Ramona G. Allard
Ramona “Mona” G. Allard, 72, of Springfield, Massachusetts, died peacefully on Sunday, September 20, 2015, at Wingate at East Longmeadow.
She was born in Springfield on October 20, 1942, to the late Peter Katalina and Elizabeth (Kyle) Beauregard. She was a lifelong resident of the area, graduating from Cathedral High School. She was an active member of St. Catherine of Siena Church. She enjoyed playing bingo and had a deep love for music, especially the classics such as Sinatra, Bennett, and Mathis.
Many will fondly remember her as a crossing guard in Springfield, or from Monsanto/Solutia, from which she retired in 2007. She will be dearly missed.
Ms. Allard is survived by her sister Linda Marchese and her partner, Michael Braica, of Springfield; and her brothers: Ronald Cote and his wife, Tressie, of West Glover, Thomas J. Beauregard and his wife, Susan, of Ludlow, and Robert A. Beauregard and wife, Lynn, of Twin Falls, Idaho. She is also survived by her dear nephew and surrogate son John Marchese of Springfield, along with several nieces, grandnieces, and nephews.
The funeral was held on Thursday, September 24.
Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123-1718, or to the Make a Wish Foundation, 4742 North 24th Street, Suite 400, Phoenix, Arizona 85016-4862.
George William Allen
George William Allen died on September 9, 2015, at the age of 101.
He is survived by a son, Ed Allen of Vermillion, South Dakota; a daughter, Barbara Bernard of Suffolk, England; a granddaughter, Francis Todd; and four great-grandchildren.
Bill Allen enjoyed a certain immunity from the insecurities that make the rest of us toe the line.
That was the most interesting thing about him, but far from the only interesting thing about him. He was a man of great charm, with a fine intellect honed by a good Connecticut prep school and Yale University (class of 1939). He was a dedicated fisherman and, I recall from three trips he organized to Weller Pond, a guy who could make a weekend in an Adirondack lean-to almost as comfortable as — and far more pleasurable than — a stay at the Ritz.
Bill liked to prowl the back roads of the Kingdom in Greenie, a Model A Ford he’d bought as a young man and preserved with loving care and, according to his wife, Anne, an unreasonable amount of money. Greenie carried Bill to Entropy Acres, the farm we occupied in West Glover, shortly after we arrived there. It was a fine summer day and the matriarch of our extended family, Peggy W., was weeding the vegetable garden in what was, for a certain subculture at the time, standard gardening apparel. She was topless.
Hearing a strange voice Peggy ducked down behind a row of beans, but later offered Bill an explanation and apology that involved a neighbor she was just getting to know.
“I’m sorry, Bill,” Peggy said, “I thought you were Loudon Young.”
“Well, I may be lewd,” Bill replied, flashing the smile all his friends will remember, “but I’m hardly young.”
Though of our parents’ generation, a veteran who served as a Navy first lieutenant in the Second World War, Bill was perfectly comfortable in our presence, and the feeling was quickly mutual. It wasn’t, heaven knows, that he shared our convictions or tastes. It may only have been that he found nothing odd in people who would step off the smooth highway of America’s early ’sixties and find their own path.
Bill taught English at Lyndon State College, but resigned when he hit a classroom of students who didn’t seem interested in what he had to tell them. He returned to the college from time to time, but avoided anything that could be described as an academic career. When he wanted to visit his daughter Barbara, who was raising his grandchildren in England, Bill signed onto the Queen Elizabeth as a lecturer in Shakespeare. Given his charm and erudition, there’s no doubt the ocean liner’s owners and passengers got their money’s worth, and Bill crossed the Atlantic in a style he found entirely appropriate.
He edited a weekly newspaper in New Hampshire for a time, and after moving to Wheelock, took his place as the liberal voice on the conservative editorial pages of the Caledonian Record with his column, “A Different Drummer.”
When a new paper started up in Barton he became an early and frequent contributor. When, in his third issue, the inexperienced editor was compelled by a fierce cadre of female readers to back down from his decision to refer to every one of them as “Ms.,” it was Bill who came up with a quote from Emerson that lent at least a touch of dignity to the retreat: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds… Speak what you think now in hard words and tomorrow speak what tomorrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradicts everything you said today.”
