Obituaries
• Elmer J. Bodnar, 88, of Jamaica. Died April 24, 2020 at Bennington Health and Rehabilitation. Elmer was born in Morristown, N.J., on Jan. 11, 1932, the son of the late Andrew and Bertha Lazur Bodnar, and attended local schools. Prior to college, he served in the Air Force. He earned his Bachelor of Science at CSU and his Masters of Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Elmer was an educator all his life and was a founding member of Brookdale Community College in Monmouth County, N.J., in 1969. He was a communicant of the Chapel of the Snows in Stratton. He was a volunteer ski patrol member in New York from the 1970s through the 1990s. Elmer enjoyed skiing, hunting, fishing, camping, traveling, reading, and listening to Big Band music. Elmer leaves behind his wife, Demaris Ashley Bodnar of Jamaica, whom he married in Texas in December 1952. He also leaves behind his children, Bridgette Smith and her husband, Robert, and Andrew Bodnar; seven grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorial information: Graveside funeral services with military honors were held April 29 at Our Lady of Ephesus Cemetery in Jamaica. Donations to nokillnetwork.org, which supports no-kill animal shelters, or the House of Ephesus, in care of Brewster-Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 885, Manchester Center, VT 05255.
• Gertrude Elisabeth “Trudy” Bremer Crites, 95, formerly of Brattleboro. Died April 20, 2020 in Portland, Ore. Trudy's loved ones lost their mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Mother Earth lost an advocate, an artist, a caregiver, and a friend. Her optimism and openness to evolving circumstances always paved the way for her journey. Trudy was born in German Silesia on April 17, 1925. At age 12, Trudy and her family of eight fled Germany, emigrating and assimilating to neutral Turkey. Afforded little opportunity for herself in 1947, Trudy immigrated to America. Trudy worked her way through Kentucky's Berea College, then earned scholarship to a Yale MSN, then Yale Divinity School. In 1955, she married Stephen D. Crites in Elida, Ohio. Trudy's remarkable ability to reinvent herself served her well as she and Stephen eventually settled into life in Middletown, Conn. She assumed the mantle of her role as a pastor/professor's spouse. They raised four daughters; Thea, Stephanie, Lilian, and Hannah. The family traveled the world together, having many colorful adventures and misadventures. Trudy pursued her nursing career, but her guiding lights were her beloved family, her Christian faith and her keen eye for art, creating beauty every day for the rest of her life. In 1986, newly single and empty-nested, Trudy joined the Peace Corps, teaching nursing skills in Gambia, West Africa. Her stateside return was no less grueling than the previous transitions had been. Trudy arose like the Phoenix nonetheless, resettling in Brattleboro. She drew her family about her, she engaged her artistic energies as never before, she became quite an active parishioner, and she volunteered for everything that she could schedule. Trudy especially reveled in her role as Oma to her now-adult grandchildren; Michael and Timothy Seckla, Adeline and Laura Mitchell, Iris and Rose Flesher and to Peter Johnson. With great joy she welcomed the next generation; Finnegan, Madison, and Christopher Seckla. In 2016, Trudy moved to Portland into the care of Hannah. Trudy's ability to keep moving forward was always sustained by her Christianity and in her determination to enjoy the beauty of God's creation in any circumstance. Trudy's essence will live on in the twinkle of her love in her family's eyes, in the brightness of each spring's blossoming, in the sweetness of sun-ripened tomatoes and in the hues of each season's subtle rotation, absent her paintbrushes capturing them for us all. Memorial information: None provided.
