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CLARENCE E. BESSETTE
ST. ALBANS -- Clarence E. Bessette, age 84, died Friday, Sept. 27, 2002, at Haven Health Care, following a long illness. He was born in Georgia on May 5, 1918, the son of the late Jed and Emily (Mayo) Bessette.
Clarence owned and operated a dairy farm in St. Albans for many years. He married Arletta Santwell on Nov. 12, 1945.
Starting in Georgia, and then St. Albans Town, Clarence and his wife Arletta would purchase clothing at auctions and with other people's donations, would offer these clothes, free of charge, to any needy person. For almost 20 years, from their front porch and yard, they offered these free clothes, hoping to make some families' lives a little easier.
All through their daughter's school years, Clarence and Arletta could be found volunteering at picnics held at Ethan Allen Park, coordinating and disc jockeying school dances -- plus so many other things. Even when his daughter, Ruth, came home from school with a Santa Claus suit, Clarence took the place of the sick Santa, two and a half hours later.
Clarence will always be remembered as a loving, caring, generous, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. You will always be in our hearts.
Clarence was a communicant of Holy Angels Church and a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1090 for more than 40 years. He was there for others and shared his time and helped repair furniture for everybody.
Clarence is survived by his wife of 56 years, Arletta; his daughter, Ruth Murray and her husband Michael of Fairfax; two grandchildren, Stacey Wiley and her husband Joe of Swanton, and Michelle Murray and her fiance Mark Poczobut of Fair Haven; one great-grandchild, Brandan M. Wiley of Swanton; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Howard Bessette; and two sisters, Olive Phoenix and Marguerite Nichols.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, Sept. 30, 2002, at 10 a.m. in Holy Angels Church. Interment will be in the Bessette Family Lot in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call at the Brady & Levesque Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., St. Albans, Vt. 05478, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 13 Loomis St., Montpelier, Vt. 05603, or to the American Heart Association, Box 485, Williston, Vt. 05495.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Brady & Levesque Funeral Home.
CINDY L. CHAMPAGNE
SWANTON -- Cindy L. Champagne, 43, passed away late Thursday evening, Sept. 25, 2002, in her home, following a hard struggle with cancer. Her loving family and friends surrounded her.
Cindy was born in St. Albans, Dec. 16, 1958, the daughter of Earl and Mabel (Bockus) Champagne. Her father predeceased her on July 9, 1985.
In addition to her dedication as a homemaker and mother, her passions were bingo and lawn sales.
Besides her mother of Swanton, Cindy leaves four children: Mindy and her friend Roger and their children, Ethan and Dakota, as well as Rose, Justin and Kyle; two brothers, David and his friend Deb of Swanton and Everett and Lynne of Isle La Motte; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive her.
Special thanks to Jane Laroche, Karen Champagne, Doreen Williams, Sherry Martell, Lisa Unwin, Lori Derosia, Jen Dezotelle, the Franklin County Home Health Agency and the Hospice Program, Dr. Christian Thomas and staff, Merriam Graves Company and Kidder Memorial Home.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Sept. 30, 2002, at 11 a.m. from the Kidder Memorial Home, 89 Grand Avenue, Swanton. The Rev. Marcheta Townsend, pastor of the Highgate United Methodist Church will officiate. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday morning from 10 a.m. until the hour of the funeral.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Swanton Village Fire Department, Star Hose Company, P.O. Box 279, Swanton, Vt. 05488 or Franklin County Home Health Agency, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, Vt. 05488.
ROSINA REAL ABAIR
MILTON/HIGHGATE -- Rosina Real Abair, 85, of Villemaire Lane, died peacefully Wednesday morning, Sept. 25, 2002, in the Holiday House Extended Care Facility in St. Albans. Mrs. Abair was born Nov. 14, 1916, in Highgate, the daughter of Paul and Mary S. LaBounty LaPan.
On Jan. 2, 1936, she married Raymond Real in St. Louis Catholic Church in Highgate. She worked on two farms, along side her husband as well as caring for many foster children. They were married for over 50 years when he passed away on Feb. 11, 1987.
Rosina worked for eight years as a domestic nurse and later for 12 years as an advocate for the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging, where her compassion was expressed very sincerely with the work that she did with the elderly. Her hobbies included sewing, needlework and quilt making. She also enjoyed reading poetry. Retiring in 1991, she was also a member of the Milton Arrowhead Seniors and the CVAA Milton Meal Site, as well as St. Ann Parish in Milton.
On Oct. 19, 1996, she married Walter Abair of Westford, who predeceased her on May 31, 1997.
