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Flora M. Button
CHELSEA — Flora McPherson Button, 88, died Wednesday evening, Aug. 31, 2005 en route to the Gifford Medical Center in Randolph. She was born September 27, 1916 in Graniteville, the daughter of Allan and Katherine (Craib) McPherson. She attended schools in Graniteville and graduated from Williamstown High School in 1934.
She married
Robert H. Button of Chelsea December 3, 1954. She worked for many years as an operator supervisor at New England Telephone Company in Barre, Vt. She also assisted her husband with the family business, Button’s Store in Chelsea.
She was a longtime member of the Chelsea Women’s Club, a Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star in Williamstown and a member of the United Church of Chelsea. She was a devoted housewife and mother, spoiling her family with some of the best cooking in Vermont. Her specialties were her donuts and baked bread. Along with taking care of her family, she loved going to Maine with her sister-in-law, Amy Button.
Survivors include her husband, of Chelsea; a son, Robert H. Button Jr. of Chelsea; a daughter, Roberta Carrier and her husband, Gary, of Washington; a grandson, Charlie; two sisters, Margaret Sanguinetti of Barre and Grace Mekkelsen of East Montpelier; and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by two brothers, Micky McPherson and Sidney McPherson; and two sisters, Kay Marsceill and Nettie Shaban.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Sept. 4 at the United Church of Chelsea with Minister Anthony Braman officiating. Burial followed at the Highland cemetery in Chelsea.
Services were under the direction of the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home in Chelsea.
James M. Reed, Sr.
SHARON — James M. Reed, Sr., 55, died March 18, 2005, unexpectedly at his home in Sharon.
He was born May 19, 1949, in Wolfeboro, N.H., the son of Marjorie (Chick) and Norman E. Reed, Sr. He attended school in Wolfeboro, graduating in 1968 from Kingswood Regional High School.
On Nov. 11, 1968, he married
Judy Leroux. For many years, he worked as a house painter for Erwin Rogers of Woodstock.
On Oct. 8, 1988, he married
Joyce Paronto of Sharon. They lived all their married
life in Sharon. For the last 18 years he ran his own interior and exterior house painting business.
He was a member of the West Hartford Horseshoe League. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing horseshoes, stock car racing, gardening, food, his donkey "Jackson, " and playing the guitar. He was very artistic and musical and loved the ocean, sunsets and his family.
Survivors include his wife of Sharon; two sons, James M. Reed Jr. of Tunbridge and Jason S. Reed of White River Junction; a daughter, Michelle LaPlante of Randolph Center; eight grandchildren; two brothers, Norman Reed Jr. of Wolfeboro, N.H., and Wayne Reed of N.H.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents, and a brother, Richard Reed.
There were no public calling hours. A memorial funeral service was held Wednesday, March 23, at the Sharon Congregational Church, with the Rev. Douglas S. Moore officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Upper Valley Humane Society, 300 Old Rt. 10, Enfield, N.H., 03748.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home on Main Street in Chelsea.
Wayne C. Linton
RANDOLPH — Wayne C. Linton, 88, died Wednesday, March 23, 2005, at his home in Randolph.
He was born Nov. 23, 1916, in Randolph, the son of George and Nora (Hobbs) Linton.
He attended Randolph schools and graduated from Randolph High School in 1935. He worked at Savage’s Mill in Randolph for many years. During World War II, he served with the U.S. Army in the European theater.
After the war, he returned home to Randolph and his job at Savage’s Mill. He later worked at Randall’s Mill in Northfield Falls, until his retirement in the 1980s. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, gardening and playing cards.
Survivors include a niece, Elizabeth "Betty" Hurlburt of Stockbridge; a nephew, Raymond Bowen of Georgia Center; and several cousins.
He was pre-deceased by a brother, William Linton; and a sister, Beatrice Bowen.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, May 21, at 4 p.m. at the Pleasant View cemetery in Randolph. There are no calling hours.
Friends may make memorial contributions to the Randolph Fish & Game Club, Randolph, Vt., 05060.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Day Funeral Home of Randolph.
Lucia Oparowski
SOUTH RANDOLPH — Lucia M. Oparowski, 92, formerly of Medford, Mass., died Thursday evening, March 24, 2005, at Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin, where she had lived for the past eight years.
She was born July 5, 1912, in Brockton, Mass., the daughter of Frederick and Lucia (Hayden) Higgins. She attended Brockton schools.
She married
Theodore Oparowski on Nov. 28, 1931 in Brockton. He died in 1990. They had lived in Medford, Peabody and Belmont, Mass. In earlier years she had worked at Filene’s and R.H. Stearns, both in Peabody. She moved to South Randolph in 1995. She enjoyed reading and bird watching.
Survivors include her son, Thaddeus Oparowski and his wife Patricia of South Randolph; a grandson, Peter Oparowski and his wife Kerry of Williamstown; three great-granddaughters, Katie, Jessica and Laura Oparowski; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by a son, Bruce Oparowski; a brother, Edward Higgins; a sister, Idella Hammond; and a grandson, David Oparowski.
Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, March 30, at the Day Funeral Home in Randolph, with Bishop Gary Cass officiating. Committal services will be Thursday, March 31, at Puritan Lawn cemetery in Peabody, Mass.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Day Funeral Home in Randolph.
Rachel M. Conroy
RANDOLPH — Rachel M. Conroy, 86, died Saturday evening, March 26, 2005, at Rowan Court Nursing Home in Barre.
She was born Jan. 3, 1919, in Randolph, the daughter of Rodney and Edith (Brooks) Walbridge. She married
James Conroy Dec. 11, 1948, in Washington, D.C. He died in 1977. She was a retired homemaker who had lived in Florida and returned to Randolph in 1989.
Survivors include her sister, Laura Norton of Randolph; and grandson, Lyle Murray, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
She was predeceased by her daughter, Colleen Conroy, and sisters, Charlotte Clafflin, Marjorie and Ruth.
Memorial services were held Tuesday afternoon, March 29 at the Day Funeral Home in Randolph, with the Rev. Timothy Eberhardt, officiating. Burial will take place later at Jacksonville Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, Fla. Arrangements are by the Day Funeral Home.
Frances Guilmette
ROCHESTER — Frances G. Guilmette, 61, died Thursday evening, March 24, 2005, at Hanover Terrace Healthcare in Hanover, N.H. after a heroic five-year battle against cancer.
"Frankie" or "Sis, " as she was affectionately known by her host of friends, was born July 11, 1943 in Randolph, the daughter of Maurice J. and Margaret (Eaton) Guilmette. She grew up "on the Park" in Rochester. Following graduation from Rochester High School in 1961, she attended the Jeanne Mance School of Nursing in Burlington, and for several years was employed by the Central Vermont Public Service Corporation in Rutland.
Inspired by her parents, she devoted her life to her town, her church and her friends. In October 1971, she began a 33-year career with the Town of Rochester, serving first as Assistant Town Clerk and Treasurer. She was elected Town Clerk and Treasurer in 1972. Her work in that capacity led to her involvement with the Vermont Municipal Clerk’s and Treasurer’s Association. She served on many of their committees, and attained the coveted distinction of Certified Clerk/Treasurer in 1995. In 1999, in recognition of superb performance, she was elected "Treasurer of the Year" by her fellow clerks and treasurers.
She will be warmly remembered by the many lawyers and title researchers who, when visiting the Rochester town office, cautiously "tread water" and learned to not "lock horns" with a "small town" clerk, as they sought her invitation to view town records. She had many of the voluminous records and town history committed to memory; so, if approached properly, she could save a researcher considerable time and effort. Her in-depth familiarity and knowledge of Rochester’s records and history was, in part, an interest inherited from her parents.
A devoted member of St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Rochester, she served on its Parish Council and Finance Committee, and quietly and diligently assumed responsibility for the lawns and grounds, a job done previously by her father. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, serving as its Treasurer for many years.
She became deeply involved in Rochester’s Park House and was elected to its Board of Trustees, serving as its treasurer. She generously shared her time taking residents on rides, driving them to appointments and lunches out in her 1990 Chevrolet station wagon, the "Guilmette-mobile." She also spent time mowing lawns and weeding gardens there.
Her membership in the White River Players led to serving on their Board of Directors, and she was their valued backstage props coordinator and assistant stage manager for many productions. The Rochester Historical Society benefited from her interest in town history, and she served for many years as its treasurer. She was a past member of Moss Glen Grange #554, serving also as Grange Master. She was generous to a fault with her time, effort and money.
She loved Corvettes! She owned two, and for years she could be seen touring in her 25th anniversary year Corvette. She also loved golf and was an enthusiastic fixture on the women’s and mixed teams at the White River Golf Course. She especially looked forward to the Vermont Clerk’s and Treasurer’s Association meetings which, prior to the start of their annual meeting, began with a spirited day of golf. Recently she renewed her interest in tap-dancing.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, she faithfully participated in fundraising activities associated with finding a breast cancer cure, including Footsteps for Friends, a Rochester-organized event in honor and memory of women in the White River Valley who had dealt with breast cancer, Gifford Medical Center’s Making Your Steps Count, and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure walks in Manchester. During her long battle with cancer, she was supported by the love, friendship and attention of her long-time advocates Judy Pierce and Bill Harvey, and her neighbors, Nancy and Charlie Woolley.
Survivors include her brother and his wife, Maurice J. and Barbara Guilmette, Jr., of Lebanon, Conn.; an uncle, Ned Eaton of Philadelphia, Penna.; a nephew and niece, several cousins, and an entire town of close and valued friends.
A mass of Christian burial was celebrated Wednesday, March 30 at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Rochester, with the Rev. Lance Harlow officiating. Following the service, a reception was held at Park House in Rochester. Calling hours were held Tuesday evening at the Day Funeral Home in Randolph. Burial will be in Woodlawn cemetery in Rochester, at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church, c/o Rev. Lance Harlow, PO Box 63, Bethel, Vt. 05032, or to Park House, c/o Judy Pierce, 16 Park Row, Rochester, Vt. 05767.
