Obituaries
• Mary Graves Bristol, 91, formerly of Brattleboro. Died peacefully on Dec. 7, 2024, at her home in San Antonio, Texas, following a lengthy illness. Family surrounded her throughout her final days as she responded to the songs, love, and touch of her children and grandchildren. Mary was born on Aug. 31, 1933, in Manchester, New Hampshire. Her twin sister, Miriam Alice, was born 20 minutes later, and they were the fifth and sixth of 14 children born to Mary (Morine) and Reginald Graves, originally from Nova Scotia. Mary and Miriam were the first of three sets of twins in their family. At age three, her family moved back to Nova Scotia, living in Bear River. She moved to Hebron when she was 5 years old. Throughout her younger years, she and her siblings learned to play the piano and practiced on the church organ while they cleaned the church with their dad. Their mom always hoped that one of them would be the church organist, but that would never come to pass. Mary started working at age 10, washing dishes at the Green Tree Inn. She became a waitress two years later because she was a "nice" girl. While in the 10th grade at age 16, she left Canada and moved to Belmont, Massachusetts, with family friends to take a job as their nanny. Her mother told her she could stay if she liked it as her sister Beverly was working in the same town as a nanny. Mary and Beverly attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin at night and earned their high school diplomas. She then moved on to another job as a nanny for a family in Thomaston, Maine, and taught Sunday School at the local church. She was asked to come home to Hebron because her older brother Reg and his wife were having a baby and required a nanny. Mary took care of her nephew Bill while also working at a bed and breakfast in Hebron. While there, she met the George Mason family from Brattleboro, who were looking for a nanny to live with them and their three children. Mary was hired and worked for the Masons from 1953 through 1957. While employed by the Masons, a young soldier just back from Korea had seen Mary playing with the Mason children on the Common. That young soldier was Verne Bristol. After enduring a two-hour interview with Mr. Mason, Verne was approved to date Mary and they were married at Centre Congregational Church on March 31, 1956. They settled and raised their family in Brattleboro and were blessed with five children between 1957 and 1966. They were always known as "Mary and Verne" or "Verne and Mary." They were a team. They took many vacation trips with their children when they were younger and many more as they grew older. They loved going to the beaches of Maine and visiting family throughout Canada. Their favorite beach was Popham Beach (Maine), which they shared with their older grandchildren on several trips (still known to them as "Pom Pom" beach). The grandchildren remember apple picking, going to beaches, hiking up a mountain for blueberries to the "old shanty" in Dummerston, or setting up for the annual Easter Egg hunt at their house in Guilford. Mary was best known for opening her home to everyone. When a plan was made to come to the house, her first question was, "what would you like to eat?" Her love of family and the ability to brighten a room with her infectious smile that rivals no other is how she will be remembered. The warmest hugs were given to every grandchild as they arrived and when they left for home. Her family was her life, and she was the life of the family. She had a very powerful gift to always see the positive in everyone and in everything she did. Mary enjoyed her work with Trico, working as head cook at the Brattleboro Union High School cafeteria, then at the Holstein Association. She always loved being around her children and nieces and nephews, seeing them at school as they came through the kitchen. In 1996, she began work at Owl Tree Daycare and worked there for 10 years. Children brought so much joy to her life and her loving spirit brought joy to all the children and teachers there. It wasn't until she turned 80 years old that she officially retired. Her dedication to her faith