• John Charles Druke, 87, formerly of Williamsville. Died at home in Cazenovia, N.Y. on April 23, 2020. Born at home in Williamsville to Josef J. and Gertrude E. (Hickethier) Druke on Dec. 22, 1932, he was raised and educated in Williamsville and was a graduate of St. Michael's High School in Brattleboro and St. Michael's College in Winooski. After earning a bachelor's degree in mathematics, he entered military service as an aviation cadet in the Air Force's Pilot Training School in 1954. He married Martha H. McNamara in December 1955. John was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1956 and served in the European Theater. He left active duty in 1959 and joined the Air Force Reserve, where he worked as a budget officer for logistics at Griffiss AFB in Rome, N.Y. He then joined the 174th Tactical Fighter Wing of New York Air National Guard in 1967. Colonel Druke retired from the Air Force at the rank of colonel in 1987, after serving as the 174th's deputy commander for resources at Hancock Field AFB in Syracuse, N.Y. John's interest in helping his community was shown through time spent volunteering with Boy Scout Troop 210, Bishop Grimes Booster Club, Kirkville Fire Department, and St. Patrick's Church. John was proud to be a member and past president of Toastmasters Club 1271. After retirement, John took coursework in Silviculture at SUNY ESF. He became a Master Forest Owner and was chairman of the CNY Chapter of the New York Forest Owners Association (NYFOA) and vice president for statewide NYFOA. John received the 2001 Donald E. Stearns Memorial Forestry Award and 2006 NYFOA Outstanding Service Award. He enjoyed spending time with his wife, Martha, his children, grandchildren and extended family. John is survived by his wife of 64 years, Martha H. Druke; his children, John M. Druke, Carmen B. Druke, Suzanne Druke Sprague, Lisa M. Druke, and JoAnne (Bruce) Race of Cazenovia; his brothers, Bernard Druke and Edward Druke, both of Newfane; his sister, Theresa Druke of Portland, Conn.; his 10 grandchildren and more than 60 nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by siblings Gertrude, Ella, Mathilda, Arthur, Joseph, Mary, Frances, Barbara, and Charles. Memorial information: Burial will be in White Lake Cemetery in Woodgate, N.Y. Donations to the New York Forest Owners Association, PO Box 541, Lima, NY 14485; www.nyfoa.org, or Hospice of Central New York.
• John William “Bill” Ellis Jr., 81, of Keene, N.H. Died on April 24, 2020, after many years staying true to his kind and loving essential personality despite the challenges of Alzheimer's disease. He was wrapped in the love and care of his family, especially his wife of 58 years, Elaine C. Ellis. Bill was born in Portsmouth, N.H., on March 5, 1939, the son of the late John William Ellis, Sr. and Margery (Hodgdon) Ellis. Bill was a ballplayer almost from birth, if the game had a ball, he played it, and played it well, from stickball to baseball, with golf, basketball, soccer, and racquetball in between. He played varsity basketball and soccer at Keene State College, and went on to play in many local leagues of all kinds, including being a founding member of the Brattleboro Racquet Sports Club. Outgoing and sociable, Bill loved people, especially kids. He was an educator at all levels - a classroom teacher, principal, and education instructor. For 15 years, he was the assistant superintendent of schools for the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union in Brattleboro. He concluded his career with eight years as the principal of the Vernon Elementary School. In the 1970s, his adventurous spirit took him to Ketchikan, Alaska, where he was the principal and oversaw the founding of a new open-concept elementary school. He loved Alaska - fishing, hunting, camping, and exploring it from the panhandle to the Pribilof Islands to the Aleutians. He was active in each community he lived in, most recently at Saint George's Greek Orthodox Church in Keene, where he was president of the Parish Council for a number of years. He is survived by his wife; his children and their spouses Joanna Ellis-Monaghan and husband John Ellis-Monaghan, Maria Oberlander and husband Bob Oberlander, and Anthony Ellis; his brother Daniel Ellis; brother- and sister-in-law Arthur and Dorothy Chicaderis; six grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister-in-law, June Ellis. Memorial information: Funeral services will be private for the immediate family only. A memorial service is anticipated at a later date. Donations to the Alzheimer's Association, or St. George's Greek Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 392 Keene, NH, 034301-0392. To express condolences or to share a memory, visit www.FletcherFuneralHome.com.
