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.
• Brian Michael Alfonso, 45, of East Dover. Died Oct. 28 at his home. Son of Frank Alfonso of Stamford and Sandra Dawley Alfonso of Pittsfield, Mass. Husband of Traci Alfonso. Father of Aizlyn, Shaylie and Kindyl Alfonso, all of East Dover. Brother of Dwayne Alfonso and Keith Alfonso of Pittsfield, Mass.; and Linda Alfonso of Rensselaer, N.Y. Graduate of Chatham (N.Y.) High School and served in the Army. Worked for Brattleboro Haulage for many years and was extremely active in the Deerfield Valley community as the assistant fire chief of the East Dover Volunteer Fire Department and an EMT on the Deerfield Valley Rescue Squad for many years. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Nov. 3 at East Dover Baptist Church, with interment in Dover Center Cemetery. Donations to a Fund To Care For The Children or the East Dover Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Covey & Allen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Raymond R. Bonneau, 85, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 23 at Thompson House. Husband of the late Joyce Starkey. Father of Richard Bonneau of Keene, N.H.; Shawna Stevens of Lantana, Fla., and Catherine Clark of Hinsdale, N.H. Brother of Norman Bonneau of Spofford, N.H.; Rita Kamel and Jeannine Guerin, both of Daytona Beach, Fla.; Estelle McKay of Landenberg, Pa.; Nicole Gray of Hampton, N.H., Louise Whiting of San Diago, Calif.; and Mereille Maxsfield of Essex Junction. Born in Springfield, Mass., he spent most of his adult life on Putney Road, starting with helping his parents with the Parkway Drive-In Theater. He was first the owner of Rays Restaurant on Elliot Street and later was the first owner/operator of the A&W Root Beer stand in Swanzey, N.H. He later owned Rays Auto Sales on Putney Road. Memorial information: Interment will be in May at St. Michael's Cemetery in Brattleboro.
• Eleanor M. (Scanlon) “Honey” Butler, 84, of Shelburne Falls, Mass. Died Oct. 23 at home. Wife of the late Bernard Butler for 54 years. Mother of daughter Mary and son-in-law John of Florida; and sons Henry and Kenneth, Sister of Barbara, who lives in Vermont. Born in Bellows Falls, at age 13, she moved to Colrain, Mass., to live with her Aunt Nelly and Uncle Rob. After graduating from Arms Academy, she was employed by Kendall Mills working in the office as bookkeeper. Memorial information: A graveside service was held Oct. 27 in Calvary Cemetery in Shelburne Falls. Donations to the Carl Nilman Scholarship Fund, c/o Mohawk Trail High School, Ashfield Rd., Shelburne Falls, MA 01370.
• Joseph Leon “Joe” Druke, 83, of Williamsville. Died Oct. 24 at his home. Husband of Dorothy Addair for 51 years. Father of Christine Marino and husband John of South Newfane; Theresa Chapman and husband Paul of West Dummerston; and Stephen Druke and wife Lori of Lancaster, N.H. Brother of Sister Matilda Druke, S.R.M. of Albany, N.Y.; Mary Dauphinais and Barbara Barnish, both of Brattleboro; Theresa Druke of Portland, Conn.; Bernard Druke of Brattleboro, Edward Druke of Newfane, John Druke of Kirkville, N.Y.; and Charles Druke of Weare, N.H. Predeceased by siblings Sister Mary Michael, O.C.D., and Gertrude Druke, Frances Druke and Arthur Druke. Was a graduate of St. Michael's High School, class of 1945, and Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation College in Fisherville, Va. Served in the Army during World War II. From 1960 to 1989, he owned and operated Druke Insurance Agency in Williamsville and served as the Williamsville postmaster. Was a member of the Valley Lions Club and American Legion Post 26. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Oct. 28 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with burial in Williamsville New Cemetery. Donations to St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, attn: Elaine Beam Principal, or NewBrook Fire & Rescue, Route 30, Newfane, VT 05345. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Gene Franklin Garbe, 77, of Newfane. Died Oct. 26 at Vernon Green Nursing Home. Former husband of Carolyn Allbee. Father of Kathryn Garbe and her husband, Robert Fasciano of Ellicott City, Md.; Andrea (Garbe) Baker and her husband, Charles, of Townshend; Susan (Garbe) Jones and her husband, Steven, of South Newfane; and Jennifer (Garbe) Martyn and her husband, Matthew, of Guilford. Brother of Marion Burkhardt of Meriden, Conn., and his twin sister, June O'Neil of Hartford, Conn. Predeceased by Ernest Garbe and Robert Garbe. Graduated from Wilcox Trade School in Meriden, Conn. Served in Korea in the Army. Was employed as an electrician and refrigeration mechanic with Stowell Electric Company, A.L. Tyler & Sons, and Dompier Electric, all of Brattleboro. He also owned and operated Garbe Refrigeration and Electric for a number of years. Was an EMT for Grace Cottage Ambulance in Townshend and a former member of NewBrook Fire & Rescue in Newfane. Memorial information: Services will be held at a later date. Donations to NewBrook Fire & Rescue, Newfane, VT 05345.
