Duane Stetson and his wife, Janette, Rosemary Rosado and her husband, Douglas, Homer Stetson and his wife, Arlene, and Rokie Stetson and his wife, Kerry; children from his former marriage:  Rosemarie Loughlin, Donna Blouin, and Albert Blouin; 23 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his sisters:  Geneva White, Belle Blouin and Agnus Blouin; his brothers:  Albert Blouin, and Fredrick Blouin; and also by his daughter Angela Blouin.
Funeral services were held on August 31 in Newport.  Interment followed in St. Paul’s Cemetery in Barton.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at www.curtis-britch.com.

Sandra Geratowski

Sandra J. Woodard Leonard Geratowski, 67, died on Friday, August 31, 2012, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, with two of her daughters and a close family friend by her side.

She is survived by her daughters:  Pamela Leonard of Claremont, New Hampshire, Anne Geratowski of Hinesburg, and Mary Kate Geratowski of Williamsburg, Virginia; her brothers:  Richard Woodard of Waban, Massachusetts, Darrell Woodard of Detroit, Michigan, and Wayne Woodard and Frank Baraw, both of Newport Center; and by her sisters:  Phe Deering of Rochester, and Marilyn “Dolly” Corkins and Marjorie Benjamin, both of Newport.

Funeral services were held on September 4.

Condolences may be expressed to the family in an online guest book at www.knightfuneralhomes.com, where a full obituary appears.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756.

William R. Page

William R. (Bill) Page, 91, longtime Westmore resident, died on Monday, August 27, 2012.

He was born on October 5, 1920, in Somerville, Massachusetts, and raised in Belmont, Massachusetts, where he met his true love, Janet, at their high school graduation (both were second tallest in their class, and were paired to walk together to receive their diplomas).

Mr. Page was a former Polaroid executive and lifelong advocate for world peace.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Tufts University, and his master’s in chemical engineering from MIT.  He began his career with the Atlas Power Company, making explosives used against the Nazis.  He went on to serve as a Lieutenant with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific.  He described, with horror, his experience being dive-bombed by Kamikazes at the Battle of Okinawa.  But after the war he felt great guilt over the atomic bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, saying “there’s always a way to rationalize cruelty.”

Mr. Page was the director of corporate planning at Polaroid Corporation during the company’s heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, guiding the creation of popular instant cameras, and working to get them introduced into the education world.  As just one example of his work there, he taught urban children to use the cameras to visualize their conception of peace and the dream of Martin Luther King Jr.

Mr. Page founded a timber company, Tree Growers Inc., in the 1960s with his good friend Brownie Parker.  While on one level the company maintained forests and sold timber, its primary purpose was the preservation of thousands of acres of pristine woodlands, which, thanks to Mr. Page and his colleagues, are enjoyed by outdoorsmen to this day.  He was an active town meeting member in Lexington for over thirty years, founding the Committee on Aging.  He also volunteered with the Boy Scouts and was very involved at First Parish Church.

After retiring from Polaroid, Mr. and Mrs. Page retired to Westmore.  Mrs. Page’s family had been there since 1907.  It was, in Mr. Page’s view, the finest place on earth.  But he was not content just to hike the beautiful mountains and swim in Lake Willoughby — although he loved these things very much.  His voracious mind and yearning to change the world led him to volunteer his services for the benefit of all Vermonters.  A student of E.O. Wilson and the study of evolutionary psychology, he convinced Joe Patrissi and John Perry of the Vermont State Corrections Department to learn more about human nature.  This led to the creation of a Reparation System, the first of its kind in the United States.  It was based on the human behavioral trait called “reciprocal altruism”; when we do good things, good things happen in return.  First time offenders were put to work in their communities, doing some good instead of escalating bad behavior with more bad behavior learned in prisons.  According to Mr. Perry, the Vermont Reparation System is now being used in 42 states, in schools, and in nations around the world.  Thanks to Mr. Page, many people who might otherwise be failing to live up to their potential have become successful citizens.  His ideas are detailed in his unpublished book, Natural Democracy:  Governance by Human Nature.