community - she was a member of Centre Congregational Church over the past 68 years - was the model for her family. She had fulfilled many different roles at the church but was excited a few years back when she was given the title of Honorary Deacon. One of her very favorite events was baking and selling cookies at the annual Christmas Bazaar. Mary touched many lives. She was kind, caring, and compassionate and will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Mary was predeceased by the love of her life and soulmate of 67 years, Verne Richard Bristol, who died in 2023; and her parents and her siblings Reg, Shirley, Phillip, Robert, Carol, and Margaret. She is survived by her children Patricia Higgins, John (Janet) Bristol, James Bristol, David Bristol (Wendy Pritting), and Heidi (Jimmy) Gray. She leaves behind siblings: Beverly MacLaughlin, Miriam Tuffin, Ruth Lane, Pat McKenzie, Richard (Joanne) Graves, Faith (Paul) Seguin, Linda (Reg) Leblanc; along with 25 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, as well as close loving siblings on the Bristol family side and hundreds of nieces and nephews in both the Bristol and Graves families across the United States and Canada. Memorial information: A celebration of life will be conducted Saturday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m. at Centre Congregational Church. Donations to Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Todd Allan Brookes, 59, of Brattleboro. Died on Dec. 10, 2024. Born in Brattleboro on Sept. 24, 1965, to Tom and Penny Brookes, he was a loving child who always obeyed and tried to do things right. He was very intelligent and learned to read at an early age. His love of reading carried through his entire life, and he had a great collection of books. He attended Putney Central School through the seventh grade, where he enjoyed playing soccer on the school team and where he also played clarinet in the school band. By eighth grade, the family had moved to Eureka, Montana. There he attended Lincoln County High School and graduated with honors in the top 10 of his class. Soon after that, he wanted to return to Vermont, so off he went. As with most young people, he tried several different jobs until he finally settled with Cersosimo Lumber. He worked there for many years. When a position came up at the Brattleboro Retreat for a boiler technician, he jumped at the chance. He really liked that job and the people he worked with. He stayed there until his death. Todd enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, and hunting. He also enjoyed gaming in his down time and collecting old gaming consoles and games. He was an avid Star Wars fan and had an extensive collection of Star Wars memorabilia. Todd was kind, loving and generous. A devoted friend, father, stepfather, uncle, and "poppy," his absence leaves a big empty space in the lives of his family and friends. He is survived by his parents, his sister Tammy Lawler (Steve), longtime partner Andrea Hughes, and friend Kim Basinger. He leaves behind children Matthew Brookes, Mariah Goncalves (Lucas), Tommy Hughes, and Marlaina Collins; his niece Auna Johnston (Nick) and nephews Logan and Cooper; and grandchildren Eli, Noah, Evora, Hunter, Coleton, Logan, Braelynn, and a soon-to-be baby boy due in February. Todd was happiest when he was being "Poppy Todd" to all the grandkids. Todd also leaves behind many lifelong friends as well. Memorial information: Todd will be cremated and the family may have a small personal service in the spring.