She is survived by two sons, Alfred George Real and his wife Joyce of Highgate Center and Ronald L. Real and his wife Robin of Milton; eight grandchildren, Steven, Jeff, Lisa, Ronald Jr., Rhonda, Raymond, Robert and Melodie; 13 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Adaline Lemnah of St. Albans and Norma Gokey of New Jersey; her brother, Lawrence LaPan and his wife Lillian of East Highgate; and a sister-in-law, Bernice LaPan of Burlington; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by five brothers, including one brother, Flight Officer Earl R. LaPan, who was killed in action during World War II; three sisters; and her granddaughter, Theresa Real White, who died on March 9, 1990. Rosina will be greatly missed by all.
The family would like to thank the Doctors and staff at Holiday House in St. Albans for the kind and compassionate care extended to Rosina during her stay with them, as well as the kind neighbors and friends at the Villemaire Senior Complex in Milton. Special thanks to special friend and co-worker, Barbara Joachim, who stood by her and guided her through many difficult times.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father John Feltz on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Ann's Catholic Church in Milton. Burial will follow in St. Louis' Cemetery in Highgate Center.
For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to either the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 37 Elmwood Ave., Burlington, Vt. 05401-4390, or to the American Cancer Society, New England Division, Inc., 11 Loomis St., Montpelier, Vt. 05602-3021.
Visiting hours will be held Friday, Sept. 27, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Minor Funeral Home, Route 7, Milton. Prayers will be offered by Father Feltz at 2 p.m. in the Funeral Home.
DEFOREST H. MANLEY
FRANKLIN -- Deforest H. Manley, age 88, died Wednesday morning, Sept. 25, 2002, at the Haven Health Care Facility in St. Albans. He was born June 10, 1914, in St. Albans, the son of the late Homer and Sarah (Evans) Manley.
Deforest was a life long resident of Franklin and was a member of the Franklin United Church. He was a 1930 graduate and was a member of the baseball team at Franklin High School. He also played baseball on the Franklin Town Team and was known to his teammates as "Shadow." He enjoyed playing music and entertained young and old with his neighbors, Arnold Elwood and Bill Laroche for many years at different gatherings and at the local nursing homes. He was a life long farmer and sugarmaker and still loved to grow potatoes up to three years ago. He still continued to go to the sugar house every spring. He was a former member of the Pamona Grange.
He is survived by two cousins, Roswell Evans of St. Albans and Robert Evans of Pigeon Hill, Quebec; close friends, Peter and Carolyn Kittell of Franklin. He was predeceased by a sister, Ruth Smith.
Funeral services will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls. There will be a time for visitation on Sunday from noon until the hour of the funeral. Interment will follow in the Franklin Village Cemetery.
For those who wish, contributions in his memory may be made to the Franklin Carriage House Senior Meals Program, c/o Nancy Bishop, 142 Homestead Drive, Franklin, Vt. 05457.
BERNARD E. BURNS
SHELDON -- Bernard E. Burns, age 70, died Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002, at his home. He was born Jan. 31, 1932, in Sheldon, the son of the late Anthony and Eva (Machia) Burns.
He married Simone Robert on Feb. 14, 1953. He lived most of his life in the Sheldon area. Bernard has had many occupations in his lifetime. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict aboard the USS Aucilla, he worked as a farmer owning a farm in Berkshire and later owning the farm he grew up on where he lived for the past 26 years. He also worked for the Missisquoi Pulp Mill in Sheldon and for Blue Seal in Richford.
He was self employed as a carpenter, plumber, electrician and was also a school bus driver for Sheldon for many years. He was a jack of all trades and no matter what he put his mind to, he could do it, including learning how to use a computer and surfing the Internet at 68 years old. He was also on the Library Committee and Zoning Board for the Town of Sheldon.
He is survived by his wife, Simone (Robert) Burns of Sheldon; his daughter, Penelope "Penny" LaRochelle and her husband Howard of Fairfax; his son, Daniel "Dan" Burns of Bakersfield; his grandson, David R. Burns; and his special granddaughter, Samantha Burns, both of Fairfield; two brothers and their wives, Ronald and Lucille Burns of Madrid, N.Y., and Donald and Connie Burns of Sheldon; two sisters, Edith Fiske and Lorraine Tracy, both of Enosburg. He was predeceased by a son, David A. Burns; three brothers, Elmond, Charles and Lewis Burns; and two sisters, Pearl Benjamin and Leona Leverton.
Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 10 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Enosburg Falls with Reverend Gerard Leclerc celebrating the Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow in St. John the Baptist Cemetery.
Visiting hours will be held Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls.