While Mr. Page was a man of many achievements, he believed his greatest accomplishment was his five sons — Calvin, Charles, Nick, John, and Ted.  It takes two to tango, however, and before any children could be born and raised it was essential for Mr. Page to win over Mrs. Page.  Longtime Westmore friend, Wayne French, recounts a story Mr. Page loved to tell.  “He told me of the time during his early married years when he borrowed his father-in-law’s boat and motor.  While out on the lake the motor came loose from the boat and sank to the bottom of the lake.  He came back and found a hook and rope, went back out on the lake and upon finding the oil slick he managed to retrieve the motor with the hook. When talking about it he says that the successful recovery of the motor saved his marriage.”

He is survived by his five sons, nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren — none of whom profess to have his maritime skills.

There will be a memorial service on Tuesday, September 18, at 1 p.m. at the First Parish Church in Lexington, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, those interested may make donations to the Westmore Community Church, 27 Hinton Hill Road, Orleans, VT 05860.  The good people at the church were very kind to Mr. Page in his last years, welcoming him on Sunday mornings, greeting him with a smile.

Anyone who would like to send a card that will be displayed at the Massachusetts memorial reception, please mail them to Nick Page, 5 Walnut Street, Melrose, Massachusetts 02176.

Patricia Veronica Place

Patricia Veronica Place, 79, of Derby Line died on Sunday, September 2, 2012, in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

She was born on July 10, 1933, in Bronx, New York, a daughter of William and Barbara (Wolanek) Gueth.

On November 9, 1952, she married Philip Place who survives her.

She was a member of St. Edward’s Catholic Church and Altar Society.  She was also a volunteer for 40 years at North Country Hospital and, being an Army wife, she traveled around the world for 21 years.  She was an avid seamstress, knitter, and basket maker and enjoyed all types of crafts.

She is survived by her husband Philip Place of Derby Line; the following children:  Theresa Stokes and her husband, Nicholas, of Yorktown, Virginia, Elizabeth Place and her partner, Anthony Eastwood, of West Chesterfield, New Hampshire, Michael Place of Newport, Patricia S. Place of Newport, Margaret M. Place and her partner, Clifford Gaudette, of Pownal, and Mary Becker and her husband, Paul, of Bennington; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a sister, Barbara Low, of Cooperstown, New York; and by numerous nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by a son, Peter Place; and by a sister, Katherine Gregory.

Friends may call from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 6 at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road in Newport.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 7 at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Derby Line, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated.  Interment will follow in St. Edward’s Cemetery.

Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the St. Edward’s Altar Society, 250 Main Street, Derby Line, Vermont 05830.

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

Ruth M. Skinner

Ruth M. Skinner, 90, former resident of Irasburg, died on Friday, August 24, 2012, at the Maple Lane Nursing Home in Barton.

She was born in Barton on October 25, 1921, the daughter of Joseph and Fleda (Vinton) Racine.

She was raised and attended grade school in West Charleston.  On July 25, 1953, she married Myron Skinner in Lyndonville.  They made their home in Irasburg where she was active in and received her 50-year pin with the Indevale Chapter #61 Order of Eastern Star.

She leaves a sister, Ruby Choiniere of Derby Line; a brother, Rudy Racine of Florida; a stepdaughter, Myra Gauthier of Colchester; her son Paul Jr. and his wife, Kimberly, and their two children; and several nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her parents; her husband Myron; a daughter, Mary Jane; a son, Myron Jr.; a stepdaughter, Ruth Holbrook; and by her special friend, Lynn Perry.

A graveside service will be held at the Pleasant View Cemetery in Orleans, at a date and time to be announced.  There will be no calling hours.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Jones Memorial Library, 1 Water Street, P.O. Box 3, Orleans, Vermont 05860-0038; or to a charity of one’s choice.