• Mary Elizabeth Casey, 59, of Brattleboro. Died Dec. 14, 2024. Mary grew up in South Hadley, Massachusetts, graduating from South Hadley High School in 1982. She received her bachelor's degrees in economics and political science from the University of Massachusetts at Boston after she and Michael Averill moved to Salem, Massachusetts. While advocating for clients at a soup kitchen in Lynn, Massachusetts, she was dubbed "Saint Mary," and a judge urged her to become an attorney. She earned her master's in public administration and her Juris Doctor simultaneously from Suffolk University Law School in Boston; moved to Fairfax, Vermont; and practiced law at Kissane Associates. Later she worked with Michael at Averill Engineering and eventually relocated to Brattleboro. They renovated a historic home in Salem and their 1819 home in Brattleboro. She enjoyed walking on wintery beaches in Salem; boating on Lake Champlain; hiking with her dog, Baxter, in the woods in Fairfax; canoeing on the Connecticut River; visiting museums; cultivating gardens; and just being in nature. She cared deeply for her family, friends, and communities. She served on the Design Review Board in Fairfax. In Brattleboro, she was on the board of directors of Thompson House and Holton Home, active in town government, and helped sustain the town's flowers. Mary was a lifelong reader of fiction and nonfiction. Michael cooked delicious, wholesome meals, and Mary baked. She did not dwell on her health challenges. Mary began many days walking their current dog, Molly. Michael willingly assisted with her many projects and causes. Mary loved her life with Michael. She is survived by her siblings Mark Espy and Karen Casey, her niece Casey Gould, and her husband of 37 years, Michael Averill. Memorial information: Donations may be made to the Creamery Bridge Flowers, in care of Dick DeGray, 121 Morningside Commons, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Janet C. Esden, 82, of Dover, New Hampshire. Died peacefully on Dec. 18, 2024, at Dover Center for Health and Rehabilitation while under the care of Hospice of Dover. Jan was born in Springfield, Vermont, on June 14, 1942, the daughter of Edna (Drown) Cowling and Paul E. Cowling. She grew up in Chester and West Brattleboro. She attended Brattleboro Union High School, where she played clarinet in the band. After graduating in 1960, she attended University of Vermont for two years before returning to West Brattleboro. On May 4, 1963, she married Robert Esden of Brattleboro. They were married for almost 60 years before Bob's death in October 2023. Jan loved her family and friends; "Grandma Duck" particularly enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren when they visited her every summer in Ohio and, in later years, when they visited her in New Hampshire for the holidays. She enjoyed crafts of all sorts (knitting, needlepoint, crochet, cross-stitch and sewing) and would often present handmade gifts. She was a longtime member of Spencerian Chapter 126 Order of the Eastern Star (initiated in 1973) and served as Worthy Matron in 1976. Jan is survived by her two sons, Paul Esden (wife Michelle) and Stephen Esden (wife Jose); six grandchildren, Brody, Nicholas, Paul Esden Jr., HeatherAnn, Kali and Haley; and six great-grandchildren, Sophia, David, Zariah-Luna, Paul Andrew Esden III, Huyam, and Yousf. She was predeceased by her husband, her parents, and her sister, Barbara Brien. Memorial information: A graveside committal service will be held in West Brattleboro Cemetery on Mather Road in the spring of 2025 on a date to be determined. Donations to the Alzheimer's Association (act.alz.org). To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Susan Herbert, 86, of Dummerston. Died on Dec. 18, 2024, after a period of declining health. Susan was born in Brattleboro on Dec. 29, 1938, to Allen and Stella Herbert of Brattleboro. She attended Brattleboro High School and graduated on June 14, 1956. She had various jobs in printing, mostly as a proofreader, and had an amazing vocabulary. On Dec. 7, 1963, she married Robert E. Bristol of Brattleboro with whom she had two sons, Jesse and Travis Bristol, both of Dummerston. She is survived by her children, Jesse (Paula) Bristol and Travis (Christine) Bristol, as well as her brother Richard (Sandy) Herbert, along with five grandchildren (Joshua, Kayla, Georgia, Riley, and Colby), great-grandchildren Jaxon and Charlotte, and nieces Elizabeth, Jennifer, and Lindsay. Memorial information: Per her wishes, there will be no funeral service. A private graveside service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Windham County Humane Society, PO Box 397 Brattleboro, VT 05302, or Gerda's Equine Rescue, P.O. Box 1352, West Townshend, VT 05359.