For those who wish, contributions in his memory may be made to the Enosburgh Ambulance Service, 83 Sampsonville Rd., Enosburg Falls, Vt. 05450, or to the Franklin County Home Health Agency, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, Vt. 05478.
FLORENCE G. MONTGOMERY
BARRE -- Florence G. Montgomery, 85 of Barre, formerly of Brookfield, died Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2002, at the Lincoln House in Barre. She was born in Weybridge Aug. 10, 1917, the daughter of Alfred and Lucy (Perkins) Gilmore.
She married Berton Montgomery on Oct. 17, 1941, and he died in 1997. She was educated in Weybridge schools, Middlebury High School and teachers training at U.V.M. She taught school in Berlin and Roxbury. For 17 years she was the Brookfield Town Clerk. For many years, she was the Brookfield area correspondent to the Times Argus and the White River Valley Herald.
She was a member of the Burlington Methodist Church. She enjoyed corresponding with her childhood friends, letter writing, creative writing, reading, knitting, crocheting, charcoal painting, writing poetry, and in earlier years, gardening and canning.
She has resided since May of 1999 at the Lincoln House in Barre, where she enjoyed writing for her monthly newsletter.
She leaves three daughters, Mrs. Tessie Coutts of Swanton, Mrs. Judy Prive of Brookfield, and Peggy Montgomery of Barre Town; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother, Alfred Gilmore Jr.
Graveside services will be held at the East Brookfield Cemetery Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002, at 2:30 p.m., with Reverend Herman Benjamin officiating.
There will be no calling hours.
Donations in her memory may be given to the Lincoln House, 120 Hill St., Barre, Vt. 05641.
NELSON R. TESSIER
RICHFORD -- Nelson R. Tessier, age 74, died Monday afternoon, Sept. 23, 2002, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born Oct. 22, 1927, in Richford, the son of the late Isreal and Bernadette (Godin) Tessier.
He was employed for three years at Canadian Pacific Railroad prior to entering the U.S. Army serving during World War II, earning the rank of Sergeant First Class. Following his discharge from the Army, he was employed at H.K. Webster for 18 years, during that time he also operated the Tessier Family Farm for eight years. In 1966, he purchased the Wallace Jacobs Farm, which he operated full time for the next 18 years, retiring in 1987.
He served as Selectman for the Town of Richford for two terms and was on the ASCS Board. He was a life member of the American Legion Post 12 of Richford.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joyce (Shover) Tessier of Richford; his 13 children whom he treasured dearly, Brian and Susan Tessier of Georgia, Ricky and Cher Tessier of Southwick, Mass., Kenny and Nancy Tessier of Enosburg, Jean and George Jacobs, Suzie and Jim Rhodes, all of Richford, Valerie and Rodney Lucier of Newport Center, Dale and Jennifer Tessier of Donalds, S.C., Randy and Theresa Tessier of Princeton, S.C., Kevin Tessier and his friend Carol of Fairfield, Sonja and Doug Lacross, Tammy and Bert Combs, Jeffrey Tessier, Dennis Tessier and his friend Heidi, all of Richford; 34 grandchildren, Brian Jr., Jessica and Travis, Ricky, Christopher, Emily and Leah, Jennifer, Jeremy and Jessie, Amy, Georgie and Tyler, Mary and Shane, Michael and Heather, Jamie, Shannon, Katie, Kailey and Matthew, Joshua, Brian, Keith and Angie, Amanda, Crystal, Kevin and Nick, Kelsey and Christopher, Tonya, and Derrick and Marissa; eight great-grandchildren, Cody and Jeremy and Mahlik, Jordin and Hunter, James and Michael and Samantha; his brothers, Leonard and Carolyn Tessier of Elilijay, Ga., Maurice and Joanne Tessier of Cleveland, Tenn.; his sister, Wilma and William McAllister of Richford. He was predeceased by three sisters, Rebecca, Frances and Madeline; and one brother, Lawrence; two grandchildren, Megan and Tracy.
Funeral services will be held Thursday morning at 11 at the Richford United Methodist Church. Interment will follow in the Richford Center Cemetery.
Visiting hours will be held this evening, Wednesday, from 6-9 at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls.
Nelson's family would like to express their gratitude to the Franklin County Home Health Agency. Douglass and Marilyn, we can't find the words to express our gratitude to you both. Also, a special thank you to Rosaire Bisson for his generous care to Nelson.
For those who wish, contributions in his memory may be made to the Richford Ambulance Service, Main Street, Richford, Vt. 05476, or to the Franklin County Home Health Agency, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, Vt. 05478.