William Lewis Slaiby

William Lewis Slaiby, 76, of Derby died suddenly on Monday, August 27, 2012, in Newport.

He was born on August 11, 1936, in Torrington, Connecticut, a son of Samman and Mary (Ferris) Slaiby.

On October 31, 1981, he married Jacalyn Choiniere who survives him.

He graduated from Torrington High School and the Oliver Wolcott Technical School, both in Torrington.  He retired after 20 years of service from Kollsman Instruments in Merrimack, New Hampshire, as well as several years at Raytheon in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Among his hobbies were spending time with his family, and he enjoyed reading, walking, traveling, playing cards, working in his workshop and tinkering.

He was a veteran of the United States Army.  He held a membership with the Derby Fish and Game Club in Derby.

He is survived by his wife Jacalyn Slaiby of Derby; by their children:  Cynthia Keator of Berlin, New Hampshire, Cherie Tate of Londonderry, New Hampshire, Marie Hardiman and her husband, Stephen, of Nashua, New Hampshire, Daniel Slaiby and Linda Jean of Nashua, New Hampshire, Linda Slaiby of Hudson, New Hampshire, and Sandra Palladino and her husband, Vincent, of Hudson; by his grandchildren:  Shane, George, Ryan, Sandra, Tanya, Kyle, Terry, Erica, Amanda, Czar, Emerald, Daniel, and Kaiden; by 12 great-grandchildren;  by his sisters:  Eva LaCombe and Emma McMilleon, both of Torrington; and by several nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by a son, William Charles Slaiby; his grandson R. Joshua Switser; and by his siblings:  Mayer Slaiby, Edna Rossi and Lena Thebarge.

A graveside service was held on September 2 at the Little Salem Lake Cemetery in Derby, with military honors.

Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Pope Memorial Animal Shelter, 502 Strawberry Acres Road, Newport, Vermont 05855.

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

Services

Pam Crandall

Memorial services for Pam Crandall, who died on July 13, 2012, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 8, at the First Universalist Church in Derby Line.  A catered reception will follow.

James Cunningham

Committal services for James Cunningham, who died on on December 24, 2011, will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 8 at Pine Grove Cemetery in Newport, with the Reverend Richard Whitehill officiating.

Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be sent to Phyllis Cunningham, 25 Church Street, Apartment 2, Orleans, Vermont 05860.

Death notices

Joseph Romeo Lionel Blais

Joseph Romeo Lionel Blais, 80, of Newport died peacefully on Sunday, September 2, 2012, at his home among family.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 5 at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road in Newport.  Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 6 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Newport, where a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated.  Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery with full military honors.  Members of the Knights of Columbus will meet at 7 p.m. at the funeral home on September 5 for prayers.

Hedy L. Carrier

Hedy L. Carrier, 40, of Glover died on Friday, August 31, 2012, in Newport.

Friends may call at the Curtis-Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home in Barton on Friday, September 7 from 4 to 6 p.m., where funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 8.  Interment will follow in Westlook Cemetery in Glover.

A. Michael Richard

A. Michael Richard, 71, of Newport died peacefully on Sunday, September 2, 2012, at his home after a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family.

Calling hours will be held at the Curtis- Britch-Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road in Newport, on Friday, September 7 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.  A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, September 8 in Nashua, New Hampshire.  Contact Curtis-Britch Funeral Home at 334-2720 for details.  A private burial will take place at a later date.

Donald W. Nutbrown

Donald W. Nutbrown, 74, of Orleans died on Sunday, September 2, 2012, at his home.

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, September 8 at the Orleans American Legion Hall from 1 to 4 p.m.

Colin C. Sheehan

Colin C. Sheehan, 65, of Richford died on Sunday, September 2, 2012, at his home, with his family present.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, September 6 at the Spears Funeral Home in Enosburg Falls from 5 p.m. until the funeral at 7 p.m.  Interment will be held on Friday, September 7 at 3 p.m. in the Fort Ethan Allen Cemetery in Colchester.

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