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FRANCOISE M. (COMTOIS) GAGNON, 92, of
Spring Hill, FL, formerly of Barre, passed away Dec.
23, 2017, in the comfort of her daughter and son-inlaw’s
home. She was born in Laurierville, Que., Canada,
and moved to the United States where she and her husband
raised their family in Barre. She owned and operated
a motel business on the Barre-Montpelier Road.
She attended Boulevard Bible Church for many years
which was pastored by her son-in-law, Rev. Paul
Berglund, whom she considered as one of her sons. She
was an accomplished Hawaiian guitarist, and had been
blessed with a beautiful voice. She belonged to the
Catholic Daughters of America. She made beautiful
crafts which included wreaths and gorgeous floral
arrangements for her family and friends. She was quite
the little artist and could draw and paint anything. She is
survived by three daughters, Pierrette Berglund, of
Spring Hill, FL, Nicole Hutchins, of Bennington, VT,
and France Danyow, of Spring Hill, FL: two sons,
Rejean Gagnon, of Montpelier, VT, and Pierre Gagnon,
of Washington, VT; a sister, Jeanne St. Pierre, of
Victorville, Que., Canada; 12 grandchildren; 13 greatgrandchildren;
and two great-great-grandchildren.
BEVERLY E. GAVIN, 83, of Short Street, passed away on
Dec. 25, 2017, at her home. Born Nov. 23, 1934, in
Graniteville, she was the daughter of Raymond A. and Eleanor
(Reilly) Craige. She attended local elementary schools and
graduated from Spaulding High School with the class of 1952.
On Oct. 10, 1953, she married Robert Louis Gavin at the St.
Sylvester Catholic Church in Graniteville. After they married,
they made their home in East Barre before moving to
Graniteville. Beverly was a homemaker enjoying time spent
with her family at home and at the family camp on Lake Eligo
in Greensboro. Survivors include her husband, Robert L.
Gavin, of Graniteville; her son, Michael Gavin, also of
Graniteville; her daughter, Kay O’Neil and her husband,
Frank, of Barre; her sister, Joyce Blouin, of Barre Town; her
grandson, granddaughter, and a great grandson.
DENYSE D. GEAKE, 78, of Hersey Drive, passed away on
Dec. 29, 2017. Born in Barre Town on Sept. 24, 1939, she was
the daughter of the late J. Louis and Simone (Cloutier)
Dessureau. Denyse attended St. Monica Catholic School and
was a graduate of Spaulding High School, Class of 1959. On
June 18, 1960, she married Ronald Geake in St. Monica
Catholic Church in Barre. The couple made their home in
Barre where they raised their family. Denyse was employed at
Bombardier Transportation in Websterville for 20 years. Her
sense of humor was enjoyed by family and friends. The one
thing she was most proud of were her children. Survivors
include her husband of 57 years of marriage, Ronald Geake,
of Barre; her daughters Susan Clark and her husband, John
Clark, of Rutland Town, Paula Lefebvre and her husband,
Denis, of Williamstown, VT, Robyn Truman and her husband,
Jon, of MD; also a son, John, of Barre. She is also survived by
six grandchildren; as well as eight great-grandchildren. She
leaves behind her siblings Dennis Dessureau, of VA, Andre
Dessureau, of Washington, VT, Fred Dessureau, of Woodridge
Nursing Home in Berlin, Renee Dessureau, of FL, Robin
Dessureau, of Barre Town, Claire Dessureau, of Barre City;
also, a special niece, Diane Lohr, of Barre City, as well as
many nieces and nephews.
WILMA ATHALIE (BARTLETT) GRIFFITH, 92, a resident
of Franklin, died Dec. 31, 2017, at the Merrimack
County Nursing Home in Boscawen, NH, following a period
of failing health. Wilma was born in Marshfield, VT, Oct. 31,
1925, daughter of Leland and Violet Mae (Rushlow) Bartlett.
