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Geraldine M. Betz
Geraldine M. Betz, 97, beloved sister of Audrey R. Betz of Craftsbury, died Saturday evening, April 18, 2009, at the Greensboro Nursing Home where she had been a resident for more than two years.
Ms. Betz was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, a daughter of William C. and Geraldine (Haggart) Betz.
She earned her degree in nursing from the Jersey City Medical Center. She served in England and France during World War II as a 1st Lieutenant U.S. Army nurse with the 64th Field Hospital. After her discharge, she was recalled to serve in Japan in 1950 and 1951 to help at the clinics after the bombing of Hiroshima. She then spent her career as a professional school nurse in New Jersey.
She and her sister lost their mother in her early fifties and cared for their father until his death at age 91 in Chattam, New Jersey. They enjoyed traveling together and on their own.
She was a gifted seamstress, making her own clothing as well as some for Audrey. This was a talent learned from her grandmother, which she loved to share.
In 1984 she and Audrey moved to their home in Craftsbury where she attended the United Church of Craftsbury and was a former member of the Ladies Aid Society.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 2, at 2 p.m. at the Davis Funeral Home in Craftsbury Common with Pastor Alan Parker officiating. Interment will follow in the Craftsbury Village cemetery.
The Malcolm R. Davis Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Shirley Katherine Carey
Shirley Katherine Carey, 86, of Barton died April 14, 2009, in Barton.
Mrs. Carey was born January 29, 1923, in the Bronx, New York, a daughter of Alfred and Theresa (Landsberg) Woelfle.
On June 18, 1960, she married
Francis Arthur Carey, who predeceased her.
She was a secretary for Easter Seals. She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Newport.
Her hobbies included cooking and quilting, and she loved animals.
She is survived by three children: Jan Carey of Pennsylvania, Christian Carey and his wife, Amy, of Barton, and Richard Carey and his wife, Lisa, of California; and by grandchildren: Olivia, Kieran, and Pippa Fung, Charlotte Carey, and Patrick, Nicholas, and Amanda Carey. She was predeceased by her sisters Evelyn Erwin and Margaret Gibbs; and by her brother Alfred Woelfle Jr.
A memorial service was held April 17 at the Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Memorial Chapel in Newport with Pastor Octavian Poenaru officiating. Interment was held April 18 at Smithtown cemetery in Long Island, New York.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mrs. Carey’s memory may be made to Frontier Animal Society, 502 Strawberry Acres, Newport, Vermont 05855; or to a local office of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Janet (Dean) Hannula
Janet (Dean) Hannula, 84, of Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina, died peacefully on April 7, 2009, at Carteret General Hospital, surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Hannula was born November 26, 1924, in Orleans to Burt and Mae Woodbury Dean. She attended public schools in Orleans and graduated from Lasell College in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1944.
She worked as an executive secretary in Boston before marrying Fred W. Hannula on June 19, 1949, in the Orleans Methodist Episcopal Church.
The couple lived in Norwood, Massachusetts, Princeton, New Jersey, and Litchfield, Connecticut, before settling in Medfield, Massachusetts, with their three children in 1960. She was a secretary in the Medfield public school system for many years until retiring to Pine Knoll Shores in 1982.
She volunteered at the Beaufort Historical Society in North Carolina and the North Carolina Maritime Museum.
She was a pianist, antique collector, reader, music lover, and traveler.
She was a wonderful and loving mother, grandmother, and wife and will be deeply missed by her family. She loved all animals, domestic and wild, and took great comfort in her dogs.
She is survived by her husband, Fred W. Hannula; by her daughter Karen Ryan and her husband, Michael, of Grantham, New Hampshire; by her son Mark Hannula and his wife, Robin, of Beaufort; by six grandchildren: Lindsay McFadden and her husband, Robert, of Gaysville, Lee Hannula of Quincy, Massachusetts, Brooke Van Lente and her husband, Mark, of Orleans, Michigan, Allison Hannula and Haley Hannula of Beaufort, and Matthew Ryan of Grantham. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her son Eric D. Hannula.
A celebration of her life was held April 11 at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Sally White officiating.