When the Chronicle covered Barton’s first streaker, Bill could not resist a pithy commentary, quoted here in full:
To the Editor
Your “late flash” about the young streaker on the front page last week was a happy sign that at least one local youth still believes in political activism. In his subtle way, that naked fellow who ran around the Barton schoolhouse was obviously trying to say something against Nixon. The message was: full disclosure, no cover-up.
The letter was particularly topical. President Richard Nixon resigned about a week later, in early August 1974.
Bill was the only political candidate to cover his own defeat in these pages. He reported that the candidate, who ran on a platform of “permissiveness, pot, and pornography,” was bewildered by the outcome of his race for justice of the peace, which yielded a total of three votes. His story continued: “His campaign-manager-wife was also puzzled. ‘There’s something about it I can’t understand either,’ she said. ‘I voted for him and I know he voted for himself. What I can’t understand is where that other vote came from.’”
A book of Bill’s best columns and essays, Strong is Your Hold, was published in 1984.
Bill celebrated his one hundredth birthday with several parties in early 2014, including one at the Sutton home of his great friends and neighbors, Hugh and Annetta Schultz. When, finally, he could no longer live alone at the hospitable Wheelock house he shared with Anne for decades, until her death in 2011, he was able to move to Nantucket Island. It was a place he loved, and a friend might be forgiven for hoping that Bill could hear the sound of the breakers from his last bedroom, and relive the many nights he spent on the beach, casting for bluefish in the Atlantic surf. — Chris Braithwaite
Bernadette M. Belisle
Bernadette M. Belisle, 94, of Derby died on October 1, 2015, in Derby.
She was born on March 12, 1921, in Newport Center to William and Antoinette (Deslandes) Chaput.
In 1941 she married Edward Belisle who predeceased her. She and her husband owned and operated their farm in Newport Center for over 20 years. She ran it for the last ten years because Mr. Belisle was ill.
Ms. Belisle enjoyed gardening, especially with flowers. She enjoyed attending family gatherings and keeping in touch with her brothers and sisters. She knitted and crocheted rugs for her enjoyment as well as for her family. She was a person with very deep faith, strong convictions and a hard worker. She was devoted to St. Anne for many years.
She is survived by her son Joseph and his wife, Debbie, of Derby; her grandchildren: Michael Belisle and his son Chase Belisle, Jason Belisle and Lara Starr, and their children: Garrett Heath, Grason Belisle, and Mabel Belisle. She is also survived by her sisters: Ida Rowe, and Vivian Farrar; her sister-in-law Iva Chaput; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by an infant son; her siblings: Elontine Belisle, Florence Campbell, Emilda Gosselin, Felix, Fernand, Leo Paul, and Roland Chaput.
Funeral services were held on Monday, October 5, at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Derby Line where a Mass was celebrated. Interment followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the Mary Halo Foundation, 1071 Upper Quarry Road, Newport, Vermont 05855.
Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.
Kelly Ann (Menken) Cerone
Kelly Ann (Menken) Cerone, 50, of Kennebunkport, Maine, formerly of Townsend, Massachusetts, and Glover, died on Saturday, September 26, 2015, at her home, after a long and courageous fight with cancer.
She was born on March 16, 1965, in Peterborough, New Hampshire.
She was an amazing young woman full of life, love, and laughter. Her greatest joy was spending time with her children and her family. She was a fierce scrabble competitor, enjoyed going to the beach with her children, spending time with her friends and hanging out with her mom. She loved watching her daughters compete in gymnastics and spent many hours watching them both in practice and competition. She also spent time with others who were battling a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and drew strength from their support.
Ms. Cerone is survived by her husband, John Cerone; her son Douglas and his two children Jayden and Alexis; and her daughters: Johanna and Angela. She was the oldest daughter of Geraldine and Joseph Neal of Glover.
