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.
• Miner Crego, 90, of Townshend. Died June 13 at Grace Cottage Hospital. Husband of the late Frances Wilson Crego for 54 years. Father of Robert Crego, and his wife Jean, of Newfane; and Donna Crego, and her husband, John, of Guilderland, N.Y. Brother of Burton Crego of Baldwinsville, N.Y.; Virginia Johnson (Andrew), of Tallahassee, Fla.; and the late Warren Crego.Born in Syracuse, N.Y., the son of the late Harold and Hazel Abbott Crego, his education was split between a one-room school house in Lysander, N.Y., several years at Baldwinsville Academy, and close to a lifetime on the family farm on Emerick Road in Baldwinsville, N.Y. He reveled in hard work and took pride in a job done well. As a young man, he hauled coal and lumber for his father's business; raised corn, oats, wheat and tobacco, first with harnessed horses and later with a Farmall; and fed and milked cows twice daily. When the family's small dairy farm became no longer viable, he went to work for Mercer Milling in Baldwinsville, in 1963, first making feed and flour, and later driving the company's delivery truck all throughout central, western and northern New York. He retired at age 80 in 2001. He left the farm in 2008, moving to West River Valley Senior Housing in Townshend with his wife, who died one month after the move. Nevertheless, he enjoyed his final years at West River Valley, and his quiet kindness, dry wit, and mischievous smile endeared him to many residents and staff. Memorial information: A memorial service was held June 22 at West River Valley Senior Housing. Donations to Valley Cares, P.O. Box 341, Townshend, VT 05353.
• Ernest “Ernie” U. Crosier, 90, of Halifax. Died June 10 in Brattleboro. Husband of the late Mensje V. Crosier. Father of Carol Crosier of Halifax. Brother of Bernard Crosier of North Springfield, Betty Adams of Wilmington, and Shirley Crosier of Brattleboro. Predeceased by three sisters, Bernice Crosier, Doris Longtin, and Marion Watson. Born in Wilmington, the son of the late Alonzo F. Crosier and Lila V. (Upton) Crosier, he was a graduate of Wilmington High School. He was a caretaker, poultry farmer, and custodian for Green Street and Academy schools. He attended Dummerston Congregational Church and was a member of Halifax Union Society. He enjoyed going to the Ogunquit and Wells, Maine, area, and staying at the Towne Lyne Motel. He enjoyed trips to the Amish country, Gettysburg, Pa., and visiting friends in Florida. Come summer, he was often found at his favorite eatery, Bert's Chuck Wagon in Putney. He enjoyed the Greenfield and Wilmington fairs, tag sales, baseball, and watching the wildlife at his home, at his neighbors, and his water garden. Memorial information: A memorial service was held on June 18 at Dummerston Congregational Church, with burial in Christ Church Cemetery in Guilford. Donations to the Halifax Fire Department, in care of Merrilyn Courser, P.O. Box 8, West Halifax, VT 05358, or to the Dummerston Congregational Church, in care of John Wilcox, 125 East Orchard St., Dummerston, VT 05301.
• Peter Jerard “PJ” Durkin, 48, of Brattleboro. Died June 5 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Father of Andrew Milligan of Redlands, Calif. Brother of Tracy L. Durkin of Thermopolis, Wyo.; Pattee Anne Durkin of Truro, Mass.; and Thomas S. Durkin and his wife, Susan, of Brattleboro. He was born in Marlborough, Mass., the son of Thomas H. and Janet I. (Marley) Durkin. He attended Marlborough-area schools, then transferred to the Green Mountain Valley School in Waitsfield to pursue his love of alpine skiing and ski racing. He graduated from Wilmington High School in 1981, and then served in the Air Force. He then was a private service photography contractor for several years in and around Lompoc, Calif. His passion and talent for cooking was put to use helping his parents operate their hospitality businesses, including The Good Life Frozen Yogurt Shoppe in Falmouth, Mass., and the Longwood Inn and Restaurant in Marlboro. He also operated the inn for several years after the family sold it. He attended Newbury Culinary & Hospitality Academy from 1984 to 1986 where he became a certified chef. He appreciated all the arts, especially music. Memorial information: A memorial service will be held at a later date this summer. Donations to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, 17 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Marjorie D. Hadlock, 101, of West Chesterfield, N.H. Died June 7 at her home on Welcome Hill. Wife of the late Leslie Hadlock. Mother of Douglas Hadlock and his wife, Wendy. Predeceased by siblings Marion and Albert Hadlock. Born in Newton Center, Mass., daughter of the late Sted E. and Caroline (Slack) Douglas, he spent her childhood between Brattleboro and the family home in Post Mills. She was a graduate of Brattleboro High School, class of 1927. She completed courses from the University of Vermont and Boston College and, after receiving her teacher's certificate, taught grade school in East Dummerston and the Academy in West Brattleboro. After World War II, she and her husband built their home on Welcome Hill, where she spent the remainder of her life as a homemaker, mother and partner, enjoying their beautiful daffodil gardens that were always open for all to enjoy. Never one to ever have a bad word for someone or to complain about life, she maintained her cheerful and happy outlook to the end and was a most caring and sharing person. Memorial information: Burial will be at the convenience of the family at Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery in Brattleboro, VT. A memorial gathering will be announced in the future for friends and relatives. Donations to Keene Hospice, 312 Marlboro St., Keene, NH. 03431.
• Barbara Marie (Muzzillo) Northup, 79, of Brattleboro. Died June 11 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Wife of the late Dr. Richard M. Northup nearly 40 years. Mother of Ramona A. Northup of Lagrange, Ill.; Christine A. (Northup) Gelinas of Canandaigua, N.Y.; and Cary R. Northup of Chicago. Sister of the late Patricia (Muzzillo) Benson. Born in Chicago, the daughter of the late Salvatore and Jennie (Pisano) Muzzillo, she is a graduate of Cardinal Mundelein College for Women in Chicago. Met her husband-to-be in Chicago, while he was enrolled at National Chiropractic College following his service in Korea. They moved to Brattleboro in 1959. She was a school teacher for many years at various elementary schools in Brattleboro, including Canal Street and Oak Grove Schools and St. Michael's School. In her youth, she was an avid dancer and roller skater and active in the CYO. She was noted for her sense of humor and friendliness and was particularly interested in the education of children and was active in many civic organizations. She was a member of the American Legion, VFW, and the Eagles, and a past president of the Brattleboro Women's Evening Club. More recently, she founded and was the first Queen Mother for the Brattleboro chapter of the Red Hat Society. Memorial information: Donations to either the Council on Aging in Brattleboro or the Hilltop House.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), May 31, 2011, a son, Zachary Joseph DeFrancesco, to Jessica (Miner) and Joseph DeFrancesco of Wilmington; grandson to Cindy Miner and Marge Giard, Tom and Barbara Miner, Sandy DeFrancesco and Oscar Newell, and Joseph DeFrancesco.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), May 17, 2011, a daughter, Fallyn Nichole Wood, to Melissa Collins and Travis Wood of West Dummerston; granddaughter to Mike and Susan Longley, and Donald and Deborah Wood.
College news
• Kathleen M. Rivers, of Brattleboro, received a degree from Clark University in Worcester, Mass., on May 22. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Relations.
• Benjamin Harwood of Brattleboro, a member of the Class of 2013, was named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2011 semester at Tufts University in Medford, Mass.
• Alora Korb of Wilmington, was named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2011 semester at the State University of New York-Oneonta.
• Bethany Warnock of Brattleboro and Colby Taylor of South Newfane were named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2011 semester at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn.