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.
• Rua J. Bickford, 83, of West Chesterfield, N.H., formerly of Northfield, Mass. Died Jan. 29 at Applewood in Winchester, N.H. Wife of the late Edmund Morgan for 25 years, and the late Roy Bickford for 28 years. Mother of Kathy Hebert of Winchester. Stepmother of Roy Bickford, Jr., of Lincoln, Maine; Pam Bickford of Brattleboro; and Laurie Bickford and Linda Houston of Hinsdale, N.H. Born in East Dover, daughter of the late Merle and Louise Gage Jones, she was educated in Vernon and attended classes in the old brick school house that now houses the Vernon Historical Society. She was a graduate of Northfield High School. Class of 1945, and attended Northampton Commercial College. She worked early in life for the American Youth Hostel in Northfield, and followed it to New York, when they moved their headquarters in 1948. She moved back to Northfield in 1950, and went to work at the Lily-Dan restaurant in Northfield in 1955. She purchased it in 1965, changing the name to Rua's. She retired from the restaurant in 2001. Was an active member of the Order of Eastern Star. Memorial information: A funeral service will be held Feb. 4, at 2 p.m., at the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Northfield. Burial will be in the spring in Farms Cemetery in Northfield. Condolences may be sent to Kidder Funeral Home at www.kidderfuneralhome.com.
• Jean Fitch Blacketor, 63, of Keene, N.H. Died Jan. 20 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Born in Bennington, the daughter of the late Russell and Earlene (Dalrymple) Fitch, she was a graduate of Wilmington High School. She earned both a B.Ed and an M.Ed. from Keene State College and an Ed.D. from Vanderbilt University. She was a social studies teacher at Bellows Falls Union High School for more than 30 years where she also served as National Honor Society and senior class advisor for many years. She then went on to become the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies at Franklin Pierce University, where she took special pleasure in supporting adult learners. Most recently, she was an admissions counselor at River Valley Community College. Additionally, she taught at Keene State College, Norwich University, Castleton State College, the University of Vermont and the Community College of Vermont. She enjoyed research and writing and was honored in 1988 with an Outstanding Vermont Teacher Award, and in 2000, an Excellence in Teaching Award from Franklin Pierce University. She belonged to the Wilmington Baptist Church for many years, where she was active in the women's group, sang in the choir, and taught Sunday School. She loved to travel, and enjoyed handcrafts, reading, and music. She was a member of the Keene Pops Choir for a number of years. Memorial information: A graveside service will take place in the spring at Riverview Cemetery in Wilmington. Donations to the charity of one's choice.
• Bernard Karnacewicz, 84, of North Walpole, N.H. Died Jan. 24 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Brother of Peter Karnacewicz of Jackson Heights, N.Y.; and Veronica Simonds of Bellows Falls. Predeceased by siblings Michael, William, Stanley, and Chester Karnacewicz, Eleanor Chaffee, and Sally Williams. Born in Bellows Falls, the son of John and Mary (Tolka) Karnacewicz, and was a graduate of Bellows Falls High School. Served in the Army during World War II in the 82nd Airborne Division and was in one of the first units to occupy the American Sector of Berlin. With his brother Chester, he spent many years as owner and operator of the Homestyle Bakery in North Walpole. He also worked for Joy Manufacturing in Claremont, N.H. Was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose, BPOE 1619, and American Legion Post 37, both in Bellows Falls. He was also an avid walker and was a devoted and loving uncle. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Feb. 1 at St. Peter's Church in North Walpole, with burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Westminster. Donations to the St. Jude's Childrens Hospital or Catholic Relief Services.