• Robert Lawson “Bob” Graves, 90, of Walpole, N.H. Died April 26, 2020. Bob was born to Stuart and Alice (McNutt) Graves on Dec. 10, 1929 in the Walpole Hospital. On a bitterly cold night when he was 2 weeks old, his parents bundled Bob and his brother George into the horse drawn sleigh and traveled up in the Valley for Christmas. This adventure would be the beginning of a long and full life on the farm for Bob. He was the eighth generation of the Graves family to operate Great Brook Farm, taking over from his father in 1962. He began to slowly update the dairy farm by building a new barn, replacing milk cans with a bulk tank, and increasing the size of the herd. Being a successful farmer would not have been possible without the help and support of his wife Peggy (May). Bob met Peggy Patch at Walpole High School and knew she was the one. After graduating from high school, they married in 1952, and 67 happy years of marriage followed. Bob and Peggy's relationship was admired by all who knew them. They were respectful and loving to each other through good times and hard times and never a day went by without a laugh. Together they raised four children, supporting them in everything they did. They both loved children; nieces and nephews visited the farm for weeks at a time, Fresh Air children arrived every summer, and neighbors dropped in. Everyone knew that you would find Bob milking around 5 p.m., and Peggy would be baking something delicious. They welcomed everyone for a chat or a meal. Their genuine interest and concern for others made everyone feel like family. Neighbors recall that trick-or-treating at the barn during milking time was both exciting and traumatic because Bob was waiting with a scary mask to jump out at them. The trick-or-treaters left terrified, but always came back the next year and years later with their own children. While Bob was working long hours, seven days a week, he found time to have fun with his children. There were hay rides, cook outs, sliding parties, snowmobiling, and day trips to Sunapee and Hampton Beach. 4-H was important to the family and the Cheshire Fair was a family event. Raising and training oxen was a lifelong passion for Bob. He often had 4 to 6 teams on the farm in varying degrees of handiness and most of them named Duke and Dime. He enjoyed pulling competitions at fairs and, one summer, he had a team that took first place in two different weight categories. He never had time to go to many fairs, but was so proud when his children and grandchildren took up the tradition of training and showing oxen. He was always there to encourage and critique them. Bob was especially attached to and proud of his grandson Andy, who spent all his free time at the farm with his Grandpa and became a champion ox teamster. Bob was involved in local politics and served as Selectman for many years. He was president of the Walpole Horse Thieves and past president and honorary director of the Cheshire Fair Association. He was a member of the Walpole Grange for 45 years. Many of the world's problems were solved around the kitchen table and in the milk house with salesmen, friends, and neighbors. Described by those closest to him as an old-time gentleman; Bob was honest, generous, kind, and reliable. Bob was best known for his sense of humor, always teasing and making people laugh. He was quick to offer help to others and thoughtful when asked for advice. He touched the lives of many people. Bob felt deeply for the elderly in town and regularly visited Walpole residents at Maplewood Nursing Home, never expecting that someday he would be spending time there. He is survived by his wife Peggy, daughters Cindy Westover and her husband David of Walpole; Annette Wilson and her husband, Greg, of Putney; Jean Brewer and her husband Peter of Mendon, Mass.; and his son Peter, who is the ninth generation farmer at Great Brook Farm. Bob leaves 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss him every day. He is survived by his brother John and his wife Patricia, from Springfield, Vt. He was predeceased by his older brother George, who died in 2014. He leaves many nieces, nephews, and friends who are very close to the family. Memorial information: A funeral will take place at a later date at the First Congregational Church in Walpole. Donations to Walpole Old Home Days, in care of Heather Ferland, Treasurer, P.O. Box 614, Walpole, NH 03608, or to a charity of your choice.
• Eva Marianne Grubinger, 91, of Brattleboro. Died April 23, 2020 after a long life lived fully. Born in Breslau, Germany, at the age of 9 she moved with her parents to Montevideo, Uruguay, to escape the Nazis. She became proficient in Spanish and English, winning student awards and helping her father in his bookstore. At age 19, she moved to Middleboro, Mass., to live with her uncle and cousins, and then to Boston, where she worked as an executive secretary and met her husband, Eric. They raised two children, Vernon and Lenore. Eva took classes part-time, earning a B.A. in psychology from the University of Massachusetts. A talented painter and potter, she also worked as a yoga teacher, in social services for the elderly, and as an administrative assistant at Harvard Medical School. When her grandsons Sam and Nick were ages 11 and 8, she moved to Brattleboro, where she made her home for 16 years. She was active with the Windham Arts Council, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community, and writing clubs. She moved into Holton Home where she lived happily for eight years. At age 89, she completed a book of essays titled My Moveable Life, capturing her diverse experiences and loving relationships on three continents. Memorial information: None provided.
• Cameron Forbes Howard, 66, of West Townshend. Died peacefully on April 16, 2020 after a valiant battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband, Douglas, who was the love and light of her life since they married in 1990. Cameron was born in Southampton, N.Y., on Feb. 12, 1954, the third of six children of the late Charles and Barbara Forbes. She found her calling in the culinary arts and graduated at the top in the first class of the French Culinary Institute in New York City. This distinction brought her to the attention of renowned chef, Daniel Boulud, who hired her to work on the line of his new Plaza Athenee restaurant. Cameron had a distinguished culinary career, working in several top French restaurants in New York, the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston and then in New England as executive chef at The Pilgrim's Inn on Deer Isle, Maine, and at Windham Hill Inn in West Townshend. In January, 2005, Cameron changed artistic gears and founded Dunberry Hill Designs, specializing in handcrafted, authentic New England floor cloths. She utilized free-hand design, as well as the traditional “stencil” method, and her expertise gained recognition with clients throughout the United States. The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass., commissioned Cameron to re-create a specially designed original 1894 floor cloth for their Ropes Mansion, and the Riversdale Plantation Home in Maryland commissioned a replica of the 8 x 12 foot dining room floor cloth that is now on permanent display. Memorial information: A celebration of Cameron's life will be held in Grafton at a later date. Donations to Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire (vnhcare.org).
