Obituaries
• Nancy B. (Massey) Chasse, 81, of Vernon, formerly of Wethersfield, Conn. Died Aug. 28 in Vernon. Wife of the late Normand J. Chasse. Mother of Grace Head and her husband Carl, of Vernon, and Lisa Collado, of Nashua, N.H. Also survived by her grandson Andrew Chasse-Felix and his wife, Kimberly; her step-grandson Nathan Head; her brothers Carroll Cyr and his wife, Priscilla, of VanBuren, Maine and Herman Cyr and his wife, Rachel, of Grand Isle, Maine, and many nieces and nephews. Born in Madawaska, Maine, daughter of the late Aline (Levesque) and Willie Massey, “Fancy Nancy” was employed by Caldor's for many years and later did private housecleaning. She was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Sept. 3 at Fisette-Batzner Funeral Home in Newington, Conn., with burial at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford. A funeral Mass will held Saturday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m., at St. Michael's Catholic Church on Walnut Street, with a celebration of her life immediately following at The Gathering Place, 30 Terrace St., from 2 to 4 p.m. Donations to the Alzheimer's Association, 200 Executive Blvd., Suite 4B, Southington, CT 06489; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or The Gathering Place, 30 Terrace St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To share a memory with her family, visit www.duksa.net.
• Sophie Mary Deneault, 94, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 4 at Pine Heights Nursing Home, where she had been a resident for 5 1/2 years. Born in Woronoco, Mass., on May 7, 1922, she was the daughter of Frank and Anna (Swiantek) Gnat. She was raised and educated in Pittsfield, Mass., graduating from Pittsfield High School, Class of 1939. She was an administrative assistant at General Electric in Pittsfield, which she retired from in 1976 following many faithful years with the company. She had many pleasant memories of her busy childhood growing up in the Berkshires and was very proud of her Polish heritage. She enjoyed flower gardening, traveling, dancing and, in her later years, sewing and crafts. She was a devout Catholic and longtime communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. She was first married to Charles J. Bozendowski in 1940, who predeceased her in 1972. She later married George E. Deneault in Brattleboro in 1976. Her second husband died in 2003. Survivors include one stepson, Brian P. Deneault of Victoria, B.C., Canada, and four stepdaughters, Mary Jane Bibeau of Brattleboro, Christine Wilson of Sturbridge, Mass., Elaine Millerick of Contoocook, N.H., and Kay Cassidy of Brattleboro. She was predeceased by a sister, Wanda LaBoda, and one step-daughter, Susan Reynolds. Memorial information: Funeral services will be private. Her cremated remains will be buried in St. Joseph's Parish Cemetery in Pittsfield. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Richard “Oscar” Joseph Fecto, 81, of Vernon. Died Sept. 7 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., after a battle with lung cancer and, more recently, heart disease. Born in Brattleboro on Dec. 10, 1934, to the late Elizabeth Fecto Tracy, he was raised by his mother and grandparents, Edward Joseph and Helena Elizabeth Lupine Fecto. He attended Hinsdale High School, where he played on the basketball team. He served in the Army from 1956 to 1962 at Fort Meade, Md., and in West Germany protecting the border. He received many letters of commendation, the Good Conduct Medal, and his Sharpshooter badge. He was a lifetime member of the VFW. In 1960, he married Donna Ruth Barnes and they had two children. He was employed by American Optical in Brattleboro for 29 years until they closed in 1984. He coached his sons' baseball teams and was a Cub Scouts leader. Some of his favorite pastimes included golfing, fishing, hunting, bird-watching, stonewall building, and woodworking. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Donna Fecto of Vernon; two sons, Timothy Fecto and his wife Macy, and Todd Fecto and his wife Teresa; siblings Clayton “Tony” Fecto, Ramona Wilcox, and Barbara Porter; and eight grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews, and their children. He is predeceased by siblings Helena Fecto, Albert “Bucky” Ohlson, Robert Tracy, Milen “Bummy” Tracy, and Clarence “Peanut” Whittemore. Memorial information: A graveside service was held Sept. 12 in North Cemetery in Vernon. Donations to either the Cardiovascular Group of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (dhmcalumdev.hitchcock.org/cardiovascular_fund) or the Oncology Unit at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (www.bmhvt.org/giving/donate-online).
