Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), March 31, 2014, a son, Miles Edward Becker, to Megan (Mooney) and Michael Becker of Brattleboro; grandson to Carol Wing of Springfield, Edward and Judi Becker of Springfield, and Elizabeth and Bruce Arruda of Dartmouth, Mass.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), March 30, 2014, a daughter, Riya Nicole Westmoreland, to Renee Aplin and Cody Westmoreland of Winchester, N.H.; granddaughter to Michelle Aplin, Todd Aplin, Geraldine Nadeau, Tanya Badger, Jeanenne Graham, Goldie Curl, and Gary Lynn.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Mar. 23, 2014, a daughter, Madelyn Isabel Kermenski, to Wayne and Sara Kermenski of Marlboro; granddaughter to Robert and Nancy Anderson of Marlboro and Richard and Ann Kermenski of West Yarmouth, Mass.; and great granddaughter to the late Charles and Isabel Hartenbach of Marlboro and the late Robert and Florence McGinnis of Milford, Mass.
• In Lebanon, N.H., (Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center), March 23, 2014, a daughter, McKenna Rose Stoodley, to Karen and Ryan Stoodley of Bellows Falls.
• In Lebanon, N.H., (Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center), March 5, 2014, a son, Wyatt Donald Austin, to Jessica and Brendon Austin of Springfield.
Obituaries
• William J. “Bill” Buraczynski, Jr., 69, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died April 5 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Former husband of Darlene Smart. Father of Amanda Sweetser and her husband, Paul, of Hinsdale; Michele Barnett and her husband, Ross, of Halifax; and Kristina Aldrich and her husband, Aaron, of Brattleboro. Brother of Stephanie Chase of Manchester, N.H., and Kathleen Saunders of Brattleboro. Born in Hinsdale, the son of William and Stephanie (Sytnik) Buraczynski, he was raised and educated in Hinsdale, graduating from Hinsdale High School, Class of 1962. He was employed as a tap and die engineer at Greenfield (Mass.) Tap & Die and previously worked for the Bendix Company, also in Greenfield. He retired from his vocation following over 30 years in the trade. More recently, he worked on a part-time basis as a delivery driver for Advance Auto Parts in Brattleboro. He was a charter member of the Warwick (Mass.) Lions Club and also held membership in the Hinsdale VFW Post 4234. He was a communicant of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hinsdale. He enjoyed nature, walking, gardening, and time shared with his family. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held April 11 at St. Joseph's Church, with burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Donations to VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034, 40 Black Mountain Rd., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Arrangements were under the direction of Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro.
• Robert J. Gutt, 68, of Marlboro. Died April 7 at his home. Husband of Joanne Lenares Gutt. Father of David Gutt of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Michael Gutt and his wife, Trisha, of West Springfield, Mass. Brother of Patricia Schultz of Colchester, Conn. Stepson of Leo Poulin of Enfield, Conn. Born in Hartford, Conn., the son of the late John and Theresa Gutt, he had been a Vermont resident for 20 years, previously residing in Connecticut. He was educated in the Connecticut school system, graduating from Glastonbury High School. He then went on to attend the College of Technology, earning a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and then served his country in the Army. He was the owner and operator of Sweet Briar Country Store in Marlboro for many years until his retirement. He was an avid Red Sox fan, a very talented stone mason, and was a trustee of the volunteer fire department in Marlboro. He will best be remembered by his family as a lovely and devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. Memorial information: A private funeral service was held April 11. Donations to BMH Oncology Department, 17 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Gordon “Bub” G. Fontaine Jr., 89, of Westminster West. Died at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls on April 4, Husband of Shirley (Hart) Fontaine for nearly 68 years. Father of James Fontaine and his wife, Jan, of Hyde Park; Pat Wheeler and her husband, Peter, of North Walpole, N.H., the late Kathleen Hallock and her husband, David Hallock, of Bellows Falls; Deborah Wood and her husband, Bryan, of Rockingham; Elaine DeBell of Charlestown, N.H.; Regina Rockefeller and her husband, Andy, of Putney; and Jean Fontaine of Roscoe, Mont. Brother of the late Catherine Hyrckiewicz. Born in Bellows Falls, the son of the late Gordon and Margaret Walsh Fontaine, he graduated from Bellows Falls High School in 1943, where he excelled in sports. He joined the Army the day after graduation and served in the Philippines as a tank mechanic. He was a 55-year member of the American