• Lewis “Lewie” Major, 81, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died peacefully April 27, 2020 in the comfort of his home, with his family at his side, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Brattleboro on Nov. 24, 1938, the son of Marcellus and Elsie (Fuller) Major. He was educated in Hinsdale, graduating from Hinsdale High School with the Class of 1956. He went on to attend Keene State Teachers College, earning his bachelor's degree in education. He began his teaching career in 1960 at Marlborough (N.H.) Junior and Senior High School. He later joined the faculty at Hinsdale High School, where he taught math and was a drivers' education instructor; a course he established at both Marlborough and Hinsdale high schools. Lewie retired from teaching in 1995, following 35 dedicated years. A licensed real estate agent, he owned and operated River Valley Real Estate with his partner, Edwin Smith. During his earlier years, he worked as a car salesman for the former Royce Chevrolet in Hinsdale and as an accountant at the former Hinsdale Raceway. Active civically, he was a member of the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department, serving as its clerk and assistant chief. He was a Hinsdale selectman for many years, served on the town Budget Committee, and was a member of the first Bridge Committee. A longtime member of the Hinsdale Lions Club, Lewie was the recipient of the Melvin Thomas Award for his dedication. A devout Catholic, he was a lifelong communicant of Mary Queen of Peace Parish (St. Joseph's Church) in Hinsdale. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and served as sexton for St. Joseph's Cemetery for many years, volunteering his time for the cemetery committee. He also served on the church's rebuilding committee. Lewie was very generous throughout his life, giving back to his church and community which he loved. He enjoyed tinkering on cars and could fix almost anything. He loved helping his children with any projects big and small around their homes, and he cherished time spent with his family. In 1960, he married Mary Buraczynski, who survives. The couple would have celebrated their 60th anniversary this upcoming July. Besides his devoted and faithful wife, he leaves his five children: Brian Major (Jody) of Hollis, N.H., Susan Goodrich (Dana) of Millersville, Md., Theresa Gable (Jan) of Manhattan Beach, Calif., Debra Carrier (Michael) of Hinsdale, and Michael Major (Karalyn) of York, Maine; and nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Additionally, he is survived by a sister-in-law, Patricia Buraczynski and her companion, Roger Thompson. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph's Church at a future date and time to be announced by the funeral home. Donations to the Lewis D. Major Memorial Scholarship Fund, to support students graduating from Hinsdale High School, in care of Ann Diorio, Trustee, P.O. Box 27, Hinsdale, NH 03451, or to the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 13, Hinsdale, NH 03451. Lewie's family also asks everyone to remember him with a smile and thoughts of the lighthearted pranks he often played. To send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Robert J. “Bob” Patch, 76, of Bellows Falls. Died April 27, 2020. He was born in Bellows Falls on Aug, 16, 1943, the son of John and Marjorie (Beals) Patch. He attended school in Saxtons River and was a 1961 graduate of Bellows Falls High School. He served in the Army and Army National Guard for a combined 33 years. He proudly served during the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm, and was a member of the Robert L. Johnson VFW Post 771. In 1975, he married Erika Klemrath in Stuttgart, Germany. Bob worked at White Metal, Robinson Paper, Unified Data, and retired from Sonnax in 2006. He also worked part-time at the Rockingham Free Public Library. Bob is survived by his daughter, Judy, son-in-law Daniel and grandchildren Chase and Ashlyn Johnson of Morrisville, N.C.; as well as his brother, Gerald; sister-in-law Sue Patch; nieces Stephanie Patch and Tracy Parkhurst; and great-nephews Ayden and Kai Parkhurst of Springfield, Vt. He was predeceased by his parents and his wife, Erika. Memorial information: Services will be held at a later date to be announced. Arrangements are in the care of Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home.