• Mary MacDonald Guild, 72, of Cambridgeport. Died Oct. 22 at her home. Wife of Malcolm Guild for 47 years. Mother of Matthew Guild and his wife, Carol of Bellows Falls; Jeanne Eastman and her husband Steve of North Chatham, N.H.; Katherine Kane and her husband Rick of Bellows Falls; Linda Milligan and her husband David of Ashland, Maine; Susan Miller and her husband Steve of Greensburg, Ind.; and Thaddeus Guild, and his wife Jan of Cambridgeport. Sister of Anne Jednorowicz of West Hartford, Conn.; Dorothy Colavecchio of Farmington, Conn.; Muriel Judd of Canton, Conn.; and Wallace “Pete” MacDonald of Scio, N.Y. Born in Farmington, Conn., and graduated from Farmington High School and the University of Connecticut. A job at the Holstein-Friesian Association in Brattkeboro brought her to Vermont in 1962, and she made her home in Cambridgeport since 1965. Was a lifelong knitter, and was especially proud of the children she taught to knit, particularly the fourth and fifth grade class at the Grafton Elementary School. She was a member of Knitting Together, a charitable group of knitters which provides hats, mittens and sweaters for local schoolchildren. She was also known for her hand knit sweaters, which were often made out of wool from her own sheep. Memorial information: A Funeral Mass was held at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls on Oct. 25. Donations to the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association, P.O. Box 584, Saxtons River, VT 05154.
• James Arthur “Jim” Lepisto, Jr., 39, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 25 at home. Son of D. Lynn Underwood and the late James A. Lepisto. Brother of Timothy Lepisto and Mark Lepisto, both of Brattleboro. Father of Zachary Lepisto of Hinsdale, N.H. Graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1989. Was a ASE certified mechanic and had been employed at Kia of Keene. Previously he worked at Brattleboro Tire and Autex Mazda in Keene. Enjoyed model/radio controlled airplanes and was a New York Yankees and NASCAR fan. Eas a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Brattleboro Aerie #2445. Memorial information: A memorial gathering in celebration of his life was Oct. 30 at the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Donations to the American Diabetes Association of Vermont, 77 Hegeman Ave., Colchester, VT 05446. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Betty June Lyman, 79, of South Londonderry. Died Oct. 26 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. Wife of the late David R. Lyman. Mother of John D. Lyman of South Londonderry and Betsy L. Waldo and her husband Marc, also of South Londonderry. Predeceased by brothers Harold Roberts, Merrill Roberts, Waldo Roberts and Parker Roberts. Retired from the Bellows Falls Trust branch in Londonderry, where she worked as an assistant manager. Was a member of the Jamaica Benefit Society for many years. Enjoyed playing the piano, and was an avid Red Sox fan. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Oct. 31 at White Funeral Home in Townshend, with burial of her cremated remains will be at a later date. Donations to either the Grace Cottage Foundation of Townshend, or the Mountain Valley Medical Center in Londonderry.
