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LUCIEN R. "PEPE" MERCURE
RICHFORD -- Lucien R. "Pepe" Mercure, age 83, passed away unexpectedly, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, at his home.
He was born May 18, 1920, in L'Ange Guardian, Quebec Canada, the son of the late Ernest and Stella (Desnoyers) Mercure.
Lucien was raised in Canada moving to the Richford / Berkshire area in 1953. He worked on several area dairy farms before purchasing his own dairy farm retiring from farming in 1979. He then went to work for Sweat-Comings for several years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council of All Saints Catholic Church and the American Legion Post 12 of Richford. He served overseas in the Canadian Army during World War II from 1940 to 1945.
He is survived by his children, Stella Paquette and her husband Richard, Michel Mercure and his wife Fran all of Richford; Serge "Peanut" Mercure of Enosburg Falls, Guy Mercure of Berkshire, Normand Mercure and his wife, Kimberly of Milton, and Pierre Mercure and his wife Yvonne of Richford; his grandchildren, Anthony Mercure, Bradley Jacobs, Daniel Mercure, Angel Mercure, Celeste Malin, Emily Jeanne Mercure, and Keith Mercure; and several great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Jeanne (Lebeau) Mercure in 1976; two sons, Robert Mercure in 1948, Alain Mercure in 1952.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Sept. 29, 2003, at 2 p.m. at All Saints Catholic Church in Richford with Reverend Frank Eksterowicz celebrating the Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery.
Visiting hours will be held Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Spears Funeral Home, 140 Main St., Richford.
For those who wish, contributions in his memory may be made to the Richford Ambulance Service or to the Richford Fire Department, Main St., Richford, Vt. 05476.
MARGARET DORA CASE HOLCOMB
NORTH HERO -- Margaret Dora Case Holcomb, 85, a resident of this community for nearly 20 years, died unexpectedly Monday morning, Sept. 22, 2003, in her Lakeview Drive residence.
She was born Sept. 25, 1917, a daughter of the late Raymond E. and Emma G. (Griffin) Case of West Granby, Conn. Margaret married Gardner Preston Holcomb on Sept. 12, 1942, who predeceased her on Oct. 2, 1990.
Margaret and Gardner lived in Simsbury, Conn., where Margaret taught in the elementary school system for more than 30 years. Happy summer vacations were always spent on North Hero where, in 1973, they purchased a home for their retirement. After moving to North Hero, Margaret never lost her love of children and of teaching. She served as a volunteer at the North Hero Elementary School, for which she received a special award in March 2003 at Town Meeting for her many years of service and strong support of the educational system. Margaret loved to read and was a volunteer for the North Hero Public Library. Previously, she participated in the Wonderful Wednesday Children's Bible School of the North Hero United Methodist Church. She was a devoted member of the church and a member of the United Methodist Women. Margaret was always active in the community, also previously serving as a board member for Champlain Islanders Developing Essential Resources (CIDER).
She leaves: two daughters, Betsy Cook of Simsbury, Conn. and Donna Larose of Alburg, Vt.; and one sister, Gertrude Slaughter of Norwalk, Conn. Also surviving are: three granddaughters, Bonnie (Higley) and Matt Bynum of Pennsylvania, Becca Plote of Vermont, and Alison Cook of Connecticut; and a grandson, Joseph Larose of Vermont; three great-grandchildren, Deena, Amanda and Nicolas, all of Pennsylvania; and countless friends and neighbors. Margaret was dearly loved and will be missed by all who knew her.
Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2003, at the North Hero United Methodist Church. Rev. David Adams will officiate. Interment will take place at a later date in the Granby Center Cemetery in Granby, Conn. There will be no public calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in Margaret's memory may be made to, CIDER, PO Box 13, South Hero, Vt. 05486, or to a charitable organization of your choice.
Arrangements have been under the direction of the Kidder Memorial Home, Swanton, Vt.
MARY FRANCES (O'NEILL-LEARY) KIRKBRIDE
BURLINGTON / RICHFORD - Mary Frances Kirkbride, 83, formerly of 376 College St., Burlington, died Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003, at Our Lady of the Meadows in Richford following a brief illness.
She was born in Burlington on Sept. 9, 1920, a daughter of the late Robert O. and Genevieve (Donahue) Kirkbride. She was a graduate of Cathedral High School, Class of 1938.
Mary had been employed for many years with the Chamber of Commerce and later with the Bishop Brady Center. Mary made many stunning afghans, sweaters and crocheted sweaters for her family. She was a volunteer for the annual Mozart Festival and was fond of travel. She was a lifelong member of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and for many years a daily communicant.