• Abijah Reed, 84, of Putney. He left this world on his own terms and with his dignity intact on April 9, 2020. He died at his home, in the company of his wife, Sarah Cooper-Ellis. He had been suffering from ALS. Abijah was born John Reed in New York City on Aug. 18, 1935 to Charles Dupuy Reed and Mary Lord. He attended private schools in New York and Connecticut, and went to high school at The Putney School. He enjoyed boyhood summers in the company of his sister Anne, brother Bill, and numerous cousins at Black Point, Conn., and Bear Island, Maine. Once Abijah came to The Putney School, he found home. “My three years at the Putney School were by far and away the most important years of my education,” he later said. He made lifelong friends, fell in love with geometry, and discovered J. S. Bach, to whose genius he became devoted. He also met his first wife, Suzanna Plaut. After graduating from MIT with a degree in engineering, Abijah and Suzanna married and started a family which produced four children: Leslie, of Dummerston; Jennifer, of Dunstable, Mass.; Adam, of Concord, Mass.; and Noah, of Putney. Two events in mid-life shaped Abijah's course. One was a months-long bicycle trip across the country taken during a hiatus from work. He used this time to reflect on his life so far and to set new intentions for himself. In addition, when he was 38 years old, he changed his name from John to Abijah, later saying, “I thought John was a bit common.” His daughter Leslie had come upon the name Abijah during a research project, and he fell in love with the name and made it a core of his identity. His first marriage ended in divorce. With his second wife, Dorcas Gill, also a Putney School graduate, he moved from the Boston suburbs where he had been working as an engineer at Polaroid, among others, to Putney, where they bought an old farmhouse. There he pursued his love of woodworking, creating fine furniture and musical instruments, and taking part in the Putney Craft Tour. Abijah had a rich bass voice and excellent musical sensibility. He joined the Blanche Moyse Chorale and performed for many years with that group. He also taught mathematics and woodworking at The Putney School for many years. In retirement, Abijah volunteered extensively including at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, on the board of the Putney Public Library, for the Food Shelf, and at Next Stage. Abijah met his third and final wife and Putney School girl, Sarah Cooper-Ellis, in 2012, and the two were inseparable. They shared dogs, birding, J. S. Bach, love of family, and true companionship, replete with humor and deep love. His interest in and facility for mathematics defined Abijah. He knew people by their license plates and their birthdays and could recite pi to 100 places. He had a wonderful sense of humor, a kind smile, and a careful listening ear, which endeared him to many. Abijah is survived by his sister, Anne Prager, of Brookline, Mass.; his brother, William, of Stonington Conn.; his four children, two grandchildren, Ali and Ian Frothingham, and his wife, Sarah Cooper-Ellis. Memorial information: There are currently no plans for a memorial. However, several community organizations are paying tribute to his years of service. Donations to The Putney School, 418 Houghton Brook Rd, Putney, VT 05346.
• Kenneth Merrill “Ken” Strong, 80, of Stowe. Died peacefully on April 17, 2020 in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his loving family, following a gracious two-year journey with cancer. Ken was born on May 1, 1939 in Bennington, a seventh-generation Vermonter, the son of Carleton Merrill Strong and Margaret Gundacker Strong. Ken grew up in Brattleboro, learned to ski on the hill in his backyard, and graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1957. His passion for music was sparked as a child where he was an active member of his school choir and local barbershop quartet. During the summers of 1955 and 1956, he sang first tenor in the New England Bach Musical Summer Festival in Marlboro, under the tutelage of internationally known musicians Blanche and Louis Moyse. Ken was particularly proud of receiving third place as first tenor at the All New England Solo Festival at Symphony Hall in Boston for singing Comfort Ye, My People from Handel's Messiah. He joined the Air Force, where he served from 1957 through 1961, stationed north of Fairbanks, Alaska. His love for skiing earned him an extra year there, where he oversaw the local ski school, instructing the commander and his family. Upon his honorable discharge as Airman 2nd Class, Ken moved to Mad River Glen, where he taught skiing at the Bud Phillips Ski School and soon after became a certified ski instructor by the Eastern Amateur Ski Association. Ken's passion for skiing brought him to the Ski Capital of the East. He quickly became a fixture in the Stowe community, working as a ski instructor for the Sepp Ruschp Ski School and planting roots that would endure for the next 60 years. In 1965, Ken and fellow ski instructor and friend Ted Ross had a vision to turn an 1820s lean-to shed into a pub where they could indulge in burgers and brews with fellow instructors and patrolmen. Born as the locals' après ski watering hole, The Shed transcended its humble origins to become an iconic institution. After a fire in 1994 destroyed