Donations in Mrs. Hannula’s memory may be made to the Pet Adoption and Welfare Society (PAWS) of Carteret County, P.O. Box 1757, Morehead City, North Carolina 28557 or www.pawsofcarteret.org.
Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Home and Crematory in Morehead City.
Elwin G. Kelley Jr.
Elwin G. Kelley Jr., 65, of Barton died April 13, 2009, in Barton.
Mr. Kelley was born November 20, 1943, in Newport, a son of Elwin Sr. and Maxine (Burdette) Kelley.
On October 9, 1965, he married
Debbrah Freehart, who predeceased him on November 19, 2001.
He served in the Army National Guard for 19 years and was a mill worker for Green Mountain Fence Company.
He enjoyed dancing, snowmobiling, and car racing.
He is survived by his five children: Elwin Kelley and his wife, Shelly, of St. Johnsbury, Scott Kelley and his wife, Shelly, of Lexington, Kentucky, Bobbie Jo Beauregard and her husband, Paul, of Barton, Lisa Lanoue and her husband, Jeff, of Orleans, and Chad Kelley of Springfield, Ohio; by eight grandchildren; by his mother, Maxine Kelley, of Brownington; by two sisters, Brenda Simons and her husband, Earl, of Brownington and Dorine Lombardo of Old Town, Florida; by two brothers, Wayne Kelley and his wife, Linda, of Ayers Cliff, Quebec, and Dean Kelley and his wife, Pauline, of Enterprise, Arizona; and by several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife; by his father, Elwin Kelley Sr.; and by his grandson Tyler Carter.
Services will be held at the convenience of the family.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mr. Kelley’s memory may be made to Maple Lane Nursing Home, activities fund, 60 Maple Hill Road, Barton, Vermont 05822.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Eileen Perry LeBlanc
Eileen Perry LeBlanc, 80, died suddenly in her home in Troy on April 19, 2009.
Mrs. LeBlanc was born March 4, 1929, in Newport to Hazel and Dean Perry. She grew up in Troy.
She earned her teaching degree at Johnson State College and spent a good deal of her adult life as a dedicated elementary schoolteacher, mostly in Westfield.
She was an active member of the Westfield Congregational Church and belonged to the Ladies Social Union. She enjoyed her family, bowling, and her garden. She was an avid Boston Red Sox fan.
She was mom and mother and so much more to her daughters and sons-in-law Gail and Bruce Nelson of Ryegate and Dianne and Richard Farrar of Coventry; to son and daughter-in-law Daryl and Cindy LeBlanc of Westfield; and to daughter-in-law Margaret Maxwell and her husband, Steward, of Coventry. Grammy will always remain in the hearts of her grandchildren: Curt and Emily of Oswego, Illinois, Andrea and Ryan Dennis of Ryegate, Jim and Christy Nelson of Ryegate, Darik LeBlanc of Brownington, Darcy LeBlanc of Westbrook, Maine, and Adam Farrar of Coventry and her eight precious great-grandchildren.
Her family would like to express their sincere gratitude to her neighbors in the community who were always there for her and who she thought the world of.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, 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, April 23, at the Brownington Center Church with Pastor George Lawson officiating.
Donations in Mrs. LeBlanc’s memory may be made to the Missisquoi Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 131, Troy, Vermont 05868.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
Ramona E. Maskell
Ramona E. Maskell, 79, a former resident of Waterbury, died Sunday, April 19, 2009, at Copley Hospital in Morrisville following an extended illness.
Ms. Maskell was born in Williamstown on September 21, 1929, a daughter of Carl and Hattie (Alexander) Maskell.
She was a hard worker and loved animals. Besides her employment at Adams Mill in Moscow as a machine operator, she owned and operated a farm in Waterbury with friends. They milked cows, raised cattle, and did the normal range of other farm chores as well as operating a sugarhouse.
She loved to hunt, both with a rifle and bow and arrow.
A very generous person, she enjoyed helping out her family, neighbors, and friends as best she could.
Survivors include her brother Allan Maskell and his wife, Arlene, of North Wolcott; her sister Glendora Laird of Hardwick; several nieces and nephews, including her niece Debra Chaffee of Albany with whom she had recently made her home; and many friends, including Tommy Guyette of Waterbury. She was predeceased by her brother Calvin Maskell.
At Ms. Maskell’s request, there will be no services.
The Malcolm R. Davis Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Maurice R. Mayhew
Maurice R. Mayhew, 66, of Jay died April 16, 2009, in Newport.
Mr. Mayhew was born June 11, 1942, in Jay, a son of George and Zelia (Lague) Mayhew.
On December 7, 1968, he married
Heidi Riegler, who survives him.
He was a veteran of the Vietnam War while serving in the U.S. Army. After the war he was employed at the Newport Rocking Chair Company.
He loved to play music, especially the violin, but other instruments as well. He loved being outdoors and fishing.
He was a member of the American Legion Jay Peak Post and North Troy Post 28.
He is survived by his wife, Heidi Mayhew, of Jay; by three sisters: Violette Verge of Westfield, Germaine Beldon of Jay, and Muriel Flood of North Troy; by six nephews: Arthur Verge, Andre Verge, Edward Mayhew, Steven Flood, Raymond Mayhew, and Marcel Mayhew; and by four nieces: Elaine Reynard, Julie Royce, Mary Jane Lapan, and Laurette Woodworth. He was predeceased by his nephew David Flood; by his niece Carmen Flood; by brothers Ernest and Gilbert Mayhew; and by sister Osilda Pouliot.
Funeral services were held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in North Troy April 21 with the Reverend Henry Mlinganisa and the Reverend Francis Prive celebrating a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment followed at St. Ignatius Catholic cemetery in Lowell with full military honors.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mr. Mayhew’s memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 121 Connor Way, Suite 240, Williston, Vermont 05495; or to the American Heart Association, Vermont Affiliate, 434 Hurricane Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495.
Arrangements are by Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes.
William “Bill” John Ocker Sr.
William “Bill” John Ocker Sr., 72, died at his home in Albany on April 15, 2009.
Mr. Ocker was a proud Marine; he was even more proud of his grandchildren.
Born John Hill on June 2, 1936, in Laurel, Mississippi, he was adopted in 1939 by the Reverend William and Velma Ocker of Erie, Pennsylvania.
He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1954 to 1958. In 1959 he moved to Vermont where he met and married
his true love and best friend, Susan Douglas, in 1960.
He spent his life working on heavy equipment. He worked on portions of the interstate system from New York to New Hampshire while working for Palazzi and Perini construction companies. Co-workers have always commented that he was an artist on a bulldozer. He retired in 1990 due to medical issues.
He was a member of Winooski Lodge 49 of Free and Accepted Masons, Queen Esther Chapter 7 of the Order of the Eastern Star in Waterbury, American Legion Post 23, in Orleans, the International Union of Operating Engineers, and the National Rifle Association.
He enjoyed drag racing cars, racing snowmobiles, reading news, watching football, hunting, fishing, camping, listening to country music, gardening, and feeding the birds.
He was a volunteer at Copley Hospital in Morrisville. He was a family man who loved dogs and all other animals. He had the ability to become friends with almost everyone he met. Above all, he enjoyed his time spent with family, especially his grandchildren.
He was reunited with his biological family in 1993 after a 54-year separation. He and his family then traveled to family reunions, meeting other relatives, and he hosted a reunion in Vermont. Connecting with his brother and sisters and meeting his mother gave his the greatest gift he could ever have asked for.
Besides his wife, Susan, of Albany, he leaves his daughter Kim Fuller of Berlin; his son William J. Ocker Jr. and his wife, Danielle, of Hartland; grandchildren: Ashley McEwan, Megan Jason, Caitlin Fuller, Jonathan Fuller, Nathan Ocker, and Matthew Ocker; and sisters: Marjorie Snyder of Iowa, Mary Shelton of California, and Sara Plaskett and her husband, David, of California. He was predeceased by a brother and three sisters.
A memorial service was held April 19 at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Waterbury with the Reverend Melvin Bridge officiating. Interment will be held at the convenience of the family in the Albany Village cemetery.
Contributions in Mr. Ocker’s memory may be made to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program or to the Cell Phones for Soldiers program. Information on these programs is available by e-mailing bj.ocker@yahoo.com .
