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HARRY FERRIS PHELPS
MILTON -- Harry F. Phelps, 87, husband of Helene T. (Jean) Phelps, passed away peacefully on Nov. 27, 2002, at his home in Milton. The son of Ernest and Evelyn (McNall) Phelps, Harry was born in Westford, on the 'Phelps Farm' on Sept. 19, 1915. He attended schools in Westford and Essex, graduating from Essex Junction High School.
Harry served his country both in the Navy at Pearl Harbor during World War II and in the Army, where he served in the Korean War. He proudly informed his granddaughter how he had the ability to play basketball with Henry Fonda while at Pearl Harbor. Harry enjoyed hunting, fishing the waters from Florida to Lee River in Jericho, and the docks off Lake Champlain. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren, and watching them grow and achieve their goals for which he was always open to giving 'advice.' He enjoyed past Christmas mornings, watching his grandchildren open presents and the family meals, which were always fascinating to watch him 'put away.' His wit and humor will be greatly missed by his family and friends. His journey in live was fulfilling to him and even though the past years he was limited to activity, he accepted it with very few complaints.
In addition to his wife, Helene of Milton, he leaves his daughters and their spouses, Paulette M. LaFond and Ronald, April McKenzie and James, Jean Hudson and Robert, all of Milton and Robyn Miller of Burlington; his grandchildren, Tammy and Ronald LaFond, David and Samantha McKenzie, Rebecca and Heather Hudson and Wayne and Bradley Miller; twin great-grandchildren, Bailey and Anya; his son, William Phelps of California and his children, Christine and Heather. He leaves also Wayne Raymond of Burlington, who was like a son to him, as well as his best fishing buddy; his stepbrothers (The Twins) and their spouses, Donald and Yvonne Phelps and Richard and Linda Phelps; and a stepsister, Carolyn Decapot of New Hampshire; several nieces and nephews, including a special niece, who could always get a rise from him, Darlene M. Stevens and his special little "Angel, " Angel Hayes, who was sent to him over the past few weeks. She certainly was a Godsend.
The family would like to thank Dr. Langdon Lawrence and the staff at Fletcher Allen Health Care, particularly Laura. The staff at the Starr Farm Nursing center and the VNA, the Hospice Team, Barbara Joachim from Champlain Valley on Aging for all her help over the last few years, and his previous caregiver, Deb Pidgeon -- without each and every one of you we would not have been able to accomplish Harry's last wishes of being at home.
There will be no visiting hours. A Committal Service will be privately held at a later date.
Arrangements are by the Minor Funeral Home of Milton.
FATHER JAMES. F. FOLEY
BURLINGTON -- Father James F. Foley, age 83, died Wednesday evening, Nov. 27, 2002, in the Burlington Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was born June 12, 1919, in Brooklyn, N.Y., son of John Edward Foley, Sr., who died in 1957, and Mary Agnes (Evers) Foley, who died in 1984.
Father Foley attended St. John's College, Brooklyn, N.Y., St. Mary's College, St. Mary, Ky., St. Charles College, Catonsville, M.D., Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Huntington, L.I.N.Y., Mt. St. Mary in Emmitsburg, M.D., and St. Bernard's Theological Seminary in Rochester, N.Y.
Father Jim was ordained for the priesthood on June 11, 1948, in Burlington, by Most Reverend Bishop Edward F. Ryan. He celebrated his first solemn mass at St. Theresa of Avila, Brooklyn, N.Y. His priestly ministry began as Assistant at St. Anthony Parish, White River Jct., (1949). Then Assistant at St. Augustine, Montpelier (1949-1953), St. Raphel, Poultney (1953-1954) and St. Mark, Burlington (1954-1960). His first pastorate was at St. Patrick Parish in Fairfield (1960-1966), Pastor at St. Isidore, Montgomery Center (1966-1970), St. Paul in Orwell (1975-1977): Associate Pastor St. Augustine, Montpelier (1977-1979). He served as Chaplain at Camp Mary Crest in 1977. Upon retirement, he lived in Northfield, Yuma, Arizona, and at the St. Joseph Home, Burlington, for several years and was a resident of Burlington Health and Rehab Center for the past 12 years. After his retirement, he continued his apostolate, giving assistance to the Diocese at weekend Masses in homes for the elderly and visitation of the sick. His motto was "Let us pray for one another."