She lived in Worcester, MA, Barre and Plainfield, VT, before
moving to Franklin. Wilma graduated from Plainfield High
School. A homemaker, she also taught piano and organ at her
home in Worcester and enjoyed playing the accordion and
loved cats. A Mormon, Wilma was a member of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and was honored to serve a
mission with her husband at the Washington, D.C., temple.
She leaves her sons, Steven J. Griffith, of High Point, NC, and
Robert K. Griffith, of Franklin; 11 grandchildren and 21 greatgrandchildren;
her sister, Ruth Thurber, of Franklin; generational
nieces and nephews.
STACEY HANCHETT, 56, of Barre Street, died on Dec. 30,
2017, after a brief illness. Born on April 3, 1961, in St.
Johnsbury, VT, he was the son of Philip and Marian (Morris)
Hanchett. Stacey graduated from Montpelier High School in
1980. After graduation, he began working at the State of
Vermont Department of Liquor Control in Montpelier. Stacey
enjoyed running and was an avid race fan attending races
weekly at Thunder Road. He also enjoyed bowling, hiking
and other outdoor activities. Survivors include his mother,
Marian (Morris) Hanchett, of Barre; his brothers Steve
Hanchett, of Sarasota, FL, Terry Hanchett, also of Sarasota,
FL, and Thomas Hanchett and his wife, Lori (Mattson), along
with their children Bryton and Kirsten Hanchett, of
Contoocook, NH.
ANGELO INCERPI, age 77, died unexpectedly while working
in his barn on Dec. 30, 2017. Angelo was born in
Providence, RI, on July 10, 1940, son to the late Alfred and
Marguerite (Zamperini) Incerpi. He was raised in Pawtucket,
RI, graduating from Moses Brown School with the Class of
1958. He began his post-secondary education at the University
of Idaho (Moscow) and later transferred to the University of
Maine (Orono) and received a B.S. degree in Wildlife &
Fisheries Management in 1963. Angelo married Virginia A.
Ricciarelli on June 15, 1963, and shared over 54 years of marriage
together. He worked as a fisheries biologist in Maine
until moving to Danville, VT, in 1967 to work for the State of
Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department where he was employed
until his retirement as director of operations in 2002. This
spring, he will be awarded the Northeast Fisheries
Administrators Association Career Achievement Award. He is
the first ever recipient of this award which will be named in
his honor as the “Angelo Incerpi Conservation Award for
Lifetime Achievement.” He is survived by his beloved wife,
Virginia, of Danville; three daughters: Filomena Kersey and
husband Greg, of Hartford, VT: Marianne Brunetto and husband
Scott, of Hinesburg and Danville, VT; Christina Incerpi
and husband Randy Bean, of Williston, VT; a brother, Albert
Incerpi and wife Mary, of Punta Gorda, FL; a sister-in-law,
Diane Heon and husband Edward, of Pawtucket, RI; a cousin;
two grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and his hunting
dog, Rusty.
GARY ALAN KLINEFELTER, 64, of Birchwood Park
Drive, passed away on Dec. 29, 2017, following a courageous
battle with cancer. Born in Rutland, VT, on July 11, 1953, he
was the son of George and Jeanne (Carson) Klinefelter. Gary
spent his youth in Plainfield, VT. He graduated from Twinfield
High School in 1971, where he was an outstanding basketball
player and held the highest career points record for 41 years.
Gary graduated from Vermont Technical College in 1973, and
later attended the University of Vermont where he received a
B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1985. On June 27, 1981, Gary
married Suzy Mills of Chappaqua, NY, in New London, NH.
They lived in Montpelier until 1987 and then moved to Barre
Town. Gary worked as a surveyor for Webster-Martin and
Aquatec in South Burlington. After graduating from UVM, he
worked as a civil engineer for Webster-Martin, followed by 20
years in a business partnership with David Hudson at Vermont
Survey & Engineering in Montpelier. Gary is survived by his
wife, Suzy, and two sons Bob and Bill Klinefelter. Bob and his
wife, Megan, and their young son, Tommy, live in Essex, VT.