Legion. He was a devout Catholic and a lifelong member of St. Charles Church, where he was an altar server up until his death, and he married his high school sweetheart in 1946 at the church. He started his career with Green Mountain Power as a lineman, and retired after 36 years, as distribution superintendent. He was a dedicated employee of “The Company” and was passionate about making sure that people had their electricity restored as quickly as possible after an outage. After his retirement, the Fontaines moved to “The Camp” in Westminster West, which they build themselves. Over the years, The Camp expanded to several buildings, including an in-ground swimming pool that was enjoyed by family and friends. He was a jack-of-all-trades and there was nothing that he couldn't figure out how to build, fix, or invent. He was a rigger extraordinaire. He was devoted to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, giving freely of his time for any projects they needed done. He loved the outdoors, including hiking, canoeing, golfing, snowshoeing, skating, sledding, hunting, fishing, and was almost always accompanied by Shirley. He could swim the perimeter of their swimming pool, underwater with one breath, do cannonballs with the best of them, and eat a whole cupcake in one gulp. He was a friend to everyone and went out of his way to help anyone in need. He was deeply loved and will be truly missed by all. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held April 8 at St. Charles Church, with burial in St. Charles Cemetery in Westminster. Donations may be made to St. Charles Church Renovation Fund, 31 Cherry Hill St., Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
• Betty B. Karg, 80, of West Dummerston. Died April 5 at her home following a period of declining health. She died just 12 days before the 60th anniversary of her marriage to Robert H. Karg. Mother of Robert H. Karg, Jr. and his partner, Diane, of Kittery, Maine, and Susan Dimick and her husband, Alan, of Marietta, Ga. Born in Camden, N.J., the daughter of the late Clifford and Mae (Dowling) Beam, she was raised and educated in Bloomfield, N.J., graduating from Bloomfield High School, Class of 1951. She later attended St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in New York City, receiving her RN degree. She went on to graduate from Jersey City State College earning her B.A. in health education. She had been employed at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend and also worked as an RN at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Previously, she served as a school nurse at several elementary schools. She enjoyed square dancing, was a member of the Green Mountain Squares, and loved wintering in Venice, Fla. During her earlier years, she served as a Girl Scout leader. Memorial information: A memorial service will be conducted at Newfane Congregational Church at a future date to be announced by the funeral home. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, in care of Dr. Robert Backus, P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT 05353, or to Newfane Congregational Church Ladies Aid Committee, P.O. Box 27, Newfane, VT 05345. Arrangements are under the direction of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• Charlotte B. Lesure, 94, of Brattleboro. Died April 7 at Springfield Health and Rehabilitation Center, where she has resided for the past four years. Wife of the late Ronald Lesure for 60 years. Mother of John Lesure and his wife, Cindy, of Brattleboro. Sister of the late Katherine Batchelder. Born in St. Johnsbury, the daughter of the late Clayton and Alma (Devereaux) Batchelder, she spent the first six years of her life in Lyndonville and Burke before moving to Montpelier, where she graduated from Montpelier High School, Class of 1938. She went on to attend and graduate from Johnson State College in 1941 where she received her teaching degree. She later relocated to Stamford. where she met her husband. She had a teaching career in Vermont that spanned 30 years. Her first teaching position was at the Riverton School. She then taught for several years in a one room schoolhouse in Stamford. In 1959, she and her husband relocated to the Brattleboro area, where she taught third grade at Academy School until her retirement in 1980. She was a member of Bingham Chapter #30, Order of the Eastern Star and also held membership in the Vermont Teachers Association. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Brattleboro. An avid reader, of her other leisure time activities she enjoyed knitting, crossword puzzles, and spending time with her family. Memorial information: A graveside committal service in the Lesure family lot in Woodmont Cemetery in East Burke will take place at a later date when the cemetery reopens. Doantions to Springfield Health and Rehabilitation Center Activities Dept., 105 Chester Rd., Springfield, VT 05156. Arrangements are under the direction of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.
