Obituaries
• Herbert Joseph “Bud” Castine, 96, a former resident of Brattleboro. Died April 7, 2022, in the comfort of his home in Hinsdale, N.H., following a period of declining health. He was born in Brattleboro on Feb. 9, 1926, the son of Frederick and Elsie (Rivers) Castine. He was raised and educated in Brattleboro, attending Brattleboro High School. A veteran of World War II, he proudly served in the Marine Corps and was stationed on board the USS Shangri-La, an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theater of Operations during the war. Following his honorable discharge from active service in 1946, he returned home to Brattleboro and went to work at the former Shaw Dairy. Bud later joined the Brattleboro Police Department, retiring at the rank of sergeant in 1983, following 32 years of service with the department. He was a graduate of the Vermont Police Academy and was a proud member of the NRA. He held membership in both American Legion Post 5 and VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034. He was an avid sportsman and especially enjoyed time spent at his family's camp in West Rupert. He also enjoyed watching New England sports. Bud was formerly married to Shirley Starkey. He later married Joy Ellis in Sept. 18, 1988. Besides his wife of 33 years, he is survived by one daughter, Vickie Castine Donovan (Rick) of Rindge, N.H.; three sons, Scott Castine (Cindy) of Vernon, Steven Carlson (Pam) of Tucson, Ariz., and Marc Carlson (Karen) of Bowdoinham, Maine; two sisters, Marilyn Momaney of Laconia, N.H., and Karen (Walter) Roberts of Brattleboro; and nine grandchildren. Additionally, he leaves a special sister-in-law, Stella Castine of Keene; a special friend, Nick Stockwell; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by four brothers: Robert, Ted, Maurice, and Fred Castine; and a sister, Rita Howe. Memorial information: A celebration of life service will be held at a future date and time to be announced by the funeral home. Donations to the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 13, Hinsdale, NH 03451. To share a memory or send condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Christina M. Cutler, 52, of Vernon. Died April 12, 2022 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. She was born in Brattleboro on Feb. 3, 1970, the daughter of Richard and Janice (Tompkins) Cutler. Christina was educated in Vernon schools and was a 1988 graduate of Brattleboro Union High School. She loved camping and going to beaches. She is survived by her partner, Chris Farnsworth, and her parents all of Vernont. She is also survived by her brother John and his wife, Ingrid, of Brattleboro, and nephews Cody and Tanner Cutler. Memorial information: Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Donations to the American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852. Kidder Funeral Home of Northfield, Mass., is in charge of arrangements.
• Dawn Brooks Gragen, 60, of Vernon. Died peacefully on March 30 2022, with her husband and son by her side. Dawn was born on April 22, 1961 to Joan and Alfred Hubbard in New Haven, Conn. Dawn attended Wilson College, where she earned her B.S. in behavioral sciences in 1985. Dawn then moved to Vermont, where she met her husband, Kim Gragen of Putney. She worked as a health outreach specialist for the Vermont Department of Health in Brattleboro for 23 years. Anyone who knew Dawn knew that she was loving, caring, had an enormous sense of humor and was devoted to helping others. She had an immense passion for indulging in thriller books and was always a source of positivity. Dawn's family and friends will miss her more than words can say. Dawn is survived by her husband, her son Elliot Gragen and soon to be daughter-in-law Samantha Perrotta of Charlotte, N.C., step-son Ben Gragen and his wife Roxanne and grandchildren Greta and Henry of Jefferson, Mass.; her mother Joan Hubbard of Clinton, Conn., and her sisters Ali Crouse and her husband Daniel Crouse of Hershey, Pa., and Dava Chickering and her husband William Chickering of Chesterfield, N.H. Memorial information: Dawn requested a celebration of life be held in her memory instead of a traditional funeral service. Therefore, the family requests all of Dawn's loved ones to join them in celebrating her life at Madison (Conn.) Surf Club on April 29 at 6 p.m.