Father Foley was a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a member of Vermont and New York Library Associations and the Vermont Historical Society.
He is survived by his brother, Joseph Foley, N.Y.C.P.D., Ret. of Brooklyn, N.Y. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Sister Mary Edna Foldy, C.9.J. in 1990, his brothers, John E. Foley, Jr., a World War II Veteran in 1960, Pvt., K.I.A. William E. Foley in World War II, Edmund Foley, N.Y.C.P.D. assassinated in 1977.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday at 11 a.m. in St. Peters Church in Vergennes. Transfer of the body will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday. Calling hours will be in the church following the Transfer Services, until 8 p.m. Sunday. Interment will follow the Mass in Prospect Cemetery in Vergennes.
Father Foley requested flowers be omitted and any donations sent to the Brady & Levesque Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., St. Albans, Vt. 05478, to be distributed according to his wishes.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Brady & Levesque Funeral Home.
OPAL (BURT) LAFOUNTAIN
WATERVILLE -- Opal (Burt) Lafountain, age 94, passed away peacefully at Genesis Eldercare in Morrisville on Monday morning Nov. 25, 2002. She was born March 14, 1908, in the family home on Ober Hill in Eden, the same home and bedroom as the two generations before her, daughter of the late William H. and Carrie (Amidon) Burt, Sr.
She married Guy Lafountain in May, 1935. Opal enjoyed the relaxing times listening to music, being especially fond of her country music and artists Doc Williams and Mac Wiseman. She loved spending time in Vermont's beautiful and pristine outdoors while nurturing her lovely organic flower and vegetable gardens. Opal so looked forward to the numerous times traversing the ridges of the long trail on Laraway Mountain with her family, a mountain she knew so well and last climbed at age 75. She enjoyed reading and the special times with her grandchildren during their visits while she was in the nursing home, an experience she always hoped more families would share with their children.
Opal was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister and friend and will be greatly missed by all those who had the true pleasure to know and love her.
She is survived by four generations -- two sons, Brenton Lafountain and his wife Janice of Waterville, and Dereck Lafountain and his wife Edna of Waterville; two daughters, Kay Ingalls and her husband Christy of Eden, and Lynne Duffy of Belvidere; one brother, Douglas Burt and his wife Evelyn of Waterville; one sister, Natalie Cutting of Waterville; a sister-in-law, Mary Burt of Waterville; 22 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by a brother, William Burt; a sister, Muriel Stebbins; a son-in-law, Francis "Pete" Duffy; a step-daughter, Gloria "Dode" Allard; two brothers-in-law, Mervin Cutting and Martin Stebbins; a grandson, Lawrence Baker; and a great-granddaughter, Erin Newton.
Visiting hours will be held at the Hayes-Rich Funeral Home on Friday, Nov. 29, 2002, from 2 - 4 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Hayes-Rich Funeral Home on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2002, at 11 a.m. with the Reverend Harold Brimmer officiating. Interment will be in the family lot in the spring in Belvidere Center Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Opal's memory to Lamoille County Home Health & Hospice, 54 Farr Ave. Morrisville, VT 05661, or Respite Care Grant Program, c/o Central Vermont Council on Aging, 30 Washington St., Barre, VT 05641. Arrangements are by the Hayes-Rich Funeral Home, 1176 Main St., Fairfax.
MARJORIE G. STETSON
ST. ALBANS -- Marjorie G. Stetson, age 70, died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002, at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington. She was born June 4, 1932, in St. Albans, the daughter of the late Alfred and Jessie (Denis) Button.
Marjorie was a homemaker; her hobbies included knitting, crocheting, fishing, tole painting, gardening and working in a greenhouse with the flowers.
