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Raymond L. Boulanger
Raymond L. Boulanger, 82, of Orleans died at home on Saturday, February 13, 2010.
Mr. Boulanger was born in Orleans on April 5, 1927, a son of Joseph and Evelyn Gwen (Gilson) Boulanger.
In 1948 he married
his high school sweetheart, Elaine Dean, who survives him.
All of his life, he was a small-town boy. The third of 11 children, he grew up on Maple Street during the Depression years and graduated from Orleans High School. He left Orleans only to serve in the United States Navy in the final years of World War II.
Upon his honorable discharge, he returned home and began work at J.B. Colton Company in 1947, a career that would last 52 years. In 1981 he purchased the company — a dream come true — and sold it in 1999. He loved the hardware and building supplies business and always maintained the old-fashioned atmosphere of a small-town country store providing services to the community. He especially appreciated the many loyal customers and friends who came into the store, and he enjoyed working with his dedicated employees. Stories and laughter were always a part of Colton’s store.
In service to his town, he belonged to the Orleans Fire Department and Ambulance Service from 1953 to 1983, the “red phone years.” He served as Orleans Village trustee from 1973 to 1982 and was a director of the Orleans cemetery Association from 1989 to 2003. He was a 63-year member of American Legion Post 23 in Orleans.
He was an avid outdoorsman and deeply valued his many good times fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling with his friends. He especially enjoyed the wilds of Essex County and South America Pond camp, which he helped to build.
Above all else, he was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, spending time with his family, participating in all of his children’s activities, and always being ready to help. Throughout his lifetime, he was generous to all of his family, friends, and community.
He will be deeply missed by his wife of 62 and a half years, Elaine; his daughter Rebecca and her husband, Ballard Perry, of Derby; son Steven and his wife, Margo Boulanger, of Winchester, Massachusetts; and grandsons Christian and Daniel Boulanger of Winchester. He is survived by brothers: Francis, George, David, Leo, Joseph, and Richard Boulanger; by sisters: Rita Hilliard, Eveline Corey, and Catherine Bechert; and by brother-in-law Elwin Dean. He was predeceased by his parents; and by his brother Philip Boulanger.
At Mr. Boulanger’s request, there will be no calling hours or formal service. Burial will be at Pleasant View cemetery in Orleans.
Sanford W. Brown
Sanford W. Brown, 73, of Newport died February 10, 2010, in Newport.
Mr. Brown was born July 19, 1936, in Newport, a son of Wells and Geneva (Wheeler) Brown.
In 1977 he married
Georgette Grenier, who predeceased him in 1990.
He was a milkman for Elmwood Dairy; he retired after 30 years of service.
He and his wife enjoyed going fishing. He coached Babe Ruth baseball for several years and supported his favorite baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals. He was an avid deer hunter. He always enjoyed the companionship of his cats over the years. He was a bowler and a member of many teams over the years. He was a member of the National Guard for four years.
He is survived by his brother Arthur Brown and his wife, Mary, of Derby; by his sister Bonnie Haas and her husband, David, of Stratham, New Hampshire; by nieces and nephews: Ryan and his fiancée, Kristy Chung, of Brighton, Massachusetts, Stephen and his wife, Amy, and their daughter Anna Haas of Stratham, New Hampshire, and Roger Brown and his wife, Cheryl, of Stratham and their children, Zachary, Colby, and Nicholas; and by stepchildren: Andre, Gilles, Lorette, Chantell, and Gaetane and their spouses and children. He was predeceased by two stepchildren, Carroll Grenier and Richard Grenier.
Funeral services were held February 13 at a Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Home in Newport with the Reverend Richard Whitehill officiating. Spring interment will be in Pine Grove cemetery.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mr. Brown’s memory may be made to the Frontier Animal Society, 502 Strawberry Acres Road, Newport, Vermont 05855; or to the Ron Holland MD Community Dialysis Center, North Country Hospital, Prouty Drive, Newport, Vermont 05855.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Guy Gerard Fortin
Guy Gerard Fortin, 54, of Lyndonville died suddenly on February 13, 2010, while playing broom ball in Newport.
Mr. Fortin was born November 5, 1955, in Newport, a son of Viateur and Therese (Perreault) Fortin.
He graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1975.
He was employed as a machinist at Tap and Dye in Lyndonville. Prior to being a machinist, he operated and owned a family farm for 20 years.