• Michael E. Mecheski, 58, of Putney. Died April 10, 2022, after a long and extremely courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Brattleboro on June 28, 1963 to Francis “Spud” Mecheski and Florence (Damian) Mecheski. Michael graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 1981, and then attended automotive school in West Springfield, Mass., which furthered his training in his love of automotive repair, fabrication, and welding. Michael preformed this work as his life's hobby and passion and often helped friends with their repair issues. He was also employed by Damian Flooring in Vernon for many years, working for his uncle, Don Damian, and his cousin, Donnie Damian. Michael always cultivated a large vegetable garden every year and loved canning his tomatoes, and making “Grammie Damian's” dill pickles, bread and butter pickles, and relish. He also loved to cook and bake. He made pizzas on a pan that filled the width of the oven. Apple pies were another of his specialties. At the end of every winter, you could find him tapping his trees and making maple syrup. Visiting Michael, one would always leave with a jar, a slice, or a hunk of something he made. In 2000, he married Brenda Fitts. Even though their marriage dissolved, Michael and Brenda remained very close until the end. Michael leaves behind his son, Stephen, of Putney; his father “Spud” and stepmother Rhonda Mecheski, of Hinsdale, N.H.; a stepdaughter, Crystal Castle, of Saxtons River; his ex-wife, Brenda Mecheski, of Hinsdale; four step-grandchildren, aunts, uncles and many cousins. He also leaves behind his aunt, Diane Damian, of Bluff City, Tenn., who raised him and cared for him after his mother died when he was a child. In addition to his mother, he was predeceased by grandparents Frank and Mary Mecheski and Emily and Stephen “Mickey” Damian; and infant bother, Stephen. Memorial information: A celebration of life was held April 16 at American Legion Post 5 in Brattleboro. To send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Carol Lee Menck, 83, of Brattleboro. Died quietly on April 2, 2022, after a brief illness. Carol's son Eric, who had been caring for her for the last five months, was at her bedside. Carol was born Feb. 20, 1939 to Vinton and Rose Meddaugh of Kauneonga Lake, N.Y., the eldest of eight brothers and sisters. Caring for her seven siblings fell to Carol for many years. She attended Monticello (N.Y.) High School and met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Menck Jr of Brooklyn, N.Y., in Smallwood, N.Y. They moved to Brattleboro in April 1963 and raised two sons, Eric and Robert Menck III. Over the years, Carol worked at many jobs around Brattleboro, including waitressing at The Lamplighter steakhouse and secretarial work for Dr. John Houpis, attorney Timothy O'Connor, and Brattleboro Junior High School. She spent the last 35 years of her working life in the sales department of C&S Wholesale Grocers in Brattleboro, retiring when she was 80. Carol was extremely active and liked to ski, ice skate, run, walk and travel. She and her husband traveled to Germany, Venezuela, the Canary Islands, Canada, Mexico, and all across the United States including Hawaii and Alaska. She loved to travel around New England and shop at the outlet centers and stay at local bed and breakfasts. Carol's greatest joy in life came through her three grandchildren. She would do anything for her grandkids and often traveled to see them and take them on adventures from Disneyland to Six Flags and throughout Alaska. Carol was predeceased by her parents and her husband; her son, Robert Menck III; a sister, Judy; and her brother, Glenn. Surviving family include her son, Eric Menck of Anchorage, Alaska, his wife, Sheilagh, and son, Hunter; grandchildren Sarah and Robert IV; and siblings Terry, Mary, Margie, and Jay. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 1, at the Brattleboro Elks Club on Putney Road from 3 to 6 p.m. The service is open to anyone who knew Carol over the years. Donations to the Brattleboro Elks Club's Silver Towers Camp Fund, in care of Brian Gaura, Secretary, 241 Lincoln Ave., Rutland, VT 05702. To send condolences to Carol's family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• William J. “Bill” Reardon, 88, of Brattleboro. Died on April 5, 2022. A lifelong resident of Brattleboro, he was born on Nov. 30, 1933. Bill joined the Navy as a young man and served his country during the Korean War. He had three children with his wife, Beulah (Howell). He was also an active and doting grandfather. Memorial information: A private service is being scheduled in May for close friends and family. