Obituaries
• Janice (Barber) Cominoli, 83, formerly of Townshend. Died Oct. 12 at Pine Heights in Brattleboro following a period of declining health. Wife of the late Charles E. Cominoli for nearly 32 years. Mother of Steven Cominoli and his wife, Mona, of Ware, Mass.; Marie Class of Columbus, Ohio; Linda Burdick and her husband, Fred, of Newfane; Karen Cromack and her husband, Wes, of Hinsdale, N.H.; and Brian Cominoli of Brattleboro. Sister of Marjorie Miller and her husband, Richard, of Sun City, Ariz. Also survived by 11 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. The daughter of the late Harold H. and Florence (Worden) Barber, she attended Leland and Gray Seminary, graduating in 1950. After graduating, she worked in the printing industry in Amherst, Mass., and Brattleboro. Later, she worked as a cook at Vernon Elementary School, a clerk at School House Grocery and was a trustee of the Vernon Free Library. In her senior years, she volunteered at the Valley Health Council Thrift Shop in Townshend. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial service was held Oct. 17 at Townshend Congregational Church, with a private burial at Oakwood Cemetery in Townshend. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT, 05353-0216. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com.
• Michael C. Curtis, 65, of Northfield, Vt. Died Oct. 10 at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin. Life partner of Darlene Goodrich. Former husband of Shirley Richardson. Father of the late Jason Michael Curtis. Sister of Diane Powers and her husband, Roddy, of Carlisle, Mass., and Susan LeBlanc of Bristol, R.I. Born in Salem, Mass., the son of the late John and Marilore (Willett) Curtis, he attended elementary school in Northfield before graduating from Brattleboro Union High School and Vermont Technical College. He served six years in the Vermont Army National Guard. He worked as a heavy equipment operator for Lane Construction in Northfield, Mass., for almost 30 years. Since 2004, he and his partner have owned and operated the Margaret Holland Inn in Northfield, Vt. He was a member and past altar server at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church in Northfield, Vt., and a Local 98 member. He was an avid reader, and enjoyed history and vacationing in Maine with his family. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A funeral Mass was held Oct. 15, at 11 a.m., at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Church, with in Mount Hope Cemetery. Donations to CERV (Community Emergency Relief Volunteers) 31 Dog River Drive, Northfield, VT 05663, or St. Jude's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
• Judith M. “Judy” (Booker) Smith Bartlett Gunn, 67, of Bernardston, Mass. Died Oct. 3 at Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, Mass., following a period of declining health. Wife of Paul Edward Gunn, Jr. for 13 years, and the late Paul E. Smith and Kenneth E. Bartlett. Mother of Gary W. Smith and his wife Julie, of Turners Falls, Mass., Harold M. Bartlett of Bernardston, and Kimberly D. Bartlett-Fulmer and her husband, Troy, of Seneca, S.C. Sister of James Edward Booker, Jr., and his wife, Carol, of Haynesville, N.C.; James Earl Booker and his wife, Patty, of Festus, Mo.; Nancy H. Colleli and her husband, John, of Mt. Dora, Fla.; Carol F. Booker of Greenfield; Kathleen J. Ames and her husband, Steve, of Hinsdale, N.H.; Rhonda H. Booker-Bradbury of Brattleboro; Anna M. Guay and her husband, Patrick, of Desoto, Mo.; and Mary L. Burns of DesLoge, Mo. Stepdaughter of Mary O. Booker of DesLoge, Mo. A native of Winchendon, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Hazel M. (Brockney) and James E. Booker, Sr., and was educated in Montague (Mass.) public schools. She was employed for several years by the former Mohawk Plastics Co. in their subsidiary, Mohawk Container in Montague City, as a packer in the shipping department. Later, Judy drove school buses for Laidlaw Transportation for several years, until her health no longer allowed her to do so. She was a member of the former First (now Calvary) Baptist Church in Turners Falls. She enjoyed baking, crocheting, dancing, flower gardening, tending to her house plants, tag sales, and music (she was a huge Bruce Springsteen fan). She was also an animal lover and fond of cats, and will be missed by her feline companion, Four Socks. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Graveside services were held Oct. 8 in Center Cemetery in Bernardston. Donations to the Dakin Humane Society, P.O. Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01001 or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Massachusetts Chapter, #101A First Avenue, Waltham, MA 02451 or on line at www.nationalmssociety.org.