He enjoyed working on his snow machine and drag racing on ice with his racing team. He enjoyed playing horseshoes and broom ball and playing with his grandchildren. More recently he became technologically savvy.
He is survived by his children: Jennifer Robare and her husband, Jeremy, of Milton, Stephanie Cyphers and her husband, Troy, of South Hero, Stacey Hildreth-Fortin and her wife, Katherine, of Springfield, Massachusetts, and Jeremy Fortin and his partner, Jessica Tetreault, of Brownington; by his friend and the mother of his children, Susan Wahl, of Brookfield, Connecticut; by four grandchildren: Ava and Jacob Robare, Sawyer Cyphers, and Josephine Fortin; by his father, Viateur Fortin, and his wife, Rita, of Holland; by his mother, Therese Fortin, of Orleans; by siblings: Cecile Gaboriault and her husband, Claude, of Barton, Annette Cross and her husband, Steve, of Derby, Richard Fortin of Island Pond, Marcel Fortin and his wife, Paula, of Underhill, Agnes St. Laurent and her husband, Mark, of Medford, Massachusetts, Mark Fortin and his wife, Sandra, of Phoenix, Arizona, Irene Champagine and her husband, Donnie, of Pittsford, Rachel Twofoot and her husband, Keith, of Brownington, and Robert Fortin and his wife, Kim, of Goffstown, New Hampshire; and by numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, February 17, at the Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Home on Darling Hill Road in Newport. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 18, at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church in Newport with the Reverend Michael Reardon celebrating a Mass of Christian Burial.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mr. Fortin’s memory may be made to Jennifer Robare, 123 Red Clover Way, Milton, Vermont 05468 for a heart defibrillator that will be donated to the Newport Recreation Department.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Joseph Albert Gagniere
Joseph Albert Gagniere, 86, of Barton died February 10, 2010, in Newport.
Mr. Gagniere was born January 17, 1924, in Biddeford, Maine, a son of Francis and Courana (Dubois) Gagniere.
In 1945 he joined the Merchant Marines and served for nine years. He was a veteran of World War II and was involved in the D-Day invasion of France in 1944.
On December 26, 1955, he married
Jeannette M. Vielleux, who survives him.
He was the owner of a Texaco service station in Derby Line.
He held memberships with St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Derby Line, the Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 798, and American Legion Post 21.
His hobbies included golfing and watching sports, especially hockey and baseball. He traveled all over the world and spent the winter months in Florida.
He received a diploma for life experiences from North Country Union High School in 2003.
He is survived by his wife, Jeannette Gagniere, of Deauville, Quebec; by his daughter Jeanne Gagniere-Hamblett of Barton; by his sister Rita Conley of Asbestos, Quebec; and by his sister-in-law Fabiene Lessard of Newport. He was predeceased by four brothers: Roger, Leo, Raoul, and Rene; and by his sister Bernadette Gagniere.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 19, 2010, at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Derby Line with the Reverend Michael Reardon celebrating a Mass of Christian Burial. Friends may call from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Home on Darling Hill Road in Newport. Spring interment will be in St. Edward’s Catholic cemetery.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mr. Gagniere’s memory may be made for ill members of his family to the Albert Gagniere Benefit Fund, in care of Community National Bank, P.O. Box 259, Derby, Vermont 05829.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Mariette M. Hamel
Mariette M. Hamel, 92, of Coventry died peacefully on February 6, 2010, at home surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Hamel was born March 30, 1917, in Iberville, Quebec, a daughter of George and Lodia Menard. Her mother died of influenza when Mariette was two years old. Her father married
Martha Dupuis and operated a farm on the River Road near the junction with Coventry Station Road.
She went to the one-room River Road graded school and attended Orleans High School. She and her older sister Iselle, for a while, drove a horse and buggy to Orleans High School.
On June 30, 1936, she married
Gerard Hamel, a dashing neighbor and farm boy from down the River Road. They had six children while working on and operating farms on the Airport Road in Coventry and in Westchester, Connecticut, for four years. They finally moved back to the home farm on Webster Road in 1945. They owned and operated the home farm, originally owned by Felix Hamel, for 41 years. The farmhouse has been in the family for more than 97 years.
She had great compassion for her farm animals. She worked tirelessly, caring for her family, cooking, and keeping the farmhouse and property clean and neat. She spent many happy hours picking wild berries, apples, and butternuts on their farm. Tending her vegetable garden, cooking, and canning were her pride and joy.