the restaurant, The Shed was rebuilt and reopened within a year. While making some state-of-the-art enhancements, including the introduction of Stowe's first microbrewery, the core traditions and fabric of The Shed remained unchanged. As Ken often said, “The Shed is not its walls, it is its people.” The Vermont Lodging & Restaurant Association presented Ken with its Restaurateur of the Year award in 1996, recognizing his central role for decades in the Vermont hospitality industry. Ken was instrumental in the founding of Stowe Performing Arts, where he was president and an active board member. Other boards included the Vermont Lodging & Restaurant Association, Stowe Area Association, Stowe Head Tennis Classic, Stowe Winter Carnival, Stowe Planning Commission and Copley Hospital. He was a member of the Ethan Allen Club and proud member of the Lake Mansfield Trout Club since 1983. He loved participating in the Trout Club's annual gentlemen's opening weekend, where he would lead fellow members in traditional club songs. It was through the Stowe community that Ken met and married his loving wife, Kathleen, in 1982. She stood by his side as they together grew The Shed's legacy, but his greatest pride and joy were his children - Christina, Adam and Christian. Ken is survived by his wife of 38 years, Kathleen Ann Casey-Strong; daughter, Christina Casey Strong, and sons Adam Woodward Strong and Christian Price Strong. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law Ekaterina Nemtsev Strong, grandson Archer Blair Strong, step-grandson Arya Ryan Hamidzadeh; first wife Louisa Blair Pfaelzer and her husband Michael; his sisters Nancy Jane Strong Systo (late husband Ronald), and Francis Sabra Jerard and her husband, Albert; brother Steven Carleton Strong and his wife, Susan; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial information: There will be a celebration of his life in Stowe at a later date. Donations to Stowe Performing Arts, P.O. Box 3283, Stowe, VT 05672-3283, Meals on Wheels of Lamoille County, P.O. Box 1427, Morrisville, VT 05661, Lamoille Home Health & Hospice, 54 Farr Ave., Morrisville, VT 05661 or Lamoille Area Cancer Network, 198 Farr Ave., Morrisville, VT 05661.
• Elaine G. Styles, 83, of Brattleboro. Died April 27, 2020 at Pine Heights nursing home in Brattleboro, where she had been a resident for the past several years. She was born in Montpelier on April 23, 1937, the daughter of Rodney and Evelyn (Hughes) Gabree. Elaine was raised and educated in Brattleboro, attending St. Michael's Parochial School and graduating from St. Michael's High School as Salutatorian with the Class of 1955. She worked in food service all of her career, employed at The Brattleboro Retreat and previously as a cook at the East Dummerston School. After her retirement, she worked for several years at Hannaford supermarket in Brattleboro. She was a proud member of the Red Hat Society and was a member of the Brattleboro Ladies Shrine. Elaine enjoyed taking going on day rides down old back roads and taking many pictures of Vermont's scenery. She also enjoyed playing Bingo, doing crossword puzzles, and watching Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. She loved to shop at yard sales, always looking for treasures. Elaine really loved her family and especially spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed people and made friends everywhere she went. She will also be remembered for her quick wit and funny sense of humor. In 1970 she married Arthur George Styles Jr. who predeceased her in 2009. Survivors include five sons: Gary Castine (Linda) of Dummerston, David Castine of Barre, Douglas Castine (Eileen) of Vernon, and Rick Castine (Carol), also of Vernon; twin daughters, Kelley VanLeeuwen of Brattleboro and Karen Castine Shines (Terry) of Dummerston; and Arthur Styles III (Erika) of Brattleboro. Additionally she leaves one sister, Rosemary Pitts of Fredericksburg, Va., 17 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. She also leaves many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by one sister, Carol Nash, and two brothers, Richard and Peter Gabree. Memorial information: Graveside committal services in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery will be held at a later date to be announced. Donations to Pine Heights Nursing Home Activities Fund, 187 Oak Grove Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To send messages of condolence to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Timothy J. Velazquez, 33, of Westminster. Died April 23, 2020. Tim was born in Holyoke, Mass., on Sept. 25, 1986, the son of Jose and Diana (Rivera) Velazquez. He had a strong love for his children. He also enjoyed cars and loud music, and had a smile that could light up any room. He was a bit of a showoff who lived life to the fullest. Surviving are his children Timothy, Manuel, and Donnevhan and their mother Bridgette; Kashe and his mother Brooke; Kingston and his mother Kaitlyn; Valentina and Luisito and their mother Emily. Also surviving is his mother Diana; his siblings Patricia, Evelyn, Joseph, Sasha, David, Michael, and Jackie. He is predeceased by his father Jose Luis Velazquez. Memorial information: Services will be held at a later date to be announced. Arrangements are in the care of Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home.