• Sean P. O'Connell, 43, of Colrain, Mass. Died Oct. 25 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Mass. Son of Marlene (Baxter) and the late Paul O'Connell. Husband of Jennifer J. Caples. Father of Jocelyne Rickey, Jasmine O'Connell and Jannelle O'Connell, all of Colrain. Brother of Erin Ryan of Roslindale, Mass., and Shannon Jablonski of Greenfield, Mass. Was a 1985 graduate of Greenfield High School and received his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1991. Also, he received his associate's degree in nursing from Greenfield Community College in 2004. Was a registered nurse at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital for seven years, and was a volunteer with his daughter, Jannelle, for the Windham County Humane Society. Memorial information: A funeral service was held Oct. 29 at the Kostanski Funeral Home in Greenfield, with burial in Green River Cemetery. Donations to the Jasmine and Jannelle O'Connell Educational Fund, c/o Greenfield Co-operative Bank, P.O. Box 1345, Greenfield, MA 01302. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.kostanskifuneralhome.com.
• Patricia Catherine “Pat” Seaton, 88, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 24 at Thompson House in Brattleboro. Wife of the late Robert Vincent Seaton for 33 years. Mother of Robert Seaton of Norfolk, Va.; William Seaton of Hershey, Pa.; Michael Seaton of East Dover; Andrew Seaton of Hinesburg; Peter Seaton of Syracuse, N.Y.; and Patricia Seaton of Reston, Va. Predeceased by three sisters, Rosemary Hoagland, Eileen Euler and Joan Euler. Memorial information: A memorial service will take place in the spring at the convenience of the family. Donations to the Thompson House Nursing Home Activities Fund, 80 Maple Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301 or to the Holton Home Activities Fund, 158 Western Avenue, Brattleboro, VT 05301. Messages of condolence may be sent Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Harry Stephen Zaluzny, 83, of Harwich, Mass. Died on Oct. 24 at Epoch Senior Healthcare of Harwich. Husband of Ruth Brooks. Father of Ann and her husband Ed Taintor of Madera, Calif. Brother of Michael and Walter Zaluzny of Vernon and Olga Williams. Predeceased by his brothers, Andrew and Stephen Zaluzny. Born in Vernon. Graduated from Mount Hermon School, Class of 1945. Joined the Navy after graduation and served on the USS Fresno. Worked for New England Power at the Vernon dam, where he was a diver and later a lineman. In 1961, he transferred to NEP's Shelburne Falls, Mass., location as a supervisor for transmission and distribution until his retirement in 1988. Was a selectman in Vernon and Shelburne Falls, Mass., a member of the Vernon Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the Army Reserve in Brattleboro. Was a member of the American Legion and the National Ski Patrol. Memorial information: A full military graveside service was held Nov. 1 at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. Donations to Harwich Fire Association, 175 Sisson Road, Harwich, MA 02645 or the VNA of Cape Cod-Hospice, 434 Rte 134, Suite D3, South Dennis, MA 02660.
Births
• On Oct. 20, 2010, a son, Curtis Michael Chase, to Michael and Heidi (Smith) Chase of Townshend; grandson to Robert Wordell of Westminster, and Louis and Richard Chase (deceased) of Townshend.
• In Lebanon, N.H., (Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital), Oct. 6, 2010, a son, Wilhelm James Linder, to Penn and Janet Linder of Westminster; grandson to Marvin and Bobbi Walters of Westminster and Craig and Vivian Linder of Coatesville, Pa.
College news
• Matthew Cunningham-Cook, a junior at Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., and son of Julie Cunningham and Jay Cook of Brattleboro, has been selected as a Bonner Scholar this semester at Earlham. The Bonner Scholars Program is a four-year developmental leadership program that provides tuition and summer support for 15 Earlham students per class year who demonstrate a commitment to community service.
• Katarina C. McDonald of Londonderry, enrolled at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, this fall. Before classes began, she took part in an orientation that included an introduction to Colby's rigorous academics, rich cultural life, and community involvement opportunities as well as a three-day outdoor excursion. A graduate of Burr and Burton Academy, McDonald is the daughter of Daniel and Penelope McDonald of Londonderry.