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To share a memory or send condolences to his family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Rose Blanche Sanderson, 63, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died unexpectedly April 13, 2022 at her home, following an extended illness. Rose was born in Brattleboro on March 11, 1959, the daughter of Maurice and Phyllis (Nelson) Fleming. She was raised and educated in Brattleboro, graduating from Brattleboro Union High School with the Class of 1977. At the time of her death, she had been employed as a candle maker for Yankee Candle, working in the company's Whately, Mass., location. Previously, she worked for Fulflex Co. in Brattleboro for 23 years. In her earlier years, she worked as a chambermaid at the Colonial Motel on Putney Road. Rose was a faithful and devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother whose life centered around her family. She enjoyed watching shows on the Hallmark and Lifetime channels, playing Candy Crush, and enjoyed bowling. Rose was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys. In 1985, she married Gary R. Sanderson, who survives. Besides her husband of 36 years, she leaves a daughter, Darci Sanderson of West Brattleboro; two sons, Gary L. Sanderson of Farmington, ME and Corey Sanderson of Brattleboro; step-daughters, Yvonne Goddard of Putney and Sylvia McElroy of Prescott, Mich.; one brother, William “Bill” Fleming of Brattleboro; and four grandchildren. Additionally, she is survived by several nieces and nephews. Memorial information: In keeping with her final wishes, there are no formal services scheduled. A memorial gathering will take place at a future date and time to be announced. Memorial contributions in Rose's name may be made to: the Monadnock Humane Society, 101 West Swanzey Road, Swanzey, NH 03446. To send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Marguerite (Peg) Anna Smith, 83, of South Londonderry and Tampa, Fla. Died under hospice care at Renaissance North Tampa on March 8, 2022. Peg was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Ronald George Smith, and is survived by her four children: Mark and his spouse, Susan; Laura and her spouse, Steve; Elizabeth (Beth) and Bradley (Brad); and six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and five nieces and nephews. Peg was born on Jan. 28, 1939 in Lancaster, Pa., to parents Lawrence E. Horton and Rose Anna Miller. Peg's birth-mother died soon after Peg was born and her father married Goldie P. Pautz in 1942. Peg had one older sister, Rose Marie, who died in 1988. Peg graduated from Lancaster Catholic High School in 1956 and was a student a Millersville State Teachers College until January 1958, when she enlisted in the Air Force and, per Sergeant Charles J. Koster, “Miss Horton attained one of the highest scores ever made on the WAF qualifications test.” Peg completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and was assigned to Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, Calif. Peg was only at Mather a short time and, in her own words: “It was Saturday, Oct. 18, 1958 at Mather AFB. I met my friends at the mess hall for breakfast. We decided to call a taxi since we didn't know anyone as yet and the base was 12 miles from downtown. We are just leaving the sentry gate when we noticed two guys hitchhiking. Anne said let's see if they want to share the cab fare and had the driver pull over. To this day, Ron still says that I 'picked him up!' We exchanged names and this is how I met Ron Smith.” Peg had ambitions to travel the world. Her next requested assignment was Hawaii, but after a three-month whirlwind romance Peg and Ron were married at Mather AFB on Jan. 10, 1959, and had their first child, Mark, in October of that year. Peg and Ron left the Air Force in July 1960, and later that summer Ron, Peg, and baby drove across country to Vermont. Ron's father, Tink, was involved in the development of the Stratton ski area and Ron was needed to help in the family's lumber mill, “Smith Inc.” While Ron worked at the mill, the family grew by three more children, Laura born in 1961, Beth in 1964, and