• Sharon Lee Smith Garry, 52, of East Dummerston. Died Sept 2 after a valiant fight with breast cancer. She fought tirelessly to bring justice to her missing sister and niece Tina and Bethany Sinclair. She was a victim advocate at the Namus Academy for missing persons. She leaves behind her daughters, Cherie Vickery and Shannon Anderson; her mother, Mary Smith Lewis; her siblings, Karen Wilson and Wayne Smith; three grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles. She also leaves her loving partner, Tim Alexander, and her best friend (baby brother) Jory Langley. Memorial information: At her request, there will be no services. Donations to www.fighting4thetatas.org.
• Richard R. Gingras, 78, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 4 at his home. Born in Claremont, N.H. on June 30, 1938, the son of the late Desire and Beatrice (Richards) Gingras, he was raised and educated in Claremont and attended local schools. He was employed as an interior decorator for the Brattleboro Retreat for 18 years, retiring in 1998. Previously, he worked for the Claremont Woven Label Co. and Dartmouth Woolen Mill, also in Claremont. He was a communicant of St. Michael's Catholic Church and was a member of the former Green Mountain Squares Square Dance Club. He was a gentle soul who loved animals, especially his pets. Of his other leisure time activities, he enjoyed travel, walking, kayaking and collecting classic cars - years ago, he owned several first-rate models. He is survived by a niece, Joanne; nephews, Robert and John and their families; and his close friend and his companion, Frances Church, with whom he spent many happy years. He will be missed by many people. He was predeceased by one brother, Gerald Gingras, and a sister, Elaine Godin. Memorial information: Funeral services will be held at a later date. He generously donated his remains to Harvard Medical School in Boston. Donations to a charity of one's choice. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Allison (Evans) Johnson, 95, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 7 at her home on Ames Hill. Born on May 2, 1921, she grew up in New Haven, Conn., where her father Alexander Evans was head of the botany department at Yale University. She attended The Day School of New Haven, later merged with Hopkins School, and graduated from Vassar College with a bachelor's degree in art history. She then went on to study art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, in Philadelphia, where she met her future husband, artist Homer Johnson. They married and raised a family in Philadelphia, where she went on to earn her teaching certificate and to teach art at city public schools. Allison and Homer retired to Vermont in 2001, in the house that had been her summer home since childhood. They continued to travel together for many years, taking trips to Europe, Egypt, Israel, Serbia, and Alaska. She had a deep interest in culture and art, and spent several years importing and selling artisanal crafts from the Middle East and Asia. She was also an accomplished artist and craftsperson herself, known for her oil paintings, weavings, and epic knitting projects. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, and always the consummate hostess, greeting everyone with a bright smile up to her final days. She is survived by her husband Homer, son Philip Johansson and daughter-in-law Joan Carey, grandchildren Ferne and Erik, and son-in-law Geof Dolman. She was predeceased by her sisters Margaret and Janet, and by her beloved daughter, Anne. Memorial information: There will be a memorial service on Oct. 15, at 1 p.m., at King Cemetery, on Fox Road in Marlboro. Donations to the Anne Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund, Partners for Development, at www.pfd.org.
• Marguerite Annie La Rosa, 87, of Keene, N.H. Died Sept. 5, after a period of declining health. Born on May 6, 1929, in Jamaica, the daughter of John and Emma (Crowninshield) Castle, she graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1947, and Becker Junior College in 1951. She married Alfred I. La Rosa in 1954, and had three children. She was employed as a medical secretary for over 35 years. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 62 years, and her three children: John and his wife, Janis; Gail Thompson and her husband, Thomas, and Frank. She also leaves four grandchildren, a sister, Phyllis Krisher and her husband, Gene, of Brattleboro, and many nieces and nephews and their children. She was predeceased by a sister, Marion Castle Thomas, and a brother, Phillip. Memorial information: At her request, there will be no funeral. There will be a private burial at St. Michael's Cemetery in Brattleboro. A gathering of friends and family will be held Saturday, Oct. 15, at 2 p.m., at Bentley Commons in Keene. Donations to Home Healthcare & Community Services, 312 Marlboro St., Keene, NH 03431. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Timothy J. “Tim” Ryan, Jr., 83, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 4 following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He joined his beloved wife, the late Bonita “Bonnie” (Vaughan) Ryan, whom he married in 1956. Together, they are dancing in heaven. Born on Nov. 12, 1932 to Timothy and Rose (Sprague) Ryan, he was the father of two daughters, Cathy (and her husband Paul Kelley) and Cory (and her husband Kevin Dougherty), and one son Timothy J. Ryan, III (and his wife Marnie). He also leaves behind five grandchildren and a great-grandson. He also is survived by a long-time partner, Diane Bassett, and her children Doug and Elizabeth. He was raised and educated in Brattleboro and a proud member of the Brattleboro High School Class of 1950. He went on to attend Arnold College/University of Bridgeport where he earned his B.S. degree in Education. He continued his education and received his Master's degree from Southern Connecticut State University. In 1954, he served in the Army stationed in Furth, Germany, until his honorable discharge in 1956. He was a beloved physical education teacher and coach who dedicated his life to his students and players, many of whom became lifelong friends. He taught and coached at Brattleboro Union High School, Bellows Falls High School, and Norwich Free Academy in Connecticut. He found joy working summers at the Seaside Regional Camp for individuals with special needs. While at BFHS, his basketball teams won five Southern Vermont League Championships with an overall record of 160-55. He also coached American Legion Baseball for Post 37 in Bellows Falls, winning the state championship in 1965 and state runner-up in 1966. While at NFA, his teams excelled winning several championships with an overall record of 162-85 for 11 seasons. He retired from Norwich Free Academy in June 1992. His awards and achievements include the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Coach of the Year, Jack O'Keefe Memorial Award, Norwich Sports Hall of Fame, Norwich Sportsman of the Year, Norwich Free Academy Basketball Hall of Fame, and Bellows Falls High School Hall of Fame. In addition, he was the recipient of the Norwich American Legion Post 4 Child Welfare & Athletic Program Award, the Distinguished Citizens Award, and the Community Service Award. The records and accomplishments that he achieved were remarkable, however, he treasured the relationships he developed and carried them in his heart to the end of his days. Tim was a member of the Brattleboro Country Club, the BPOE Elks Brattleboro #1499, Fraternal Order of Eagles #2445, Moose Lodge #950, American Legion Post 5, VFW Post 1034, and Knights of Columbus #917. He was also a lifetime member of the Connecticut and Vermont High School Coaches Association. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Sept. 10 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro, with burial with full military honors in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest next to his wife Bonnie. Donations to the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital Oncology Department, 17 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301 or the Alzheimer's Association, 300 Cornerstone Drive, Suite 120, Williston, VT 05495. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Gloria H. Rouleau, 87, of Brookline. Died Sept. 5 at her home. Born in Brattleboro on Sept. 14, 1928, the daughter of Richard and Dorothy (Waite) Crown, she attended local schools. She was a chambermaid for area motels throughout her working life. She enjoyed watching television and going for rides. She is survived by her children, Susan M. Hoard of Brookline, Andrew H. Rouleau of Indiana, Mark S. Rouleau of Jamaica, Michael J. Rouleau of Putney, Dale L. Rouleau of Brattleboro, Karen A. Lowe of Florida, and Carolyn Rouleau of London, England, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Adrien Napoleon Rouleau, whom she married in 1959 and died in 1999. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Michelle Rouleau, who died in 1976. Memorial information: Graveside funeral services were held Sept. 12 in the family lot at St. Michael's Cemetery in Brattleboro. To send the family personal condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Paul R. Washburn, 76, of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 15 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. He was born in Keene, N.H. on June 6, 1941 to the late Lester Washburn and Viola (Grover) Washburn. From a young age, after the death of his mother, he was raised in the home of his aunt, Mary Michaud. He was educated at St. Michael's School in Brattleboro. He spent 35 years working for N.G. Guernsey Distributing of Keene, until the company closed its doors. He also had performed custodial duties at the Outlet Center in Brattleboro. In 1992, he married Janice McClure, who survives. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sister Josephine of Homasassa, Fla., brothers Leonard Washburn of Spofford, N.H., Bobby Washburn of Claremont, N.H., and extended family in New Hampshire and Vermont. He was predeceased by his sister, Betty. A long-time member of The Eagles Club of Keene, the Washburns avidly sold raffle tickets to fund-raise for the organization. He enjoyed cooking and baking, and his baked beans were always welcomed at potluck suppers and other gatherings. His favorite holiday was Christmas. He decorated his home with pride and always remembered all his many friends and family members with a wrapped gift. He adored his cat, Angel, who misses him greatly. Memorial information: A memorial service was held on Sept. 3 at the First United Methodist Church in Brattleboro.