As a mother, her children were her life and meant the world to her. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Lawrence and Connie Hamel of Lyndonville, Gloria Menard of Craftsbury, Lucille and Dean Porter of Brattleboro, Brenda Hamel-Bissell of Underhill, and Jeanette and Terry Perkins of Coventry; by ten grandchildren; by 12 great-grandchildren; by four great-great-grandchildren; by her stepsister Ruth Perron and her husband, Leo, of Newport; and by several nieces and nephews in Canada and the United States. She was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Gerard, in 2003; by her son Roger in 1951; by her sisters Iselle Goddard and Pauline Gaboriault; by her brother Laurent Menard; by her parents, George and Lodia Menard; and by her stepmother, Martha Pitt.
A private service was held by the family. A graveside service will be held at St. Theresa’s cemetery in Orleans in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Orleans-Essex Visiting Nurses Association and Hospice, 46 Lakemont Road, Newport, Vermont 05855.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Lee H. Holmes Jr.
Lee H. Holmes Jr., 75, of Derby died peacefully on February 12, 2010, in Newport.
Mr. Holmes was born February 26, 1934, in Derby Line, a son of Lee H. Sr. and Altie (Smith) Holmes.
On June 11, 1960, he married
Marie Joyal, who survives him.
He entered the United States Air Force and served for 12 years. He served during the Korean War.
During his lifetime he was a truck driver for the Red Ball and Admiral Moving Company in Windsor, Connecticut.
He enjoyed making jewelry and rosaries, which he sent to poor countries.
He took great care of his children, who both had epilepsy.
He is survived by his wife, Maria Holmes, of Newport; by his daughter Diane Holmes of Barton; and by his sister Joyce Carpenter of Burlington. He was predeceased by his son Mark Holmes.
A graveside service will be held by a military chaplain in the spring in Derby Center cemetery.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Reginald L. Page
Reginald L. Page, 92, of Holland died February 8, 2010, at home.
Mr. Page was born June 26, 1917, in Holland, a son of Harry and Anna (Judd) Page.
On June 12, 1948, he married
Evelyn Alice Smith, who survives him.
He was a self-employed farmer all of his life. He served as a state representative for one term. He was a life member of the Masonic Lodge in Stanstead, and he was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star of Newport and the Holland Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Page, of Holland; by several nieces and nephews; and by many close friends. He was predeceased by four brothers: Maurice, Ira, Russell, and Dale.
A graveside service will be held at Mead Hill cemetery in Holland in the spring.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mr. Page’s memory may be made to the Holland Methodist Church, in care of Evelyn Page, 1401 Holland Pond Road, Derby Line, Vermont 05830.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Hugh Stanley Pierce
Hugh Stanley Pierce, 83, of Orleans died Monday, February 8, 2010, with his family at his side.
Mr. Pierce was born June 21, 1926, in Newport, a son of Hubert S. and Marjorie (Patterson) Pierce.
He grew up in Newport and graduated from Newport High School in 1943.
He served in the U.S. Navy and attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, where he enjoyed competing on the men’s ski team.
In his younger years he worked for Tidewater Oil Company as a salesman and then made his career at Ethan Allen in Orleans for more than 25 years.
He was a sports enthusiast who enjoyed golfing, fishing, and watching any and all sporting events on television.
He was a member of the Orleans Country Club for 45 years, and after his retirement, he enjoyed many years working in the club’s pro shop. He was a member of American Legion Post 23, where he shared many “happy hours” with his friends.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Virginia “Ginger”; by four children: Carol Boucher, Jane Horton and her husband, Bob, Bev Gage and her husband, Peter, and Jeffrey Pierce and his wife, Sally; by four granddaughters: Meghan and Emily Boucher, Jessica Gage and her husband, Michael Day, and Molly Gage and her fiancé, A.C. Heyward; and by one step granddaughter, Bria Horton. He was predeceased by his grandson Nicholas Gage; and by sisters: Rosalie Keith, Barbara Searles, and Mary Mosher.
A memorial service will be held in the spring at the convenience of the family.
For those who wish to make donations in Mr. Pierce’s memory, the family suggests the Orleans Country Club course equipment fund, in care of Peter Lanoue, P.O. Box 8, Orleans, Vermont 05860.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