She is survived by her husband, William D. Stetson of St. Albans; five children, Lawrence Seymour and his wife Lois of Torrington, Conn., Lorna Garfield and her husband John of Thomaston, Conn., Arthur Stetson and his wife Robin of Georgia, Kim Kenyon and her husband Dayton of Burlington, and Charity Brace of Huntington; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; nine brothers and sisters and their spouses, Joyce and Al McMichael of Craryville, N.Y., Jack and Artie Button of Swanton, Betty and Carl DeGraff of Burlington, Bev Button of St. Albans, Molly and Roger Berry of Enosburg Falls, Richard and Alice Button of Sheldon, Jimmy and Chris Button of Enosburg Falls, David and Linda Button of Fairfield Center, and Larry and Mary Button of Enosburg Falls; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two brothers, Howard and Russell Button.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 11 at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls. Interment will follow in the Berkshire Center Cemetery.
Visiting hours will be held today, Tuesday, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Spears Funeral Home in Enosburg Falls.
For those who wish, contributions in her memory may be made to the American Lung Association of Vermont, 30 Farrell St., South Burlington, Vt. 05403-9987.
CATHERINE E. DALLEY
FAIRFAX -- Catherine E. Dalley, 75, of Fairfax, died Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002, at the Holiday House Nursing Facility in St. Albans.
Catherine was born in Johnson on June 23, 1927, daughter of the late Clifford and Sarah E. (Sutton) Clouckie.
She was employed for many years at the Sheraton Motor Inn in South Burlington.
Catherine is survived by two daughters, Beverly Larocque of Winooski and Barbara Zeno of Waterbury; one granddaughter, Sarah Zeno; four grandsons, Christopher Larocque, Roderick Larocque, Michael Brigham and Paul Brigham; one great-granddaughter, Ashley Zeno; two sisters, Caroline McKenney of Salem, N.H. and Charlotte Warner and husband Edward of Georgia.
She was predeceased by her husband, Fred Dalley, and by many brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2002, at 10 a.m. at the LaVigne Funeral Home in Winooski. Visiting hours will be today, Monday, Nov. 25, from 6-9 p.m. at the LaVigne Funeral Home, 132 Main St., Winooski.
REV. JOHN P. HACKETT
ST. ALBANS -- Father John P. Hackett, 84, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2002, at the Northwestern Medical Center following a brief illness. He was born in St. Albans on May 5, 1918, the son of the late Peter J. and Katherine (Conner) Hackett.
Father Hackett attended St. Michael's College in Colchester and was a graduate of the Seminaire de Philosophie and the Grand Seminaire in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was ordained for the priesthood on Feb. 9, 1946 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Burlington by Bishop Edward F. Ryan.
The priestly ministry began at Holy Family Parish in Essex Junction (1946-47). He also served as assistant at St. Mary in Middlebury (1947-49); St. Charles in Bellows Falls (1949-52); St. Paul in Manchester (1952-53); St. Monica in Barre (1953-56); St. Monica in Forrestdale (1956-66); St. Mary in Springfield (1975-76); and Holy Angels in St. Albans (1976-79).
His first pastorate was at St. Bridget in West Rutland (1966-75). He also served as pastor at Our Lady of the Lake at St. Albans Bay (1979-93) until his retirement in 1993.
Father Hackett was Diocesan Chaplain for the mentally challenged from 1956-1966. In retirement he continued an active ministry to the hospital and nursing homes in St. Albans.
He is survived by nieces and nephews. Besides his father, Peter, who died in 1947 and his mother, Katherine, in 1952, he was predeceased by four sisters, Rosemary Carpenter, Helen Cahill, Catherine Bowler, and Elizabeth Ledden.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, Nov. 25, 2002 at 11 a.m. in Holy Angels Church on Lake Street. Interment will be in the Hackett family lot at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Father Hackett requested that flowers please be omitted and memorial contributions be made to Holy Angels Parish, 246 Lake St., St. Albans, 05478.