• Evelyn E. Rhoades, 94, of Westminster. Died April 6 at her home. Wife of the late Hollis G. Rhoades for more than 60 years. Mother of Alice Rhoades Cobb and Ellen Rhoades Aron, both of Westminster. Sister of Florence Newman of Hinsdale, N.H., and the late Charles Adams, Ralph Gould, and Dorothy Brown. Born in Amherst, Mass., the daughter of the late Charles and Alice Adams, as a child, her family moved to the Bellows Falls and Westminster area, where she spent most of her life. She was the only remaining member of the Class of 1937 at Bellows Falls High School. She was a dedicated member of the First Congregational Church in Westminster and leaves much love for her church family, and especially for Pastor Sammi McCrae. She enjoyed music, especially gospel and inspirational, and loved to play the piano. She loved to cook, read, sew, and was an exceptional artist. She was inspired by many trips to Maine and the beauty of the ocean. She enjoyed flowers and plants and had a special touch in growing geraniums for her love's grave for the summers. Evelyn worked for many years for Sam's Army and Navy in Bellows Falls. She also worked for the Council on Aging at the Bellows Falls Senior Center, where she found joy in helping many clients. She eventually helped her husband in forming the Walpole Oil Company and gas station, and assisted with all the office duties. Her family was always first, and foremost, in her thoughts and prayers. Memorial information: A private burial service was held April 10, followed by a public memorial service at the First Congregational Church in Westminster. Donations to Westminster Cares, the First Congregational Church of Westminster, or the Butterfield Library.
• George Shumlin, 89, of Putney. Died April 10 at his home after a short illness. Husband of Kitty A. (Prins) Shumlin for 62 years. Father of Kate Shumlin of South Burlington, Jeffrey Shumlin of Westminster West, and Peter Shumlin of East Montpelier. Born in Newark, N.J., the son of the late Elliott and Betty Shumlin, he graduated from Plainfield, N..J., High School in 1942. His college education was interrupted by World War II in which, after five months' training at the Newport, R.I., naval training station, he served for three years as quartermaster and as senior petty-officer on a Navy amphibious landing ship, the LST 1011. The 1011 participated in landings and in re-supply operations in both the European and the Pacific theaters of war. He was awarded the European and the Asiatic-Pacific service ribbons with battle stars. After the war, he received a B.A. in English and Theater from Antioch College. He attended graduate school in theater arts at the University of Iowa, and later earned a M.A. in education at the Putney Graduate School of Teacher Education (now known as Antioch New England). He served as a trustee and as chairman pro-tem of the board of trustees of The Graduate School, and he also worked on the school's faculty as the supervisor of apprentice teaching. He worked as an actor, a stage-manager, and a director in regional theaters and summer theaters, as well as on Broadway and on network television. Later, he taught at the Putney School and at the Verde Valley School in Arizona. The Shumlins eventually settled in Westminster West in 1955. Together, they founded Putney Student Travel, an international, educational experience for high-school students, of which George was president for 33 years. He was co-founder of The Grammar School in Putney and served for eight years on its board of trustees, the first six years as treasurer. He was one of many co-founders of the Vermont Civil Liberties Union. He loved hiking, cross-country skiing and working in the Vermont woods, maintaining the family woodlot for sustainable production and recreation. He especially enjoyed his family and he took great pride in their achievements. Memorial information: A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