She is survived by: her three sons, Terrence S. O'Neill and his wife, Jean H., of Fairfax, Michael K. O'Neill and his wife, Amy F., of Farmington, N.M., and Brian J. O'Neill of Westfield. She will be dearly missed by her six grandchildren: T. Shaun, Roland, Susan, Mark, Casey, and Kyle O'Neill; and nine great-grandchildren; and a brother, Robert O. Kirkbride and his wife, Patricia, of Ludlow. She was predeceased by a sister, Ruth, in 1968.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Sept. 27, at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with interment to follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Carmelite Monastery, Beckley Hill Road, Barre, Vt. 05641.
Visiting hours will be held Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Ready Funeral Home South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road.
NATHAN M. LaFOUNTAIN
SWANTON -- Nathan Mason LaFountain, 83, a long-time resident of Swanton, died early Tuesday morning, Sept. 23, 2003, after a brief illness. He was a member of the Church of the Nativity in Swanton. He was born Aug. 12, 1920 in Northumberland, N.H., the youngest child of Clifton and Blanche (Mason) LaFountain.
His father died of pneumonia a few months after his birth. His mother and five brothers and sisters then moved to Montgomery Center. He attended school there, and as did many others, struggled in hard times through the Depression era. During these early years he and his siblings were boarded out to be working on local farms and in area homes. Attending school only through seventh grade, he then began work by necessity. He started by picking berries in the hills around Montgomery and rushing into town on foot or bicycle to sell them door to door, logging and sugaring with horses and skids, farming, carpentry, and then at Atlas Plywood in Richford. On the subject of his education he would state with a grin to be a "graduate from the 'School of Hard Knocks.'"
On July 14, 1962, he was married to Mildred Ouimette Savage of Swanton, who predeceased him March 14, 2000. We will remember him for his devotion to his wife and including everyday morning and evening visits to her gravesite in spring, summer and fall until his failing health in recent months. Pa-Nate, as he was known here, leaves behind two step-daughters, Shirley and her husband, Charles Prouty, caregivers extraordinaire; and their daughters, Martha Walsh and her husband Christopher; and Emily (Prouty) and her husband, Charles (Chip) Dillon; Gloria and Jack Lewis of Tullahoma, Tenn. and their children, Michael and Richard Lewis of Atlanta, Ga. Great-grandchildren are David and Matthew Walsh; Kate and Molly Dillon, all of St. Albans Town.
From a previous marriage, he leaves behind five children -- two sons, Gene and wife, Jackie, of St. Albans, and Robert and wife, Brenda, of Highgate Center; three daughters, Joyce Combs of Williston, Norma and husband, Mark Amsden, of Longmont, Colo., and Dorothy and husband, Tom Madore, of East Hartford, Conn. He also leaves several grandchildren, including Scott LaFountain and his wife, Laurie, of Richmond, and Vicki and her husband, Jeff Ryea, of St. Albans Town. Several great-grandchildren left behind include Karlee and Garron LaFountain, and Chris Engelken, all of Richmond; and Connor and Isaac Ryea of St. Albans.
He was predeceased by his father, Clifton in 1921; his mother, Blanche in 1963; his brother, Gordon LaFountain in 1999; his sisters, Dorcus Farrar in 1995, Bernace Manning in 1996, Hylda McMahon, and Viva Longe in 2001.
He has been a continuos member of the American Legion in good standing for over 50 years. As a young man, he worked as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the St. Albans and Franklin County area in the early 1940s. He began his adult working life in 1946 for St. Albans building contractor Chester Fogg, then later worked as a partner in contracting with Raymond Bourgeois, and then for 10 years at Aubuchon Hardware in Swanton until his retirement.
He honorably served his country in World War II in the European Campaign as an infantryman in Co. K 320th Regiment under General George Patton. Following his last battle, in the Rhineland, he served with occupation forces in Germany. He was honorably discharged after returning home to American in September of 1945, among thousands of servicemen, on the revamped for troop transport majestic Cunard White Star Liner, "Queen Mary." Among his several medals, ribbons and souvenirs modestly stored in a shoe box, he would only on occasion make mention of one signifying he was an "Expert Marksman."
This served him well when in November of 1958, in the last hour of the last day of deer season, he downed his only deer -- 9 point, 257 lbs. buck in a Belvidere snow squall.
There will be no public calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial to be held at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be private for family members. Interment will follow in the family lot in Riverside Cemetery.
Kidder Memorial Home is in charge of arrangements.
YVONNE M. LANGLOIS R.N.
MILTON -- Yvonne M. Langlois, R.N., 95, died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, at Redstone Villa in St. Albans, where she had lived for the past year. Yvonne was born on May 25, 1908, in New Bedford, Mass., the daughter of Victor and Victoria Langlois.