She is also survived by her twin sister, Karen Menken of Glover; her brothers: Doug Menken and his wife, Dawn, of Barton, and Terry Neal and his wife, Heather, of Glover; her sisters: Kerry Leroux and her husband, Stewart, of Stafford Springs, Connecticut, Sherry Langlois and her husband, Erick, of Townsend; her lifelong friend Veronica Valley; many nieces and nephews; a great-nephew; aunts; uncles; cousins; special in-laws; and two cherished rat terriers: Tiny, and Ollie.
She was predeceased by her father, Robert Menken.
Memorial services for Ms. Cerone were held on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at Saint Martha’s Church in Kennebunk, Maine. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ms. Cerone’s name to the GIST Cancer Awareness Foundation (gistawareness.org).
Irene L. Guillette
Irene L. Guillette, 90, of Derby died on September 28, 2015, in Troy.
She was born on November 25, 1924, in Newport, a daughter of Arthur and Rose (Roberts) Lahar.
In May 1944 she married Lucien Guillette, who predeceased her in 1990.
Mrs. Guillette graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Newport. She loved camping, snowmobiling, and family gatherings.
She is survived by her daughter Linda Lass and her husband, John, of Shoreham; two granddaughters: Michelle Lass and her fiancé, Rob Curtis, of Bristol, and Laura Lass of Salisbury; great-grandson Jacob Galvin of Salisbury; her brother Paul Lahar and his wife, Betty, of Derby; her sister Pauline Fournier of Troy; numerous nieces and nephews; and a sister-in-law, Jeannine Kennison, of Newport.
She was predeceased by her two sons: Michael and James Guillette; and a brother Albert Lahar.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, October 1, at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Derby Line where a Mass was celebrated. Interment followed at St. Edward’s Cemetery.
Should friends desire contributions in her memory may be made to the North Country Hospital Dialysis Center, 189 Prouty Drive, Newport, Vermont 05855.
Online condolences at www.curtis-britch.com.
Ellie “Pat” Hinton
Ellie “Pat” Hinton, 87, of Hinton Hill Road in Westmore died on Thursday, October 1, 2015, at North Country Hospital in Newport.
He was born on the family farm in Westmore on Flag Day, June 14, 1928. He was the son of Errol and Nettie (Colburn) Hinton.
He attended school in a one-room schoolhouse up the hill from the Hinton Farm in Westmore. He received his eighth-grade diploma as salutatorian with a class size of two. On July 26, 1969, he married Mona Bean and together they raised six children: Russell, Teresa, Mark, Errol, Burton, and Cory.
Mr. Hinton was a dairy farmer with his brother Elvin “Jim”, and later with his son Burton. He never retired. He enjoyed horses and using them to help with his farm work, and going to fairs to watch the horse pulls. He enjoyed raising all things — pigeons, ducks, livestock, but most importantly children, and grandchildren.
He was a 65-year member of Island Pond Lodge #44 F&AM, where he was past master. He was a member and past patron of North Star Chapter #25 Order of the Eastern Star, a member of Keystone Chapter 16, and past high priest.
He was a director of the Orleans County Fair Association for many years, a member of the Guernsey Breeders Association, and a member and deacon of the East Charleston Congregational Church.
Mr. Hinton was an amazing storyteller. History was very important to him, and he remembered so much detail that it was almost as if his listeners were there with him. Those stories live on in his family and friends. Above all he was a family man. That was the most important thing in his life.
He would always ask how everybody was doing, especially the grandchildren, and whenever he saw them it would brighten up his day.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
He is survived by his children: Russell Hinton and his wife, Noreen, Teresa Potvin and her husband, David, Mark Hinton and his wife, Lisa, Errol Hinton and his wife, Renee, Burton Hinton and his companion, Sandi Hicks, and Cory Hinton and his wife, Lauri. He is also survived by his sister Norma Locke; and by 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and many close nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Mona Bean; two brothers: Earlton “Joe” Hinton, and Elvin “Jim” Hinton; and by two sisters: Natalie Davis, and Pauline Coe.
A graveside service will be held on Thursday October 8, at 5 p.m., at the Hillside Cemetery in East Charleston, with the Reverend Michael Ford officiating.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be marked in Mr. Hinton’s name to the Masonic Scholarship Fund, in care of Island Pond Lodge #44 F&AM, P.O. Box 63, Morgan, Vermont 05853.
Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home website at curtis-britch.com.
Richard “Dick” Moffett
Richard “Dick” Moffett, 77, of Waddy, Kentucky died on Thursday, October 1, 2015, in Louisville, Kentucky.
He was born in St. Johnsbury on August 22, 1938. He was a member and deacon of Waddy Christian Church. He retired after 25 years with the Florida Department of Corrections. He was an Air Force veteran. He was a member of Shelby Lodge #662, and past president of the Clan Moffat Society.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ruth Ann Rodgers Moffett, of Waddy; his sons: Brian Moffett and his wife, Anita, of Reton, New Mexico, Steven Eric Moffett and his wife, Veronica, of Waddy; his daughter Kimberly Jean French and her husband, Mark, of Davisburg, Michigan; and six grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Dorothy Moffett.
A memorial service and Masonic services were held on Monday, October 5, at the Waddy Christian Church with the Reverend Tina Theiler officiating.
Condolences and contributions in his memory may be made to Rob Morris Memorials, care of Linda Shepherd 48 Kings Highway, Waddy, Kentucky 40076, the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675, or the Waddy Christian Church, P.O. Box 2, Waddy, Kentucky 40076.
Dolores M. Petit
Dolores M. Petit, 62, of Coventry died on October 2, 2015, in Coventry.
She was born on February 1, 1953, in Sommerville, New Jersey, a daughter of Edward and Mercedes (Torpey) Skochin.
On June 25, 1993, she married Edmond Petit, who survives her. Ms. Petit loved to go to her camp on Seymour Lake during the summers and spend time with her grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Edmond Petit, of Coventry; a son Matthew Phelps of Coventry; three stepchildren: Scott Petit and his wife, Heather, of Coventry, Robin Ballinger and her husband, Owen, of Coventry, and Danielle Sorrell and her husband, Lance, of New York; six grandchildren: Addie and Reese Petit, Evan and Julia Ballinger, Amelia, and Hunter Sorrell; her brother Kerry Skochin of Derby; her niece Jennifer Skochin of South Carolina; and by a nephew Ryan Skochin of South Carolina.
Mrs. Petit is predeceased by her parents, Edward and Mercedes Skochin.
Funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family.
Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, Vermont Division, Inc., 55 Day Lane, Williston, Vermont 05495.
Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.
Gilles Joseph Roberts
Gilles Joseph Roberts, 58, of Albany died suddenly on September 27, 2015, in East Albany.
He was born on May 17, 1957, in Swedeberg, Quebec, to Euclide Roberts and the late Jeannine (Bedard) Roberts.
In 1974 he graduated from Lake Region Union High School. On July 2, 1988, he married Annette Poirier, who survives him.
Mr. Roberts was the main tire technician for the mobile unit at Park View Garage in Barton for the past 22 years. He volunteered at the Orleans County Fair, assisting with the tractor pulls each year. He was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, sober 33 years, and was a mentor to many others in the program.
His hobbies included: hunting, fishing, cutting wood, maple sugaring, and helping all of his neighbors. He helped local farmers, loved to socialize, and enjoyed going out to eat at Bob’s Quick Stop and other locations.
He is survived by his wife, Annette Roberts, of Conway, South Carolina; his children: Joshua McCargar and his fiancé, Linsay Wells, of Barton, and Amanda Garcia and her husband, Carlos, of Conway, South Carolina. He was “Papop” to five grandchildren who survive him: Christina, Gavin, Kharlee, Tucker and Leah. His is also survived by his father, Euclide Roberts of Westfield; his siblings: Rene Roberts and his wife, Connie, of East Albany, Andre Roberts and his wife, Diane, of Troy, Dennis Roberts of Weare, New Hampshire, Diane Royer and her husband, Steve, of Irasburg, Carole Hodgdon and her husband, Paul, of Craftsbury; numerous nieces and nephews; and the Poirier family.
