Obituaries
• Barbara A. (Thompson) Jenness, 81, of Mendon, Mass. Died March 30 at her home. Born in Ashtabula, Ohio, daughter of the late Meredith and Alvina (Knowlton) Thompson, she lived in New Jersey most of her life before living in Brattleboro. She moved to Mendon in 2012. She was educated in the Newark, N.J. schools. She was a wonderful homemaker, and enjoyed sewing, quilting, and gardening. She enjoyed her time with the Vermont Theater Company. In her younger years, she enjoyed hiking and hiked the Long Trail. She is survived by her children, Steven J. Weiss of Bellows Falls, Margaret and her husband, Christopher Amato, Barbara and her husband, Michael LaBonte, of Barton, Mary and Demetrios Stamelos of Galloway, N.J., and Kathleen and her husband, Herbert Staniszewski, of Mendon; two sisters Vera Griffin of Clark, N.J., and Patricia LaFoso of Whiting N.J., and 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her sisters, Donna, Fran, and Jeannette, and her companion of 13 years, Ronald Torrey.Memorial information: The funeral and burial will be private and at the convenience of her family. Donations to the Wounded Warrior Fund or a Humane Society of one's choice.
• Annabelle Leonard, 93, formerly of Brattleboro. Died March 24 at The Converse Home in Burlington. Born Feb. 6, 1924 in Berlin, Vt., to Charles and Anna (Shepard) Bean, she was the youngest and last surviving of 10 children. She graduated from St. Michael's High School in Montpelier in 1942, then moved to Washington, D.C. She worked at the Pentagon and the U.S Department of Agriculture during World War II. She returned to Vermont after the war and worked at the Green Mountain Insurance Co. and the Vermont Highway Department. While residing in Brattleboro, she worked at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and Woolworth's. She married Earl Leonard, the love of her life, on July 18, 1946. They first met when they were students at the one-room school in Riverton, Vt. They spent most of their years in Brattleboro and South Burlington, and enjoyed wintering in Florida for many years. She was an active participant in her Burlington community, volunteering at the library and the hospital for many years. She loved to read, dance, do needlepoint and sew, garden, and be outdoors in the sun. She was a devoted wife and mother and loved her family. She is survived by her sons George and his wife, Joni, of Easthampton, Mass., Paul and his wife, Darlene, of Hinsdale N.H., and John and his wife, Beth, of South Burlington. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held in late spring at Resurrection Park Catholic Cemetery in South Burlington.
• Walter Phillip Magoon, 64, of Bondville. Died March 13. Born on March 13, 1953 in Bondville, the son of Archie Magoon and Vera (Kendall) Magoon, he graduated from Leland & Gray Union High School in 1971. He loved to hunt and loved his family. He worked as a caretaker and, later, for the town of Winhall for many years. He leaves behind his mother; brothers Edward Elery Magoon (Virginia) and Arthur Magoon; nieces Tammy Palmer (Dennis) and Wanda Howe (Jode); several great-nephews and great-nieces, and a great-great niece. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations to Londonderry Rescue or Winhall Rescue, in care of Brewster Funeral Home, P.O. Box 885, Manchester Center, VT 05255.
• Susan Jane Nicholson, 60, of Cocoa Beach, Fla. Died Jan. 27 at Cape Canaveral Hospice after a 20-month battle with cancer. Born and raised in Glen Cove, N.Y., the daughter of Thomas Martin and Marguerite “Peggy” Nicholson, she was a 1974 graduate of North Shore High School. She earned an A.S. in general education from Endicott College in 1976, a B.S. from the New York Institute in Technology in 1986, and an M.S. in education from Dowling College in 1989. After teaching kindergarten and working in a natural foods store on Long Island, she moved to Vermont in 1990, first to Brattleboro and later in Marlboro. She managed Llama, Toucan & Crow, a natural foods store in Brattleboro, from 1993 to 1998. She then went to work for Retail Insights as a director of research and developed a nutritional newsletter called “Natural Insight for Well Being.” She also worked part-time at Verde in Brattleboro. Her ultimate goal was to be a published writer. She was involved with two different writing groups in Marlboro and loved going to the Brattleboro Literary Festival each year. She loved to read, garden, cook, cross-country ski, and play with her dogs and cat. Most of all, she loved to ride her pink bike on the beach in Florida. In 1995, she married Thomas DeVito, who was devoted to her until his death in 2006. She married William Daniel Dearth of Marlboro in 2012. After the death of her father in 2010, she went to Cocoa Beach to take care of her mother until her death in 2015. That year, Susan was diagnosed with cancer. She always had hope that the tumors would shrink and then be surgically removed. In addition to her parents and her first husband, she was predeceased by her sister, Bobbi McCoy, who also died of cancer. She is survived by two sisters: Patricia and her husband, Joe Zuzzo of Smithtown, N.Y., and Peggy Ann and her husband, Larry Knapp, of Palm Bay, Fla.; brothers Thomas Jr. and his wife, Bernice, of Omaha, Neb., and William and his wife, Bonnie, of Mechanicsville, Va.; and various nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held in Cocoa Beach on April 23, with another service in Brattleboro at a date to be announced. Donations to the American Cancer Society.