Brad in 1967. Once the kids were in school, Peg worked at the Weston Bowl Mill. Ron and Peg built a new house to house their family in the field across from his parents in 1969. Peg and Ron's sister Cathy built the stone wall that separates the front lawn from the field and, one late night when she was too tired to know when to stop, Peg rolled a large rock out of the bed of the pickup truck and crushed her toes, yelling words to make a lumberman proud. Peg and Ron loved to camp and go to the beach and many a summer was spent in Maine, New Hampshire, or New Jersey beach towns. There were also many visits to Peg's hometown of Lancaster after her father Lawrence retired from the B&O Railroad, he and Goldie opened an antique furniture store in their garage and many weekends were spent in the Pennsylvania Dutch/Amish countryside at estate/garage sales finding interesting pieces to refurbish and sell. In the late 1970s, Peg became the manager of Derrytown Market, a grocery store that was owned by Ron's brother, Bob. During that same time, Peg and Ron co-managed Smith Haven, a newly-constructed 26-unit senior care living center located behind Derrytown Market (now Brown Enterprises). To this day, Smith Haven is still a senior care living center and the Smith family is very proud to have been a part of its founding. After Derrytown Market closed and Smith Haven was sold in 1996, Peg worked at the “The Craft Building” in Weston, which displayed a variety of Vermont craft people's work. Peg and Ron's love of camping evolved into traveling in larger and larger RVs that brought them to Florida for the first winter in their retirement years. They found a lovely campground, North Beach, on a barrier island just north of St. Augustine. North Beach would be their winter home for the next two decades. Peg and Ron would make the drive each spring back to Vermont, exploring many great cities and beaches on the way. Summers would always be spent in Vermont, and each fall, when the leaves would turn, and usually prior to the first snowfall, Peg and Ron would head back down to Florida. Peg did get to travel the world in her retirement years, with many trips to the Caribbean, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Barbados, a Mediterranean cruise; with stops in Spain, France, Italy, and Greece, and then one final vacation in Mexico. In 2018, Peg and Ron decided that they needed to find a more permanent home, sold the family house in Vermont to Mark, and moved into University Village, a senior living facility in Tampa, close to Mark, Laura, and all their grandkids. After Ron's death in 2019, Peg and her dog Shellie managed to live on their own quite well and Peg made lots of friends at University Village. She enjoyed swimming in the indoor swimming pool and borrowing books from their extensive library. The isolation of 2020 with Covid saw a great decline in Peg's ability to care for herself and, in March 2021, Peg needed to move to an assisted living facility, Renaissance North Tampa. Sadly, the decline continued with Peg fracturing her hip in a fall in October 2021. Peg was a wonderful daughter, wife, and mother who was loved greatly, and she will be missed. Memorial information: Memorial services will be held on Monday, May 2, at 11 a.m., at the Baptist Church of South Londonderry, 62 Crescent St., with an interment service to follow at Glebe View Cemetery. A gathering for family and friends gathering at the Smith House, 597 Winhall Station Rd., will follow after the services. Condolences can be sent to The Smith Family in care of Atamaniuk Funeral Home, 40 Terrace St., Brattleboro, VT 05301 or at www.atamaniuk.com.
Services
• A funeral Mass for Gladys B. Jacquith will be held at St Michael's Roman Catholic Church on Walnut Street in Brattleboro on Saturday, April 23, at 11 a.m. A reception will immediately follow the service at the Elks Home on Putney Road. Private burial will take place at a later date. at the family's convenience. Mrs. Jacquith, 100, died on Feb. 23, 2022 at the Thompson House Nursing Home. Her full obituary may be viewed at www.atamaniuk.com.
• A graveside committal service for Joan Ann (Decker) Nelson will be held Thursday, April 28, at 11 a.m.. in Christ Church Cemetery in Guilford. Mrs. Nelson, 81, died peacefully on Jan. 15, 2022 at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H. Her full obituary may be viewed at www.atamaniuk.com.