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.
• Margaret E. “Betty” (Wheelden) Behilo, 89, of Greenfield, Mass,. Died May 9 at the Buckley Health Care Center in Greenfield. Wife of the late Edward J. Behilo for 57 years. Mother of Agnes V. Quinn and her husband, Robert, of North Granby, Conn.; Barbara T. Urquhart of Greenfield, Edward J. Behilo, Jr., and his wife, Carol, of Moodus, Conn.; Julia A. “Judy” Boissonneault and her husband, Peter, of Hyannis, Mass.; Anna Marie Kirejczyk and her husband, Harry, of Marlboro, Mass.; and Simon J. Behilo and his wife, Barbara, of Northfield, Mass. Sister of Katherine “Tuppy” Snead of Waynesboro, Va., and Mary Ann Wood and John Wheelden of Brattleboro. Predeceased by her brother, Army Sgt. Stuart Wheelden, who was killed in action in the Battle of Luzon, in the Philippines, during World War II. A native of Brattleboro, the daughter of Stewart and Johanna (Garrity) Wheelden and was a graduate of St. Michael's High School, where she excelled as a member of the women's basketball team as a center/forward. Family gatherings were important to her, and gave her many opportunities to put to good use her extensive cooking and baking skills. As a devout Catholic, attending Mass and receiving the sacraments with her family were a focal point in their family life. Betty enjoyed interior decorating, antiquing, vegetable and flower gardening, playing bingo, and was an avid fan of the New England Patriots and Boston Celtics. She loved to follow professional golf on television, although she had never taken up the game herself. In addition to being a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, she was a staunch and loyal member of the Democratic Party and was a dedicated supporter of the Kennedy family. Memorial information: Services will be private at the request of the deceased. Donations to, Holy Trinity Church, 133 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301, or to the Greenfield Fire Department, in care of the “gift account,” 412 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301.
• Elizabeth Eva “Betty” Druke, 80, of Brattleboro. Died May 1o at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Wife of Bernard W. Druke for more than 61 years. Mother of Michael Druke and his wife, Mirela, of Half Moon Bay, Calif.; Patricia Ballard and husband, Stanton, of Dallas; and son-in-law Charles Becker and wife, Linda, of Schenectady, N.Y. Sister of Irene Brooks, Mary Laitres, Polly Casanova, and Louise McGourty. Predeceased by a daughter, Mary Becker, and siblings Sally Herring and James Robinson. Born in West Wardsboro, the eldest child of Travis and Nora (Boyd) Robinson, she was a graduate of Leland and Grey Seminary, Class of 1948. Following graduation, she worked at the Holstein Association, and met her future husband during her commutes to Brattleboro. The Drukes moved to Brattleboro and after raising her family, she returned to the Holstein, where she retired following 29 faithful and dedicated years with the Association. She also assisted with her husband's business, Druke's Texaco, in Northfield, Mass. She participated fully in the lives of her three children and was a faithful volunteer and fundraiser for the Girl Scouts and St. Michael's Catholic School. She was an active communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Parish, a member of AARP, and various area snowmobile clubs. She was a past president of the Brattleboro Woman's Evening Club, past regent in the Daughter's of Isabella, and longtime board member of the Brattleboro Drop-in Center. Along with her husband, Betty received the Governor's Award for Community Service. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on May 13 at 9 a.m. at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, with burial will follow in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to St. Michael Catholic School, in care of Principal Elaine Beam, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Frances Jones Grey, 95, of Newtown, Conn., formerly of Vermont. Died May 2 at River Glen Health Care Center in Southbury, Conn. Wife of the late David S. Grey. Mother of Wendy Grey of Newtown, Peter Grey of Sherborn, Mass.; Sumner Grey of West Brattleboro; and Mark Grey of Canandaigua, N.Y. Born in Ardmore, Pa., the daughter of Herbert G. and Margaret (Kelsey) Jones, she was a psychiatric social worker for McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass., for many years. Her avocation was classical cello and she performed with many amateur orchestras and chamber groups over her lifetime. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held in private. Donations to the Danbury Music Center, 256 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810.
• Raymond Alfred “Ray” Hemingway, 95, of Brattleboro. Died May 11 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Husband of Martha L. Hall for nearly 64 years. Son of Earl Hemingway and his fiancee, Patty Newton, of Brattleboro. Predeceased by brothers John and Howard Hemingway and a sister who died in infancy. Born in St. Albans, the son of Fred and Matilda (Forant) Hemingway. he was raised and educated in St. Albans, where he attended public schools. Served as a Tech Sergeant in the Army's 50th Armored Infantry Battalion during World War II, where he was stationed in both France and Germany. Settled in Brattleboro after the war and went to work for American Optical, where he retired in 1981 following over 30 years of faithful service. He attended St. Michael's Episcopal Church, and was a member of the American Legion Post 5. Enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening, cooking and country & western music. He was a quiet, unassuming and hardworking man devoted to his family. Memorial information: Graveside committal services with full military honors in Morningside Cemetery were held on May 17. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302, or to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Francois Bernard LaBelle, 79, of Brattleboro. Died May 5 at Pine Heights Nursing Home. Husband of Theresa H. Williams for nearly 59 years. Father of Elizabeth Therrien of Keene, N.H.; Michael LaBelle of West Wardsboro; Andrew LaBelle of Keene, James LaBelle of Brattleboro; and Scott LaBelle of Hinsdale, N.H. Brother of Andrew Clement LaBelle of Milford, N.H. Predeceased by two daughters, Angela LaBelle and Jacqueline Tatro, and five brothers and one sister. Born in East Franklin, the son of Rudolph and Corilla (Cloutier) LaBelle, he was raised and educated in East Franklin and later moved to Brattleboro in 1964. He had been employed as a maintenance mechanic at Cersosimo Lumber Co., where he retired from following 35 faithful and dedicated years with the company. Previously worked at the former Estey Organ Co. on Birge Street. A devout Catholic, he was a longtime communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. An ardent outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting and fishing, as well as time shared with his family. He was mechanically inclined, could fix or repair just about anything and was well known as a “jack of all trades.” Memorial information: Graveside committal services were held on May 13 at St. Michael's Parish Cemetery in Brattleboro. Donations to St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St. Brattleboro, VT 05301, in care of Elaine Beam, principal.