He was predeceased by his mother, Jeannine Roberts, in 2002; his brother Michael Roberts in 1994; and his sister-in-law Sue Fogle in January 2015.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, October 3, at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Barton with the Reverend Timothy Naples celebrating a mass of Christian burial.
A potluck celebration of life took place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, at the Irasburg Town Hall. Interment will be for family at a later date.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Orleans County Fair Association, 278 Roaring Brook Road, Barton, Vermont 05822.
Online condolences at curtis-britch.com.
Jeannine Stebenne
Jeannine Stebenne, 77, of Island Pond, died peacefully and in the presence of loved ones on September 26, 2015, in Newport.
She was born to the late Beloni Cyr, and Dora (Caron) Cyr on November 6, 1937, in Clifton, Quebec.
Ms. Stebenne was blessed with a large and loving family. She married her beloved husband of 60 years, Philippe Stebenne, on October 22, 1955, in St. Mathias, Quebec. The couple traveled from Quebec to various towns throughout New England before settling in Island Pond, where they raised their seven children.
Ms. Stebenne was a devoted member of St. James Catholic Church and ever faithful to her beloved patron saint, Saint Anne. She was known for her sweet tooth, and enjoyed knitting, laughing, and spending time with family. She was a loving and caring woman, and was always sending out prayers and lighting perpetual candles for her family, church, and community during times of need.
She is survived by her husband, Philippe Stebenne of Island Pond; her seven children: Alphonse Stebenne of Island Pond, Francine Sullivan and her husband, John, of Billerica, Massachusetts, Donald Stebenne and wife Suzanne of Hartland, Albert Stebenne and his wife, Priscilla, of Irasburg, Ginette O’Keefe and her husband, Gary, of Island Pond, Diane Sykes and her husband, Zeke, of Island Pond, and Sylvie Daniels and her husband, Cecil, of Island Pond; 17 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; her brother Roland Cyr of Edmundston, New Brunswick; her sister Rita Charette and her husband, Adrien, of Edmundston; and by countless other friends and family who were blessed to know her.
She was predeceased by her father; her mother; and by her brothers: Roger Cyr, Raymond Cyr, Romeo Cyr, and Normand Cyr.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 8, at 11 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church in Island Pond. Interment will follow at the Lakeside Cemetery. There will be a gathering afterwards at Sunrise Manor.
Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to Mater Dei Parish, 191 Clermont Terrace, Newport, Vermont 05855. The memo line should say “St. James Roof Fund” to assist with reparations of the church that houses countless memories of Ms. Stebenne and her time spent there.
Lawrence “Laurie” Tilton
Lawrence “Laurie” Tilton, 80, of Rock Island, Quebec died on Saturday, September 5, 2015.
He was born on December 20, 1934, in Newport. His parents were Ethel (Baird) and Lawrence Tilton Sr.
He spent most of his life in Rock Island. He worked for three years at the Royal Bank in Sherbrooke, Quebec, and Montreal, Quebec. Later, he came back to work with his father at the Three Villages Building Association.
On July 7, 1956, he married Jacqueline Richards. They owned a laundromat in Rock Island for a few years.
He started working with the fire department in Stanstead, Quebec, which became an important part of his life, at the age of 16. He was one of the founders of the International Mutual Aid. In 1988, he began working under former Orleans County Sheriff Jim Murphy, and worked there until his retirement.
For years, Mr. Tilton and his wife attended many of the Bobbin Mill Players jam sessions in the area. Country music was a very special pastime for him, as well as the concerts attended on the causeway in Newport.
He leaves behind many good memories of his family, working with the fire department, the Sheriff’s Department, and helping others in any way he could.
He is survived by his wife; and his daughter Judy and her husband, Rino Clarizio, and their sons Mark and Adrian of Montreal. He is also survived by his two sons: David and his wife, Joyce, and their son David Jr. of Florida, and Michael and his wife, Brenda, and their children: Katie, and twins Johnathan and Madison of Agden, Québec; his brother Dennis of Georgia; and his cousin Shirley Osborne and her husband, Gordon, of Newport.
A memorial service was held on September 12 at the Manoir Chapel in Stanstead, Quebec, an assisted living facility where Mr. Tilton and his wife had lived for three years.
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