Obituaries
Editor's note: The Commons will publish brief biographical information for citizens of Windham County and others, on request, as community news, free of charge.
• Anna Rose Mary Martin Driscoll, 80, formerly of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 5 in Orlando, Fla. Wife of the late William V. Driscoll for 49 years. Mother of Jeanne and John Lonardo of Brattleboro; Michael Driscoll and his wife, Suzanne Runnels, of Texas; Mary Rose and Michael Carnaroli of Waterford, Conn.; Thomas and Maria Driscoll of Orlando, Fla.; Karen Driscoll of Holly Springs, N.C.; and Amer Driscoll of Key West, Fla. Sister of Peter Martin and his wife Marilyn of Bradenton, Fla.; and Joseph (Chickie) Martin and his wife Margie of St. James, N.Y. Predeceased by sons William Driscoll Jr. and Jackie Driscoll. Memorial information: Services will be private.
• Sylvia Morey, 92, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 10 at Pine Heights Nursing Home in Brattleboro. Wife of the late Dr. Jerome “Jerry” Morey. Mother of Jane Morey King of Brattleboro; Alice Morey of New York City; and Naomi Morey of Providence, R.I. Born in New York City, where she attended nursing school and met her future husband Jerry. There they lived, worked and raised their three daughters until 1969. when the Moreys joined the Peace Corps and moved to Chad in West Africa. After two years in Africa, they returned moved to southern Vermont where they lived for the rest of their lives. Served on the board of the Putney Food Co-op, was a world-wide traveler and was a passionate musician, playing the viola de gamba in chamber music groups and actively participating in the Yellow Barn community. Memorial information: There will be a private family burial. A memorial service will be held later this month. Donations to the Yellow Barn Music Festival at www.yellowbarn.org.
• George C. Morgan, 87, of Brattleboro. Died at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. Husband of the late Mary Jane Kelly for 62 years. Father of Peter Morgan and his wife, Taffy, of Townshend and Polly Kurty and her husband, Jim, of Brattleboro. Born in Philadelphia in 1923. Served in the Navy during World War II and graduated from Muhlenburg College after serving in the war. Worked as a sales representative for Anaconda Hose and lived with his family in Madison, Conn., Chicago and St. Louis before finally settling in Brattleboro, where he had summered all his married life. Memorial information: A private burial will take place at the discretion of the family. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society of Brattleboro.
• Mary L. Oliver, 86, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 6 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Wife of the late Daniel Oliver for 48 years. Moither of Danielle Chadwick and husband Denis of Weathersfield. Graduate of Keene (N.H.) High School, Class of 1942, and Northampton (Mass.) Commercial College. Worked at Vermont National Bank as a teller, primarily in the Main Street branch in Brattleboro and as a bookkeeper for First National Stores, working under her husband who served as store manager in Brattleboro. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Sept. 9 at St. Michael's Catholic Church with burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Keene. Donations to the American Heart Association, 434 Hurricane Lane, Williston, VT 05495-2010, or the American Diabetes Association, Vermont Affiliate, 77 Hegeman Ave., Colchester, VT 05446-3113. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Jack Palmer, 88, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 1 at Thompson House in Brattleboro. Husband of the late Mary Alice Fellows. Father of Ren Palmer and his wife, Gingah, of Aurora, Colo.; and Susan Dedell and her husband, Paul, of Williamsville. Predeceased by a son, Donald, and siblings Eleanor, Bob and Roy. Graduated from Muskegon Heights (Mich.) High School. Served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Was an accountant in payroll management at Kaydon Engineering, and was proud that he introduced the first computers to that system. Memorial information: A private family memorial service was conducted on Sept. 2. Interment will take place at a later date.
