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.
• Mary Christine Bingham, 64, of Walpole, N.H. Died on Aug. 15 at her home. Wife of Wayne Brigham for 44 years. Mother of Scott Bingham and his wife, Sharra Way-Bingham, of Alstead, N.H.; Debora Bingham and her partner, Christopher Porter, of Langdon, N.H.; and Kimberly Stoughton and husband, Jeffrey, of Sunapee, N.H. Sister of David Fair of Pennsylvania. Born in Bellows Falls, the daughter of the late David and Nona (Walsh) Fair, she was a 1965 graduate of Bellows Falls High School and worked for The Shopper before she married and started a family. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who loved spending time with her family. She took pride in raising her children and was involved in all of their activities. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Aug. 19 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, with burial in the Walpole Cemetery. Donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148.
• Robert Gale Cole, 62, of Wardsboro. Died Aug. 16 at his home. Brother of Roberta Gauthreaux of Louisiana, Joan Staib of Wardsboro, Ruth Slade of Hinsdale, N.H., William Cole Jr. of Lyndonville, and the late Frances Lucier. The son of the late William and Alta (Benoit) Cole, he was an avid hunter and fisherman and was very good at both. He was a truck driver for many years and loved it very much. He also loved to watch the Boston Red Sox. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held at the West Wardsboro cemetery on Aug. 27 at 11 a.m. Donations to the Wardsboro Fire and Rescue squad.
• Ruth Fabricius, 99, formerly of Chester. Died on Aug. 10 at Springfield Health and Rehabilitation. Wife of the late Arthur Fabricius. Born in South Londonderry, the daughter of Horace and Alta Farnum Alexander, she received her education in Londonderry. She prepared meals and baked bread for the lodge at Lowell Lake. She and her husband also ran an area lumber business. She later worked as chef at the Chester Inn for many years, and ran a bakery out of her home in Chester. She was known for her potato doughnuts. She was a member of the Congregational Church in Chester. She enjoyed playing the organ and piano, painting, knitting, crocheting, and making doll clothes. Memorial information: A private graveside service will be held in Pleasant View Cemetery in Chester at the convenience of the family.
• John Hazard, 76, of Williamsville. Died Aug. 14 at home. Husband of the late Evelyn Butler. Father of Keith Hazard and his wife, Laura, of Jamaica; and Melanie Hazard Keiser, and husband, Gary, of Williamsville. Brother of Ernest Hazard, Charlotte Downes, Marilyn Morill, and Linda Ronan. Born in East Burke, the son of the late Ira Gale Hazard and Kathleen Logan Hazard, he attended Lyndon Institute. Served in the Air Force, and later worked in Springfield as a machinist, and ran Butler Insurance Agency in Jamaica. He was also a long haul truck driver, and was proud to say he was a “professional driver.” He was a member of the Jamaica town road crew and drove the Jamaica school bus for many years. He was a ski instructor and on the ski patrol at Stratton Mountain. He loved the outdoors, and traveling the U.S. and the world. He was fond of motorcycling, piloting Cessnas, and taking a drive with a good cigar. Memorial information: A memorial service was held on August 24.
• Louis Edward “Lou” Howe, 83, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Aug. 13 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Husband of Barbara Johnson for more than 61 years. Father of Stephen Howe of Hinsdale, and Rodney Howe of Culloeka, Tenn. Brother of Louise Puchalski of Whately, Mass., and the late Marcellus Howe, Elizabeth Sprague, and Helen Hildreth. Born in Chesterfield, N.H., the son of the late Charles and Lumina (Major) Howe. He was a graduate of Hinsdale High School, Class of 1946. He served in the Navy during World War II, stationed in the European Theater of Operations. After the war, he went to work for the Crosby Milling Co. on Vernon Road in Brattleboro. He later attended barber training school in Boston, obtaining his license as a barber. For several years, he operated his own shop in Winchester, N.H., and later worked for several barbershops in Brattleboro that included LeBerts, White's Barber Shop, Harold's Place, and Mac's Barber Shop. He was a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Brattleboro Aerie #2445, where he served as president for four years. He was also a member of the American Legion, Brattleboro Post 5, and the VFW Carl M. Dessaint Post 1034. With his wife, he had attended St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hinsdale. He enjoyed carpentry, puttering around his home, hunting, fishing and playing cards, especially cribbage. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was conducted on Aug. 18 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro, with interment with full military honors in St. Joseph's Parish Cemetery. Donations to the Oncology Department at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, 17 Belmont Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Messages of condolence may be sent to Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Roger William Kozyra, Jr., 63, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Aug. 12 in Hinsdale, doing what he loved, operating heavy equipment. Husband of Leslee Johnson for nearly 14 years. Father of Kaylah L. Hemlow and her husband, Charles, of Hinsdale. Brother of Sandra Akeley and her husband, Ray, of Hinsdale. Born in Brattleboro, the son of the late Roger and Valeda (Rabideau) Kozyra, he was resident of Hinsdale since 1955 and graduated from Hinsdale High School, Class of 1966. He had been employed as a maintenance supervisor at Vermont Circuits in Brattleboro for the past 11 years and previously had worked at the former Book Press in Brattleboro up until the time the company closed. For several years, he was a self-employed machinist for the former Brattleboro Machine Co. on Williams Street. He had attended St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro and was a former member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Brattleboro Aerie #2445. He enjoyed fast cars and competed in drag races at various tracks throughout New England, racing his 1969 Chevy Camaro. He had a passion for muscle cars and trucks, as well as heavy equipment. He also enjoyed boating, riding motorcycles, and snowmobiling during the winter months. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was conducted on Aug. 20 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Parish Cemetery in Hinsdale at later date. Donations to the Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department, Depot Street, Hinsdale, N.H. 03451, Attn: Fire Chief Robert Johnson.
• James A. McMennamin, 87, of Bellows Falls. Died Aug. 15. Husband of the late Barbara Story for 59 years. Father of Gayle LeGore and her husband, Tom; and Karen Hormel and her husband, Jim. Brother of George McMennamin. Born in North Walpole, N.H., the son of the late Veronica Stack Frye and James McMennamin, he was a 1941 graduate of Bellows Falls High School. He enlisted in the Navy in 1942. He attended radio school in Boston, was stationed at Radio Central in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, and later served on the destroyer USS Champlain first as a loader and then as a gunner. Following the war, after six weeks of training at Aetna Insurance Co. in Hartford, Conn., he joined Bliss & Lawlor as their insurance agent. After 40 years in the insurance business, he sold the agency in 1986 and retired two years later. An avid golfer, he joined the Bellows Falls Country Club in 1948 and was a member until his death. He was club champion seven times and celebrated four holes in one. For many years, he was a sports writer for the Bellows Falls Times, reporting on high school sports throughout the region. He was a member of the Polish American Club, Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 37, and the Elks Club. He was a former president and board member of the Vermont Insurance Association and was on the Board of Directors at Berkshire Insurance Company. He also served on the Rockingham Board of Selectmen and was a Bellows Falls Village Trustee, also serving as Village President. He also served as Justice of the Peace, and married many local couples. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held on Aug. 20 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society or a local charitable organization of your choice.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), July 19, 2011, a daughter, Elise Kersey-Beard, to Heather Beard and John Kersey of Brattleboro; granddaughter to Patti Beard of Franklin, Mass., Alan Beard of Norfolk, Mass., and Tom and Joanne Kersey of Newport, N.H.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), June 10, 2011, a son, Hassan Aboualawar, to Hazar (Alfaleet) and Amro Aboualawar of Brattleboro; grandson to Hassan and Elham Aboualawar and Khalid and Nahla Alfaleet.