• Ruth Miller Story, 93, formerly of Dummerston. Died April 1 at home at Kendal at Ithaca, N.Y. Wife of the late Robert P. Story. Mother of Prescott (Kathleen Thornhill) of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Susan Porter (Roy) of Farmington, Conn.; Robert Jr. (Carol) of Ashland, Mass.; David (Elizabeth) of Northbrook, Ill.; Sara Gel (Kenneth) of Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Christine Hogan (Patrick) of LaGrange Park, Ill. Sister of the late Eleanor Sherberg, Shirley Mackiewicz, and Dwight R. Miller, Jr. Born in Dummerston, daughter of Dwight and Eleanor Miller, and grew up on a fifth-generation Vermont family farm. Her character and values - hard work, self sufficiency, integrity, and community service - were shaped by her agrarian background. She held lifelong pride in her Vermont farming roots and her family heritage. She graduated from the University of Vermont in 1942 with a bachelor's degree in business and was a Delta Delta Delta sorority sister. She worked for General Electric in Schenectady, N.Y., from 1942-1945. She married Mr. Story in 1943, shortly before he shipped off to combat duty in Europe. The Storys moved to Ithaca in 1952, where he completed his Ph.D. in agricultural economics at Cornell. They resided in Ithaca for the remainder of their lives. Her life revolved around her large and busy family. Activities were varied and non-stop, including church choir, multiple sports, Scouting, marching band, and supervising three sons who delivered the local daily newspaper. Still, every evening, she gathered her family together for a home-cooked meal. True to their roots, the Storys were avid gardeners. Any produce that wasn't canned or frozen was given to friends and neighbors or sold at the Ithaca Farmers Market, where she was active in its early years. When the growing season was over, she picked up her quilting, which she enjoyed for many years. She was also active in Cornell's Ag Ec wives group, a member of the Congregational Church of Ithaca, and worked weekly at the Service League. In 1997, the Storys moved to Kendal at Ithaca where they found a warm and welcoming community and an opportunity to pursue their many interests and activities. Memorial information: A gathering to celebrate her life will be held on June 21 at 3 p.m. in the Dummerston Congregational Church. Donations to the charity of one's choice.
• Edmond R. Turgeon, 88, of Titusville, Fla. Died April 4 at his home. Husband of Nancy King Turgeon for more than 25 years. Former husband of Diane Anselm. Father of Rod Edmond Turgeon and his wife, Rickie, of Alpine, Wyo., and Tad Anselm Turgeon and his wife, Jodi, of Salt Lake City, Utah. Brother of the late Gabrielle, Berangere, Eva, Lawrence, Maurice, Mimi, and Bud Turgeon. Born in Brattleboro, the last of eight children of the late Eva Goetz and Joseph Arthur Turgeon. He grew up in Brattleboro and graduated from St. Michael's High School. He started his banking career at the Vermont Savings Bank in 1951 and worked for numerous other banks, including Vermont National Bank, during his tenure in banking. He retired from Bank of Vermont in 1985. During his lifetime he served on many civic and organizational boards including Brattleboro Union High School Board, Town Auditor, Windham County Youth Services Board, and Red Cross. He was involved and a charter member of the Brattleboro Little Theater and was active with the Brattleboro Winter Carnival. He was a lifetime member of Brattleboro Lodge of Elks #1499. He had many interests including, theater, opera, golf, traveling, and gardening. In later life he enjoyed his cats and his Sheltie dogs and leaves his Yorkie, Mi Girl. Memorial information: Services will be held at a later time in Brattleboro.
• Committal services and burial for Richard Goodell “Chick” Chickering Jr. will take place in Chesterfield West Cemetery on Poor Road in West Chesterfield, N.H., on Friday, April 18, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow the service at noon at the Brattleboro Eagles on Chickering Drive. Mr. Chickering died on Dec. 30, 2013 at his home in West Chesterfield. Arrangements are under the direction of the Atamaniuk Funeral Home.