• Burton J. Roberts, 81, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 9 at home. Husband of Joanne Roberts. Former husband of Carol Pender. Father of David Roberts, and wife, Shoshonna, of Centerville, Va. Graduated from New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., at the age of 16, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooklyn College. Following his college graduation, he began his career at a New York City social worker, which was interrupted in 1950 when he was drafted into the Army. Honorably discharged in 1952, he resumed his commitment to social work, serving in various capacities, primarily in supervisory and administrative positions, until retiring in 1995 as the Branch Chief of Brooklyn Family Court Services under the auspices of the New York City Department of Probation. Moved to Brattleboro in 1999, here he was a volunteer for several years with the Meals on Wheels program and with the transportation unit of Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Sept. 12, followed by a graveside committal service at the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community Cemetery at Morningside. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Laura Sperazi, 63, of Putney. Died Sept. 5 at Pine Heights in Brattleboro. Former wife of Michael Ponsor. Sister of Joseph Sperazi of New York. Predeceased by her parents, Matty and Mary Caruso Sperazi, and her stepmother, Grace Bentive. Born in New York City, she was a graduate of Mother Butler Memorial High School and Newton College of the Sacred Heart. She was a doctoral candidate at Brandeis University. Worked on issues of organizational development, founding a consultancy practice under the name of Annie Oakley Associates. Most recently, she held positions with Meeting Waters YMCA and Early Education Services in Brattleboro. Loved poetry and had a gift for poetic expression. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
• Janis “Jay” Prevost Urban, 48, formerly of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 3. Wife of David Urban for 24 years. Sister of Laurie Holcombe of Stafford, Va.; and Kerrie LeGeros of West Warwick, R.I.; and Al Prevost of Leavenworth., Wash. Graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1980. Was a diagnostic imaging clinical manager for Amerinet in Providence, R.I., for 15 years. In this position, she was awarded Manager of the Year for three consecutive years. Was recording secretary for the Warren Conservation Commission and the Kickemuit River Council for many years, and was an active volunteer for Save The Bay, contributing to many wildlife and habitat restoration projects in Rhode Island. Memorial information: A private memorial service was held for the family. Donations to The Rhode Island Community Food Bank, 200 Niantic Ave., Providence, RI 02907 or Save The Bay, 100 Save the Bay Drive, Providence, RI 02905.
• Helen T. Wolfe, 90, of Wardsboro. Died Sept. 3 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. Wife of the late Arthur T. Wolfe. Mother of Georgia Tompkins and Cynthia Wolfe. Sister of Sophie Trent-Stevens. Born in New Britain, Conn., and lived there for most of her life. After having worked at The Hartford for over 27 years, she and her husband retired to their home in Wardsboro. In her earlier years, she traveled with her sister to paint and was the recipient of several awards for her paintings. Memorial information: A private graveside service was held. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, c/o Dr. Barstow, 185 Grafton Road, Townshend, VT 05353.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Sept. 1, 2010, a daughter, Kennedy Ryanne Unaitis, to Amber West and Raymond Unaitis of Vernon; granddaughter to Carlene McAllister of Brattleboro, Gary West of Westminster, the late John Unaitis and the late Marjorie Unaitis.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Aug, 19, 2010, a daughter, Emma Marie Lyman, to April (Clayton) and Douglas Lyman of Athens; granddaughter to Donna and Donald Currier of Athens, Mona Lyman and Sprague Lyons of Bondville, John Lyman of South Londonderry, and Cecelia Clayton and the late Kelson Clayton of Fitzwilliam, N.H.; great-grandaughter to Marjorie Taylor and the late Francis Taylor of Athens, Leora Landman and the late Raymond Landman of Jamaica, and Betty Lyman and the late David Lyman of South Londonderry.
• In Boston (Brigham & Women's Hospital), Aug. 17, 2010, a daughter, Julia Faith Moss, to Connie (Jensen) and Evan Moss of Swampscott, Mass.; granddaughter to Sara Jane Moss and Howell Chickering of Greenfield, Mass., formerly of Brattleboro, Adelaide and Dyer Moss of Abingdon, Va., formerly of Winchester, N.H., and Paul and Jule Jensen of Pleasanton, Calif.