Bill and his wife, Andrea, and their infant son, Oliver, live in
Grapevine, TX. Gary is also survived by his brother, Doug
Klinefelter, of South Burlington, VT, and his sister, Grace
Klinefelter of Fairfax, VA; and a large and loving extended
family, including many nieces, nephews, cousins and so many
friends.
GIL KUJOVICH, Professor Emeritus of Vermont
Law School, 71, passed away after a long illness in
the company of his loving wife, Joni Chenoweth, and family
on Dec. 14, 2017, in Boston, MA. Professor Kujovich was
born in 1946 in Chicago, IL. A U.S. Army veteran, he graduated
cum laude from Middlebury College in 1969 and magna
cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1975. He worked in
the U.S. Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit for Judge
Shirley Hufstedler and went on to clerk for U.S. Supreme
Court Justices Potter Stewart and Byron White. He drew on
his professional experience to teach at VLS, specializing in
Constitutional Law, Civil Rights Law and Administrative
Law. He published numerous articles on affirmative action,
desegregation and diversity, and his important work in these
areas contributed to bringing long-overdue diversity to legal
education and to the legal profession. Professor Kujovich is
survived by his beloved wife of 21 years, Joni Chenoweth, of
Indianapolis, Indiana; loving family, including his sister, Jody
Kujovich, and brother-in-law, Ken Strothkamp, of Portland,
OR; his brother, Larry Kujovich, and sister-in-law, Susie
Kujovich, of Chicago, IL; his brother, Ray Kujovich, and
sister-in-law, Rose Kujovich; his sister, Elaine Haller, and her
daughter, Heather; his brother-in-law, Michael Chenoweth,
and sister-in-law, Pamela Pierce, of Coral Gables, FL; his
sister-in-law, Maria Sinkford, and brother-in-law, Bill
Sinkford, of Portland, OR; his sister-in-law, Sara Chenoweth,
of Greensboro, NC; his brother-in-law, John Chenoweth, and
sister-in-law, Claudia Chenoweth, of Portland, OR; his
beloved cousin, Donna Djujic, of Torrance, CA; his nieces
Sheri, Natasha, Zoe and Josie; and his dear friends Tish
Thompson, Robert Dietz and Tina Hoffmann, Shirley
Jefferson, Anna Saxman, Clara Gimenez, Michael Hill, Heide
Scheurer, Rory and Nancy Fairman, and many others.
SUSAN ANN MORSE, 61, passed away on Dec. 26, 2017.
Born in Stockton, CA, on Oct. 12, 1956, she was the daughter
of Marilyn (Harvey) and the late Francis DeForge. On Oct.
29, 1982, she married Wade T. Morse in Waterbury. Susan
was a 1974 graduate of Harwood Union High School. Busy
and happy as a homemaker and raising her children, Susan
later was employed for many years in customer service by
Leahy Press of Montpelier and then as a manager and clerk at
Depot Beverage in Waterbury. She is lovingly remembered
for being a good friend, loving mom, wife and grandmother,
and her joy in spending time with family. Susan is survived by
her husband, Wade T. Morse, of Duxbury; her mother,
Marilyn Zeno, of Waterbury; her children Nicole Thayer, of
Duxbury, Michael Thayer and his wife, Jennifer, of Barre
City; seven grandchildren; her stepchildren Wendy Welch and
her husband, Jim, of Duxbury, Eric Morse, of Berlin; two
sisters Ruth Noel and her husband, Clement, of Underhill, and
Nancy Baker and her husband, Andy, of Northfield; as well as
nieces, nephews and extended family.
DONALD C. RICH, 92, died on Dec. 20, 2017.
He lived with his wife on Brookfield Road, Berlin.
Don was born in Montpelier on Nov. 8, 1925, the son of Ray
and Effie (McFarlane) Rich. He attended Montpelier Public
Schools before enlisting in the United States Army Air Corps.