• A memorial service for Blanche Honegger Moyse: Family, friends and colleagues of Blanche Honegger Moyse are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday, May 21, at 4 p.m., at West Village Meeting House in West Brattleboro. The service will include memorial speeches and a few moments of music, offered by the Blanche Moyse Chorale and area musicians who worked in association with Blanche for many years. A potluck dinner will be held immediately following the service. A public memorial concert will be presented by the Brattleboro Music Center in honor of Mme. Moyse on Sunday, Oct. 2, in Marlboro.
• Ruth Edna Clough Spaulding, 87, of South Londonderry. Died May 6 at her home. Wife of the late Hiram “Syd” Spaulding for 63 years. Mother of Nancy Jones of Sisters, Ore. Sister of Robert Clough of South Londonderry. Predeceased by siblings Malcolm Clough and Eleanor Emery. Born in South Londonderry, daughter of James T. and Harriet Mildred Minora Jacquith Clough, she attended schools in South Londonderry and graduated from Chester High School in 1942. Retired in 1985 after 22 years at Jones & Lamson Machine Tool Co. in Springfield. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary of Springfield. Memorial information: A graveside service was held May 10 at Glebe View Cemetery in South Londonderry. Donations to the Mountain Valley Clinic, P.O. Box 310, Londonderry, VT 05148; or to the Londonderry Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 911, Londonderry, VT 05148.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), May 8, 2011, a daughter, Opal Tallulah Mayer, to Rebecca Pedersen and Mark Mayer of Brattleboro; granddaughter to Heidrun Mayer of Brattleboro, and Rose Marie Thrane of Cambridge, N.Y.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), May 7, 2011, a daughter, Ninah Ellen-Lee Favreau, to Amanda Forrett and Michael Favreau of Dummerston; granddaughter to Tammie LaClair, Adrienne Lamb, William Lamb, Darren Forrett, Ellen Forrett, Kathleen Favreau and Michael Favreau.
• In Lebanon, N.H., (Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center), May 6, 2011, twins, a daughter, Juliana Christina Hamm, and a son, William Joseph Hamm, to Rick and Christina Hamm of Westminster; grandchildren to Brian and Beverly Lloyd of Dublin, Ga., and Wilhelmina and Joel Holton of Westminster.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), May 2, 2011, a son, Austin James Smith, to Tracie Winter and Michael Smith of Guilford; grandson to Susan and Jerry Winter of Putney, and Richard and Wanda Smith of Brattleboro.
• In Keene, N.H., (Cheshire Medical Center), April 30, 2011, a son, Wyatt Robert John, to Cassandra (Royce) and Matthew Quinn of Westminster.
• In Keene, N.H., (Cheshire Medical Center), April 24, 2011, a son, Riley James, to Mercedes Campbell and William Rawling of West Chesterfield, N.H.
• In Keene, N.H., (Cheshire Medical Center), April 19, 2011, a son, Jordan Thomas, to Estella (McElman) and James Edson of Walpole, N.H.
College news
• Heidi Allen, a senior business administration and accounting double major and daughter of Robert and Karol Allen of Londonderry, was one of 18 St. Michael's College students inducted into Sigma Beta Delta, the international honor society in business, management and administration, in ceremonies held on campus on April 9.
• The following Windham County students graduated from Keene State College on May 7: Sara Chamberlin of Londonderry (M.Ed.); Travis Schwartz of South Londonderry (B.S.); Julia Haskins, Meghan McLoughlin, and Lisa Moranski of Brattleboro (M.Ed.); Elizabeth Hackett of Newfane (B.S.) Selina Thomas and Philip Zachariah of Putney (B.A.); Marilee Attley of Townshend (M.Ed.); Heather Bertram of Townshend (B.S., B.A.) Sarah Ferris of Vernon (B.A.) and Sarah Szarejko of Wilmington (B.S.)
Awards
• Bob Stevens, the principal of Stevens & Associates, an engineering, planning and landscape architectural firm in Brattleboro, was recently named Volunteer of the Year at the annual Vermont Green Mountain Awards ceremony honoring downtown revitalization projects.
Stevens has lent his professional training and that of his staff to the downtown revitalization mission of Building a Better Brattleboro, as well as purchasing an historic downtown property, renovating the building in keeping with the historic character of the downtown, and relocating his business and staff there. He is presently BaBB's Design Committee chair, and sits on the Executive Committee, in the role of Vice President of the Board of Directors.
His understanding of the importance of downtown, the Main Street model and his commitment to seeing things happen through leadership, action, and involvement is unprecedented, his colleagues at BaBB said. He was also one of the first on the scene at the recent fire at the Brooks House and it was his expertise and wisdom that convinced officials not to tear down the downtown landmark.
Also at the awards ceremony, Brattleboro received the distinction of becoming a Nationally Accredited Main Street Community, a status conferred to towns based on a 10-point criteria and final approval by the National Main Street Center in Washington, D.C.