When she was young her family moved to Milton. She graduated from Milton High School in 1926 and from the Mary Fletcher School of Nursing in 1929. Yvonne spent many years in this profession, which she loved. She was of vibrant and independent spirit who dedicated her life to caring for others.
When she retired, she moved into senior housing in Milton where she spent many happy years with friends. She especially liked to play cards. She volunteered many years with the CVAA meal site and with RSVP. She was a member of the Arrowhead Senior Citizens and the Milton United Church.
She is survived by her sister, Rose Richard of St. Albans; and a special niece, Janet Horican of Grand Isle. She is also survived by four generations of many, many nieces and nephews, too numerous to mention. Besides her parents, Yvonne was predeceased by four brothers, Oscar, Ernest, Armand and Raymond.
Many thanks to all the staff at the Redstone Villa for the excellent care and friendship they all shared with Yvonne.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 4 p.m. in the Minor Funeral Home in Milton. Burial will follow in the Milton Village Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the CVAA, P.O. Box 158, Winooski, Vt. 05404 - 9958.
Visiting hours will be held Wednesday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Minor Funeral Home.
LOIS HARRIET EATON
FRANKLIN -- Lois Harriet Eaton, age 87, passed away Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003, at Haven Health Center Nursing Home in St. Albans. She was born May 9, 1916, in St. Johnsbury, the daughter of the late Harry Charles and Bernice Angeline (Colby) Hodgkins.
She was a resident of Franklin for the past three years and had also camped during the summers at Lake Carmi for 50 years. She was a 1935 graduate of Montpelier High School, a 1939 graduate with a BA in music from Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. She then taught music at Peoples Academy in Morrisville for three years followed by many years of substitute teaching in Linwood, N.J., Ithaca, N.Y., and Fairbanks, AK. She had been active in working with foreign students wives at Cornell University and was also a member of the Cornell Glee Club. While living in Ithaca she was a member of the Choir at the First Congregational Church.
She is survived by her husband, Edward O. Eaton of Franklin; Lois and Edward were married May 15, 1942; two sons and their wives, Edward H. and Marie Eaton of Williamstown, and Paul D. and Barbara Eaton of South Amherst, Ohio; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a sister and her husband, Lisle and Richard Lewis of Trumbull, Conn.; three nieces and one nephew.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the Franklin Homestead FELCO Room, 114 Homestead Drive, Franklin with Reverend Paul Eaton officiating. There will be no visiting hours.
For those who wish, contributions in her memory may be made to the Franklin Homestead, 114 Homestead Drive, Franklin, Vt. 05457
MARY (BONACCI) O'BRIEN
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Mary B. O'Brien of White Plains, N.Y., died peacefully on Sept. 10, after a courageous and dignified bout with cancer. Mary (affectionately known as Mammy) was born in the Bronx to beloved parents Elizabeth Healy and John Bonacci in 1926.
In 1950, she married Mortimer C. O'Brien, Jr. who died in June of this year.
A loving and devoted mother, she will be desperately missed by her children, for whom she was an inspiration: Brigid O'Brien of Mamaroneck, Rory P. O'Brien and wife Bea of White Plains, Nellie O'Brien of Briarcliff Manor and Maggie O'Brien Evans and husband Larry of Swanton, Vt.
She is also survived by her adoring sisters, Catherine McKeown and Thomasina Bonacci, with whom she resided. She was predeceased by her sister Theresa Scanlan.
She dearly loved her nine grandchildren: Kelly, Jack, Sammie, Pud, Taylor and Danny O'Brien, Sarah Murphy, and Maeve and Austin Evans. She was a wonderful aunt to all of her nieces and nephews.
An alumna of Good Counsel Academy, she received her B.A. from the College of Good Counsel and her Master's Degree in Special Education from Manhattanville College.
Mary was a devoted, caring and innovative teacher with a concentration in special education for over 30 years in the White Plains Public School System and earlier in Boca Raton, Florida.
She worked tirelessly and selflessly for charitable causes throughout her life. She provided food for the poor, sponsored homeless children and contributed to The Lord's Pantry and Catholic Relief, among others.
She began the Volunteer Study Program at Cardinal McCloskey Home and School for Children, gave her time to the St. Tarsisious Association for the Developmentally Disabled.
A true humanitarian, she was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship Recognition from the Rotary Club in White Plains in 1996 and Teacher of the Year by the Kiwanis of Boca Raton, Fla.
Reluctantly retired in 1998, she remained committed to providing for all those in need. Spirited and possessed of Joie de Vivre to the end, she touched many lives and will be forever missed. Words are inadequate.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, N.Y. The family also encourages the donation of blood which was so vital to Mary in her final days.
The family received friends at the McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home on Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in White Plains.