• Alice Crosby Loomis, 95, of Dummerston, Died Jan. 22. Wife of the late Robert G. Loomis. Mother of the late Robert Crosby Loomis and Betty Ann Morse. Predeceased by siblings Marjorie Mallory of Fair Haven, Esther Zelenakas of Brattleboro, and Richard Crosby of Brattleboro. The youngest daughter of Charles R. and Mabel (Ray) Crosby, she was born in Dummerston in the home where she spent most of her life. She attended the one-room Slab Hollow school in East Dummerston, and was a graduate of Brattleboro High School, class of 1933, and Middlebury College, class of 1937, with a major in mathematics. Her first job after college was with the Holstein Friesian Association, working first in Madison, Wis., and then in Brattleboro. Later, she was employed as a proofreader by American-Stratford Typesetters in Brattleboro until her retirement in 1981. She was a devoted member of the Dummerston Congregational Church, and a volunteer for RSVP and Brattleboro Area Hospice. She was also a member of the Putney Senior Group. Many babies have been warmed by her beautiful knit blankets. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at the Dummerston Congregational Church on Saturday, Feb. 5, at 11 a.m. Donations to the Dummerston Congregational Church Deacon's Fund, 32 Park Laughton Road, East Dummerston, VT 05346. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Edith L. “Edie” Manley, 61, of West Chesterfield, N.H. Died Jan. 25 at her home. Wife of William “Bill” Manley for 43 years. Mother of Sue Freitas and husband, Jon, of Keene, N.H.; Heather Monsell and husband, Jeff, of Pittstown, N.J.; and Tricia Tucker and husband, Craig, of Troy, N.H. Sister of Shirma Blanchard of Brattleboro and Will Blanchard and his wife, Jan, of Summerfield, Fla. Predeceased by a son, William D. Manley, Jr. Born in Claremont, N.H., the daughter of Shirley (Curtis) and the late Wilfred Blanchard. Graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1967. She was a sales consultant for both Pampered Chief and J.C. Penney. Prior to that, she owned and operated her own ceramic shop. Edie was an active volunteer in the community as a water aerobics instructor at Cheshire Medical Center and, for the past 31 years, she sent all December newborns home from Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in homemade Christmas Stockings. Enjoyed painting with watercolors, arts and crafts, cooking, and spending time with her grandchildren. Memorial information: Funeral services were held Jan. 29 at First Congregational Church in Brattleboro, with burial in the Manley family lot in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery. Donations to Hospice at HCS, Marlboro Street, Keene, N.H. 03431. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Marilyn G. (Bills) Pierce, 56, of Gloucester, Mass. Died Jan. 23 at Addison Gilbert Hospital. Wife of Jack Bradley Pierce. Mother of Dan Lavalla and his wife, Erin, of Andover, Mass.; and Ragen Rounds and her boyfriend Michael Calcavecchia of Gloucester, Mass. Stepmother of Loran Caputo and her husband Frank of Magnolia and Kristin Ross and her husband Mark of Essex, Mass. Sister of Warren Candee of South Edgemont, Mass.; Theodore Candee and his wife, Louise, of South Windsor, Conn.; Allen C. Bills and his wife Gail of Texarkana, Texas; and Marshall P. Bills and his wife Emerlinda of Mentone, Calif. Predeceased by siblings Elizabeth Candee Wheeler and Norman S. Bills. Born in Brattleboro, daughter of the late Allen Hubert and Gertrude Louise (Ubbink) Bills. Was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1972. In her earlier years, she was employed for The Book Press and Howard Johnson's, both in Brattleboro. She also worked for several years in various establishments as a bartender and at the Anchorage Inn in East Gloucester. Later worked at the Barry Hogan Rehabilitation Center and Group Home in Danvers. She always wanted to help those in need, and enjoyed shopping for others at the thrift store and going to yard sales. Her favorite pastime was to spend time with her five grandchildren. Memorial information: A funeral service was held in the Cape Ann Bible Church in Gloucester, on Jan. 28, with burial in Mt. Adnah Cemetery in Annisquam. Donations to the Open Door Food Pantry, 28 Emerson Ave., Gloucester, MA 01930. Online condolences may be sent to www.greelyfuneralhome.com.