He served his country by training to be a pilot but was discharged
when the war ended. On June 30, 1946, he married
Lorraine Desilets at St. Augustine Catholic Church. They
celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last year. Don
began working as a field technician for Interstate Equipment
and later, as a salesperson. In 1969, he started J & R
Equipment Co., a John Deere heavy equipment business. He
later worked for McCullough Crushing. One of his favorite
pastimes was watching and feeding the ducks and birds.
Summer and fall days, he and Mickey sat on their breezeway
watching people walk by and looked forward to visiting with
those who stopped to say hello. He is survived by his wife,
Lorraine “Mickey” Rich, of Berlin; son, Steven Rich and his
wife, Susan, of Berlin, and their daughter, Katie John and her
husband, Patrick, of East Montpelier; son, Gary Rich and his
wife, Judy, of Anchorage, AK, and their daughter; daughter,
Pam Rich, of Berlin, and her children, and Shelby Quinn and
her husband, John, of Northfield; son, Kim Rich and his wife,
Pat, of Nelson, NH, and their children; daughter, Bonnie Hall
and her husband, Richard, of East Montpelier, and their children,
and Isabel Hall, of East Montpelier; as well as many
great-grandchildren.
MORRIS ALDEN ROWELL, 85, of Craftsbury, VT, died
on Dec. 28, 2017. He was born on the family farm in South
Albany, VT, on Jan. 13, 1932, the fifth of eight children of
Harry and Helen (Urie) Rowell. Morris attended Craftsbury
Academy, where, in addition to his high scholastic achievements,
he established a reputation for fast driving that would
continue for the rest of his life. Upon graduating in 1950, he
farmed until 1957 with his brother, Marvin, in South Albany.
In January 1957, Morris married Carol Johns, with whom he
started a family that would grow to five children. Also in
1957, he moved from South Albany to East Craftsbury and
began farming at Brassknocker Farm. Over the next 30 years,
Morris grew and modernized the farm. In 1970, Morris and
his brothers Marvin, Hollis and Wilbur purchased Slayton
Motors in Hardwick, Vermont. The business was renamed
Rowell Brothers Inc. and operated continuously for more than
40 years. Morris was deeply involved in the Craftsbury community.
Morris’s wife, Carol, died in October 1973 after a
long illness. Late the following year, Morris married Mary
Anthony Cox, a family friend. Although he never had the
opportunity to go beyond a high school education, he was a
voracious reader of history and biographies. Morris was
widely known for his loyalty, wisdom and kindness. Morris is
survived by his wife, Mary Anthony Rowell; siblings Louise
Kinsey, of Albany, Eunice Kinsey, of Craftsbury, Marvin
Rowell and his wife, Georgette, of Albany, Wilbur Rowell, of
Irasburg, and Harriet Grenier and her husband, Charlie, of
Waterbury; sisters-in-law Ruth Rowell, of Glover, and Alta
Rowell, of Crossville, TN, and Saxtons River, VT; his children
Margaret Rowell and her partner, Saul Treviño, of
Craftsbury, Mary Rowell, of Craftsbury, Frances Rowell, of
North Bergen, NJ, John Rowell and his husband, James Blue,
of Craftsbury, and Washington, DC, and David Rowell, of
Craftsbury; grandchildren Katie Rowell and her fiancé, Tim
Oswald, of Keene, NH, Annie Rowell, of Craftsbury, Carolyn
Rowell and her partner, Elijah Mayhew, of Hardwick, Alden
Blue, of Craftsbury, and Washington, DC, and Effie Blue, of
Craftsbury, and Washington, DC; and great-grandchildren
Eden Mayhew, of Hardwick, and Zoë Oswald, of Keene, NH.
He also leaves 24 nieces and nephews. He was especially
close to Fielda Calderwood, a dear family friend of more than
50 years.
JAMES SAMUEL “SAM” SMITH, 77, died
Dec. 26, 2017. He was born July 16, 1940, in
Hardwick, the son of Howard “Spike” and Irene (Young)
Smith. He graduated in 1958 from Hardwick Academy. Mr.