• Amy Morrissey Kleppner, 93, of Wardsboro. Died peacefully at home with family at her side. She was a teacher, writer, public speaker, Selectboard member, and adventurer, as well as a wife, mom, grandmother, and beloved aunt. She graduated from Smith College in 1952, worked for the Mount Holyoke News Bureau and received an M.A. in 1954, and was one of the first women to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University. She did so while teaching physical education in New York City. She went on to teach philosophy at Howard University, where her students included future civil rights leader Stokely Carmichael, and at University College of the University of Maryland. After marrying Adam Kleppner, her husband of more than 50 years, she gave up full-time teaching to raise two sons, Bram and Caleb. Amy later returned to teaching as a high school English teacher and spent the last 10 years of her professional career at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland. Following retirement, she and her husband moved to Wardsboro, where they had spent summers since 1964. In addition to several articles, Amy wrote a manual for high school students, Research Paper Procedure, published by Teacher's Discovery, and co-authored a local pictorial history, Wardsboro VT: Exposing the Past. She was elected to the Wardsboro Selectboard in 2008, only the third woman to do so since the town was chartered in 1780. She was a lifelong adventurer. As a teenager in the 1940s, she biked from Boston to Quebec City, and over the decades trekked and kayaked in France, Siberia, Alaska, Spain, and New Zealand, and swam in Antarctica. Amy celebrated her 85th birthday with a 100-mile hike in England, and, at 92, set off for the Mediterranean to retrace some of Odysseus's voyage. Her advocacy for women's rights, adventurous spirit, and athleticism were traits she shared with, and were perhaps inspired by, her aunt, Amelia Earhart. She was predeceased by Adam Kleppner, her husband of 59 years, and is survived by her sons Bram and Caleb, her daughters-in-law Genie Henry and Susannah Bernheim, and her many grandchildren, in-laws, nephews and nieces, as well as her longtime roommate, care provider, and dear friend, Suzanne Harrington. Memorial information: To honor Amy, donations may be made to the Wardsboro Public Library (wardsboropubliclibrary.org); Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (plannedparenthood.org); the Safety Team (thesafetyteam.org); or the Population Media Center (populationmedia.org).
• Koon Woo Nam, 96, of Brattleboro. Died, surrounded by his family, on Dec. 16, 2024. Koon Woo was born on May 1, 1928 in the town of Kimch'aek (formerly Sŏngjin) in the North Hamgyong Province, on the northeast sea coast of North Korea. He was the second of the three sons of Sang P'il Nam and Soon Rok Lee. After attending a local elementary school, Koon Woo went to Seoul to attend secondary school and college. Koon Woo's adolescent life was much disrupted and buffeted by the division of Korea in 1945 at the end of World War II and the Korean War that followed. In 1945, Koon Woo was attending Kyunggi High School in Seoul with his younger brother, with whom he shared a room at a boarding house. Separated from their parents in the north, Koon Woo supported himself by tutoring and teaching English at high schools. Although he could only attend his college classes about once a week, as he needed to teach at the high school, he studied on his own, and took the exams. In this way, he completed his B.A. in English literature in 1958 at Kyung Hee University. In 1960, he came to the United States as a student. Koon Woo earned a master's degree in English from the University of Rhode Island in 1963 and then received a Master's Degree and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1970. While at UMass, he met his wife, Jane Macdonald Nam. For a number of years, Koon Woo taught East Asian history and government at colleges in New England and upstate New York, and his teaching career ended in Monterey, California, in 2008 where he taught Korean at the Defense Language Institute for many years. While teaching, Koon Woo published books and articles, some of which were quoted by scholars or used as text in the U.S.and England. When he retired, Koon Woo returned to Bourne, Massachusetts, where his former wife, Jane, resided. His life in retirement was active. Koon Woo enjoyed working around the house, catching fish, and harvesting quahogs. Becoming a grandparent to Sarah and Owen gave Koon Woo much joy (as did his grand-dogs!) and he was generous to a fault with them all. Koon Woo was a true lifelong learner. He began taking piano lessons in his 70s and became an accomplished pianist. He loved reading and made great use of the many resources at the Jonathan Bourne Public Library and was well known by their librarians. His favorite activity was attending academic forums at Harvard University, where he kept abreast of current events. Koon Woo was predeceased by his friend and former wife, Jane, and is survived by his daughter, Ellen Nam of Dummerston, his son-in-law Bill Gallagher, and his beloved grandchildren, Sarah and Owen, and his cherished neighbors. It is believed he leaves at least one nephew and niece in North Korea. Memorial information: He will be laid to rest beside Jane in Bourne in a private ceremony. Heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Bradley House in Brattleboro for the loving care they gave Koon Woo.