• Catherine (Crosby) Sprague, 99, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Jan. 20. Wife of the late Wesley W. Sprague for 60 years. Mother of Wayne E. Sprague of Bay Shore, N.Y.; Theodore C. Sprague of Manchester, Vt.; and Carolyn O'Neill of Hinsdale. Born in Bellows Falls, the daughter of the late Ernest Crosby and Alice (Cook) Crosby, and graduated from Bellows Falls High School, Class of 1930. Attended Brattleboro Business Institute, and graduated from Bay Path College in 1932. Was employed by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Moved to Hinsdale in 1945, and worked for the Board of Selectmen there for a number of years. Also worked for 18 years as a business education teacher at Austine School for the Deaf in Brattleboro, from which she retired in 1978. Was a member of the First Baptist Church of Brattleboro and later became a member of the North Hinsdale Community Church. Memorial information: At her request, there will be no funeral services.
Births
• In Keene, N.H., (Cheshire Medical Center), Jan. 22, 2011, a daughter, Kayden Joy Hackett, to Samantha Joy Lutz and Travis J. Hackett of Hinsdale, N.H.; granddaughter to Leighton and Melissa Lutz of Richmond, N.H., Toni and Calvin Powling of Newfane, and Scott Hackett Sr. of Maine; great-granddaughter to Geraldine Lutz of Richmond, Robert and Marlene Heinonen of Winchester, N.H., Dottie and Larry Hackett of Surry, N.H., Joyce and Robert Chaput of Florida and Calvin Powling Sr. of Marlboro.
In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Jan. 9, 2011, a son, Bryce David Tracey, to Amber Brown and Brian Tracey of Brattleboro; grandson to Stephen and Gail Brown, and Betty Tracey.
• In Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Jan. 4, 2011, a daughter, Lucia Elizabeth Stafford, to Suzanne E. Paugh and Luke Q. Stafford of South Newfane; granddaughter to John B. Stafford of Saugerties, N.Y., Mary E. Montori of West Suffield, Conn., Elizabeth and Steve Paugh of Martin City, Montana; niece to Benjamin B. Stafford of West Springfield, Mass., Melissa M. Paugh of Portland, Ore., Meghan L. Paugh of Brattelboro, and Adam C. Paugh of Martin City.
College news
• Lindsey K. Hunterwolf of Enosburg Falls, a junior at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, is spending the spring semester of the 2010-11 academic year in Scotland studying at the University of Edinburgh. Hunterwolf, a graduate of Bellows Free Academy, is the daughter of Gregory Hunter of Enosburg Falls and Miriam Wolf of Putney. She is majoring in English at Colby.
• Noah Tapper, a resident of Saxtons River, was among more than 2,500 students from the University of Massachusetts-Boston who made the fall 2010 Dean's List.
• William J. Pettengill Jr., a member of the Class of 2011 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, was named to the Dean's List for his outstanding academic achievement during the fall 2010 semester. Pettengill, the son of William and Paula Pettengill of Guilford, is majoring in economics and anthropology at Colby. He attended Brattleboro Union High School.
• Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H., has named Emma Frances Barre of Putney, a nursing major and a member of the class of 2014, to the Dean's List for academic achievement during the fall 2010 semester.
• Samantha O'Donnell, of Brattleboro, a general business major and a member of the class of 2011, has been named to the Fall 2010 Dean's List at American International College in Springfield, Mass.
• The following local students were named to the Dean's List at the University of New Hampshire for the fall 2010 semester: Drummond Biles, Emily Hale, and Robert Meyer, all of Brattleboro, earned Honors, while Nicholas Haskell and Rebecca Procter of Brattleboro earned Highest Honors, and Kvehl McDermott of Putney, and Amanda Oles of Vernon earned all High Honors. Highest Honors are awarded to students who earn a semester grade point average of 3.7 or better out of a possible 4.0. Students with a 3.5 to 3.69 average are awarded High Honors, and students whose grade point average is 3.2 through 3.49 are awarded honors.