Friends may call on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main St.
THERESA LAPAN BROW
ST. ALBANS -- Theresa Lapan Brow, 63, a native of Swanton and presently a resident of the Lower Newton Road, St. Albans, died early Thursday morning, Nov. 21, 2002, in the Northwestern Medical Center.
Theresa was born in Swanton, Nov. 1, 1939, the daughter of the late Noah and Mary Jane (Gardner) Lapan. She attended the former St. Anne's Academy and on March 25, 1962, married Donald Edward Brow, who predeceased her on Sept. 25, 1999.
Theresa will always be remembered for her faithfulness, devotion and caring for all her family. She was there for anyone in need and always put family first and she last. She was a lifelong member of The Abenaki Nation of Vermont and in earlier years loved to play bingo.
She leaves her sister, Phyllis Draper and husband Maurice of Milton; four brothers and their wives, Norman and Janice Lapan, "Buck" and "Peanut" Lapan, Larry and Beulah Lapan, all of Swanton and Noah Jr. and Debbie Lapan of Highgate; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Paul Trombley of Highgate, Wayne and Carol Brow of St. Albans, Robert and Lou Brow of Kingston, N.C., Alfred "Timmer" Richards of Highgate, and Janice and Elizabeth Lapan both of Swanton. Also surviving is a very special niece and devoted companion and caregiver, Shari Gibson and her husband Geoff of St. Albans and their children, Kayla, Brookie, Allen, Matthew, and Amber. She also leaves a great-niece, Jami Lapan of Swanton, whom Theresa cared for in her home for many years; as well a several other nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews whom Theresa considered to be her children; along with many, many friends, including her best friend, Mary Garvis of St. Albans.
Six brothers, Harold, Louis, Fred, James, Arnold and Roger Lapan; and five sisters, Pat, Madeline, Shirley, Linda and Evelyn, all predeceased her.
Theresa's family wishes to give special thanks to the Franklin County Home Health Agency for all of their love care and support during these past years.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002, at 11 a.m. from the Kidder Memorial Home, 89 Grand Avenue, Swanton. Father Maurice U. Boucher, SSE director of St. Anne's Shrine in Isle La Motte will officiate. Interment will follow in the Brow family lot in St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends may call at the Kidder Memorial Home, 89 Grand Avenue, Swanton on Saturday morning from 9 a.m. until the hour of the funeral.
Gifts in Theresa's memory may be made to Franklin County Home Health Agency, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, Vt. 05478, or the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging, 1 Mill Street, Burlington, Vt. 05401.
HENRY "BUD" D. MEARS
RICHFORD/MILTON -- Henry "Bud" D. Mears, 81, died Tuesday evening, Nov. 19, 2002, at the Haven Health Care Facility in St. Albans, following a long battle with cancer. Henry was born in Rochester on May 1, 1921, the son of William and Myrtle (Yates) Hart.
Mr. Mears was married to Eula Merle Guyette in 1945; Eula predeceased him in 1992. Henry was a World War II Veteran, serving in the Air Force from 1941 to 1945. He had worked at Fitzpatrick's Garage in Burlington for 20 years.
He is survived by his sons, John Wade Mears and his wife Claire of Ypsilanti, Mich, and Patrick Mears and his wife Pauline of Fairfax. Henry is also survived by his grandchildren, Jamie, Dawn, Travis, Jason and Toby; by his great-grandchildren, Katie, Danielle, Christopher, Adrian, Dillon, Eric and Emily; by his brothers, Paul Mears of Milton, Francis Shonio of Warner, Mass., and Ira Paquette of Burlington; by his sister, Shirley Leach of Brooklyn, Conn.; and by many nieces and nephews.
A Veteran Service will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002, at 1 p.m. in the VFW on Lake Street in St. Albans. A graveside committal service will follow in the Holy Cross Cemetery in St. Albans.
Memorials in Henry's name may be made to the family to assist in expenses.
Arrangements were by the Minor Funeral Home in Milton.