• John W. Snow, 49, of West Dover. Died March 22 at home. Born in Northampton, Mass., on Nov. 25, 1967, the son of John W. Snow Sr. and Annette (Morse) Waldo, he was raised in West Dover and graduated from Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1986. He attended TCI for automobile mechanic training and worked for the Newfane Highway Department. He loved to hunt and work outdoors and was proud to be a fireman with 37 years of combined service between the West Dover and Wilmington fire departments. He was preceded in death by grandparents, Viola Morse, and Louis and Mildred Snow. He is survived by his parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and his wife of 19 years , Tammy (Boyd) Snow, and the apple of his eye, his daughter Theresa V. Snow. Now, he is finally at rest. Please hold him close in your heart as we do. We want our message as a family to be one of encouragement to those struggling with depression. You never know when a kind word or a simple hug might change somebody's day. Strive to be the encouraging difference in a person's life. Be open and willing to discuss these difficult topics with your family and the ones you hold dear. If you know someone going through a difficult time, encourage them to seek help (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800-273-8255) and remind them that although their experience is individual, you are there to listen and support them in any way possible. Memorial information: A celebration of life will be held in early June. To send condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Pamela Buckton Space, 90, of Lino Lakes, Minn. Died Feb. 24 at Gracewood Senior Living. Born to English parents and raised at Villa La Roccia in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy, she became a U.S. citizen when she married David Space, a Naval officer. She moved 26 times with him during their 64 years of marriage, but resided in Lino Lakes since 1996. She was known for her kindness, generosity, and many talents. She always had smile and delivered compliments to everyone she met with her delightful English accent. Over the years, she volunteered for many charities and donated gallons of blood to the Red Cross. She gave up her aspirations to be an opera singer to be wife and mother, but continued to share her beautiful voice at her church and other local venues. She spoke four languages and was an accomplished pianist, painter, quilter, knitter, and gardener. She loved Jesus and her family, and had a passion for animals of every kind. She is mourned and missed by her husband; her children Lionel, Richard, and Merrily Space, and Diana Eckerberg; by five grandchildren and a great-grandson. Memorial information: A memorial service was held March 25 at Rice Creek Covenant Church in Shoreview, Minn.
• Malcolm “Sam” Streeter, 85, of Westminster. Died March 29 after a prolonged illness. Born in Guilford on Oct. 4, 1932, he spent most of his life in Westminster. He graduated from Bellows Falls High School and went to Castleton State College and graduated with a degree in education. He received his Master's in education from Keene State College. In college, he met Frances Towslee and they married in October 1954. Shortly after, he was drafted into the Army and was sent to Germany. Sam and Fran lived 2 years in Schweinfurt, Germany, before returning to Westminster, where he began his time as teacher, then teaching principal, at Kurn Hattin Homes. After more than 30 years as principal at Kurn Hattin Homes, he retired to spend time on his true interest of designing and building homes. He started the Westminster Blasting and Building Company and remained active running the company until his illness. He served many years on the Westminster Planning Committee, the Westminster Institute Board, as well as serving as a deacon for the Westminster Congregational Church and a trustee for Kurn Hattin Homes. He was voted the 2007 Citizen of the Year for Westminster, as well as being recognized by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns for his civic duties. His many interests included music (he played the banjo and ukulele), reading, attending local town fairs, and attending the events of his 13 grandchildren. He was predeceased by Fran, his wife of 55 years; a brother, Robert Streeter; and his parents, Lewis and Doris (Richmond) Streeter. He leaves his children: Lyle and Bill Holiday of Dummerston, Jane and Phil Savoy of Westminster, Lewis Streeter and Jennifer Stoner Streeter of Ghent, N.Y., Jessica and Robert Byrne of Clifton, Va., Cole and June Streeter of Westminster, and his grandchildren. Memorial information: A celebration of his life took place at Westminster Congregational Church on April 1. Burial was private. Donations to Kurn Hattin Homes Memorial Gifts, P.O. Box 127, Westminster, VT 05158, or Westminster Institute, 3651 US Route 5, Westminster, VT 05158.
• Ruth Wurster Wright, 86, of Marlboro. Died March 25 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. The youngest of three children, she was born in 1930 in Philadelphia, the daughter of the late Joseph and Freda Wurster. She graduated from Eastman School of Music with a major in flute and piano. She also played celeste. She was an early participant in the Marlboro Music Festival and later went on to become an associate flutist for the National Symphony Orchestra. She taught flute at Boston University for many years. She was a member of the Ames Hill/Marlboro Community Center and an avid lover of the outdoors. Her hobbies included swimming at South Pond, growing delicious vegetables in her garden, adopting and feeding stray cats, birds, dogs, children, and anyone else who got too close. She was predeceased by her husband, Harold Wright, in 1993; and two brothers, Joseph and Karl Wurster. A loving mother and grandmother, she is survived by two sons, Karl Wright of Lexington, Mass., and Alex Wright of Danville, and three grandchildren. Memorial information: Services will be held in the spring. Burial will be at King Cemetery in Marlboro. Donations may be made to Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Condolences may be offered at www.kerwesterlund.com.
• A celebration of the life of Sandra J. Page, who died on Nov. 16, 2016, will be held at 3:30 p.m., on Saturday, April 8, at West Village Meeting House at All Souls Church U.U., 29 South St., West Brattleboro.