Smith was in the U.S. Navy 1958-62, serving in the Atlantic
Ocean during the Cuban Crisis and later, in Iceland. He married
Nancy Lou Pudvah in Hardwick Aug. 31, 1968. He was
employed by Fairbanks Scales in St. Johnsbury, Steve Hill
Construction in Hardwick and IBM in Essex. He retired in
2002. Mr. Smith was a member of American Legion Post #7
in Hardwick. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and researching
family genealogy. Survivors include his wife, of Waterbury
Center; two sons Christian Smith, of Chapel Hill, NC, and
Jeremy Smith, of East Montpelier; four grandchildren; two
siblings Michael Smith and Cherie Williams, both of
Craftsbury; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
ROBERT “TIM” SMITH, 72, died Dec. 13, 2017. He was
born July 16, 1945, in Moretown, the son of Allen and Avis
(Goodell) Smith. He graduated in 1964 from Montpelier High
School. Mr. Smith married Beverly Jean Drought in Montpelier
April 17, 1965. He worked for many years with Walter H.
Contracting in Montpelier, Gross Trucking in Northfield and
C&W Services, retiring July 21. He enjoyed doing “search a
word” books, outdoor work and riding his motorcycle.
Survivors include his wife, of Northfield; two children Debra
Walker, of FL, Tina Smith, of Waterbury Center; three siblings
Kenneth Smith, of Hyde Park, Richard Smith, of CT,
Betty Plante of Barre; three grandchildren; many nieces and
nephews.
SISTER THERESA ST. THOMAS (Sister Theresa Ann
Thomas, r.h.s.j.), died on Dec. 18, 2017. She was born in
Shelburne, VT, on Jan. 3, 1928, to Eustace Thomas and Lena
(Hicks), the sixth of 10 children. Besides her sisters in religion,
she leaves her brother, Peter Thomas (Juliet), of
Richmond, VT; her sisters, Julia Mae Cameron, of Shelburne,
VT, Hazel Yencha and Zita Lackenbauer, of CT; her sister-inlaw,
June Thomas, of Hardwick; nieces, nephews and many
friends. At the age of three, Theresa suffered permanent loss
of sight in her left eye; she graduated from Shelburne High
School and entered the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph
community in Winooski in June 1948. She received her RN
nursing education at Fanny Allen Hospital, at Boston College
(her BSN), at Columbia University (her MSE), and at Nova
University (her Ed.D.). Sister St. Thomas served at various
levels of nursing at Fanny Allen and DeGoesbriand hospitals
and Jeanne Mance School of Nursing in Burlington. From
1969-2000, her teaching was focused on nursing education at
Vermont College and Norwich University where she taught
for 31 years. During these years, Sister resided with the
Sisters of Mercy in Montpelier and Burlington. In June 2000,
after a long and distinguished career, Dr. Thomas was awarded
Emerita Professor of Nursing by Norwich University.
BERNICE C. WESTON, 92, died peacefully on Dec. 20,
2017, at the McClure-Miller VNA Respite House in Colchester.
Bernice was born on Oct. 15, 1925, in Essex Center, the
daughter of the late Harry and Bessie (Sheldon) Center. She
graduated from Essex High School and married Frederic
Weston on Feb. 4, 1944, in Burlington. Bernice was bookkeeper
and cashier for Alfred Mansfield Farm Equipment in
Essex Center, later driving school bus for many years, while
helping Frederic on the family farm. She also worked for
Brown’s River Maple and was a homemaker to her family and
all their friends. She is survived by her children, Stephen
Weston and his wife, Connie, of Barre Town, Wendell Weston
and his wife, Merilyn, of Westford, and Loreen Teer and her
husband, Tim, of Westford; by her grandchildren and several
step-grandchildren; her great-grandchildren; and her sister-inlaw,
Rebecca Center, of Foxboro, MA. Bernice also leaves her
“adopted” daughter, Cindy Berg, of Underhill; and her special
family friend, Esther McLaughlin, of Westford; and several
nieces and nephews
January 10, 2018 The WORLD page 9