• Deborah Marie "Debbie" Squires, 67, of Greenfield, Mass., formerly of Brattleboro. Died Dec. 15, 2024, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, following an extended illness. She was born in Southington, Connecticut, on June 11, 1957, the daughter of Maynard and Shirley (Searles) Squires. Debbie attended elementary school in Guilford and graduated from Brattleboro Union High School with the Class of 1975. A resident of Greenfield for the past 14 years, she worked as a sales associate at the Greenfield Home Depot. Previously she worked at Erving Paper Co., and the Holstein Association in Brattleboro. Debbie enjoyed the outdoors, as summer was her favorite time of the year. She loved arts and crafts, working in her flower and vegetable gardens and soaking up the sunshine. Her optimal outdoor temperature was 90 degrees, and she enjoyed her many trips and time spent on Cape Cod. Survivors include her faithful companion of 12 years, Warren Peterson of Colrain, Massachusetts; children, David Beckwith and wife Lisa of Winchester, New Hampshire, and Jack Beckwith of Danvers, Massachusetts; her mother, Shirley Squires, of Guilford; a brother, Timothy (Wendy) Squires, also of Guilford; sisters, Donna (Sven) Rhodes of Greenfield, and Diana Squires (John Stewart) of Dover; stepbrother Paul (Lisa) Weatherhead of Guilford, a sister-in-law, Tina Squires of Guilford; beloved friends, Sue and Bob Parent, and Linnie Shearer, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her father, Maynard, and two brothers, Ronald and Stephen Squires. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Dec. 21 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro, and she was laid to rest in the Squires family lot in Baker Cemetery in Guilford. Donations to the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont, P.O. Box 1486, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• John Barker "Bark" Willard Jr., 89, of Wilmington. Died at home on Dec. 11, 2024. He was born in Wilmington on April 9, 1935, to John B. Willard and Earlene Rafus Willard. As a child, Barker found his passion for fishing and hunting, a passion he would pursue all of his life. He was never happier than being at his camp in Worcester watching the show through his picture windows or to be outside tromping around in the woods enjoying the wildlife and beauty around him. Bark also was an avid baseball player and fan of the sport, and was extremely pleased with the Yankees' performance in the 2024 World Series. After graduating from Wilmington High School, Barker joined the Air Force and was stationed in Alaska as a radar operator. He truly loved being in Alaska. After leaving the Air Force, he returned to Vermont, where he followed another calling. He became a firefighter and was stationed in Montpelier for a time. He eventually left Montpelier and returned to Wilmington, where he began working for his father as a carpenter, a profession he flourished in and would follow his entire working career. Bark also joined the Wilmington Volunteer Fire Department in 1959 and, in 1969, became Fire Chief. He served in that role until his retirement in 1982. During his time as Chief, he helped to establish the mutual aid system between the towns, introduced the junior firefighter program to the WFD, and was a state firefighting instructor. It was in Wilmington, while working as a bartender, that he would meet Nancy Darden, who was there working as a waitress and skiing. The two fell in love and wed in September 1961. John and Nancy would build a home on Lisle Hill in 1964, where they would live and raise two children. John was predeceased by an infant daughter, his parents, and his wife Nancy. He is survived by his daughter Allison and wife Christine, son Barker and partner Jessica, and his two beloved grandchildren Austin and Aspen, who called him Papa. They were the spark that kept him going. He is also survived by his brother Bruce Willard and wife Marcia, and their children and grandchildren; sister Joanne Boyd and husband Robbie, their children and grandchildren; and brother-in-law Austin Darden and wife Mary Hart, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Barker will be remembered by many dear friends all over Vermont and the U.S. He was a kindhearted and loyal friend to many who will miss him dearly. So, in John's memory, his family invites any and all to have a gin and tonic, no lime. Memorial information: As per his request there will be no services. Donations may be made to The Jimmy Fund, 10 Brooklyn Place, Boston, MA 02445, or the Vermont Make-A-Wish Foundation, 6655 Shelburne Rd., Suite 300, Shelburne, VT 05482.
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