• Edward Thomas Hazell, 86, of Wilmington. Died Oct. 12 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. Husband of the late Elaine Hazell. Father of William E. Hazell of Wilmington, James Hazell of Searsburg, Pamela Hazell of Florida, Kathy Bronson of West Dover, and Pattie Bolognani and Donna Spiller, both of Wilmington. Brother of the late Vickie Fretz. Also survived by 16 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins. Born in Seaford, N.Y., the son of the late Edward V. and Iris (Banfield) Hazell, he attended local schools. He worked as a master craftsman for many area construction companies. He was known for small engine repair and also drove a school bus. He was a former member of the American Motorcycle Association, the Historical Railroad Society and a former Boy Scout leader. He was a Navy veteran. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: At the request of the family, there will be no formal funeral service. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington VT 05363.
• Cornelia “Kee” Spruyt Learnard, 91, of Concord, Mass. Died June 17, 2015 after a life lived in peace, with simplicity, courage, and dignity. Born in San Francisco, daughter of the late Frederik Johannes Spruyt and Antoinette Naglee Burk, she attended The Putney School and went on to Carleton and Bennington Colleges. She graduated from Boston University with her degree in Social Work. In 1959, she moved to Concord with her then-husband Stephen and spent the rest of her years enjoying the woods of Conantum. She especially enjoyed contra, international, and Scottish dancing. She was well known for her strength and elegance. She was a wonderful gardener and an avid swimmer. She was a long time member of both the Cambridge and Acton Quaker Meetings and was a thoughtful, deep listener. She is survived by her children; David Learnard and his partner, Cynthia Nordstrom, of Hubbardston, Mass., and Susan Learnard of Belmont, Mass. She also leaves three grandchildren and four nephews, as well as her brother, Dirk, and his wife Perry. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial service was held Oct. 17 at the family farm, now known as the Woolman Hill Quaker Retreat Center in Deerfield.
• Henry (Harry) Naglee Spruyt, 87, of Putney. Died at home on June 9, 2014, one week before the death of his sister, Cornelia. He is survived by his brother, Dirk J. Spruyt of Chapel Hill, N.C., five nephews and a niece. Born in the Netherlands, he and his family eventually settled in Deerfield, Mass., on the “Trap Rock Farm.” In his youth, he was responsible for the family farm store. He attended The Putney School, and went on to the Rhode Island School of Design, graduating with a degree in industrial design. Following college, he was awarded a Fullbright fellowship, enabling him to travel to Finland and behind the Iron Curtain. The body of work that he created on that trip became a photographic essay on life in Poland in the years following World War II. He was employed by Alcoa in their design department. The Quaker ideals instilled by his mother, coupled with hands-on learning on a New England farm, greatly informed the values that he would bring to his life. The unrecognized design work of his life included innovative designs for kitchen cabinets and flatware, along with a wind turbine and Hemp House, his design for living a sustainable life. From walking and biking the byroads of Putney to attending Transition Putney meetings, he was an engaged and active member of the greater community. he lived a singular and inspired life, bringing intense focus, attention to detail and bold creativity to both every day living and his design legacy. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A memorial service was held Oct. 17 at Woolman Hill Quaker Retreat Center in Deerfield.
• Lorraine Welch Thompson, 88, of Westminster. Died Oct. 10. Wife of the late Arthur Benoit Sr. and Henry Thompson. Mother of Diane Coulombe and her husband, Tom, of Westminster, Ann Shaffer of Cocoa, Fla., and Arthur Benoit Jr. of Springfield, Vt. Predeceased by her sisters, Catherine and Irene, and brothers Donald, Alfred, Walter, Earl, and Lloyd. Also survived by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Born in North Walpole, N.H., the daughter of the late Walter and Lillian (Devenger) Welch, she attended school in Charlestown, N.H., and worked for Green Box Shop, Connecticut Valley Orchard, Sam's Army & Navy, and the Bellows Falls Middle School lunch room. She was a former member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Elks Club. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: There will be no services per Mrs. Thompson's request.
• Celia M. West, 69, of Saxtons River. Died Oct. 8. Mother of Sean Powell his wife, Gulay, of White Plains, N.Y.; and Zachary Spruchman and his wife, Tasha, of Ashuelot, N.H.; and Cara Auchmoody and her husband, Peter, of Bellows Falls. Sister of Daniel Armstrong of New Bern, N.C., and Nancy Lemieux of North Plainfield, N.J. Also survvived by four grandchildren. Born in Warren, Ohio, the daughter of William and Margret (Seeman) Armstrong, she earned a B.A. in European history from Windham College and worked as a social worker for the state of Vermont. She was a retired member of the Vermont State Employee Association and a devoted member of Bellows Falls T.O.P.S. She loved spending time with her family and friends, traveling, and being with her dogs. MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Services will be held at the All Souls Meeting House in West Brattleboro on Friday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT, 05353-0216.