Transitions
• Sovernet Communications of Bellows Falls has appointed Sharon Combes-Farr of Ludlow as the company's Director of Marketing. Combes-Farr is a Vermonter who brings with her more than 17 years of telecommunications, marketing and project management experience. At Sovernet, Combes-Farr will be in charge of all marketing and communications for the company, including customer service and customer support.
• Susan V. Kendall has been named Director of Administrative Staffing and Recruiting at TPI Staffing Group, based in Keene, N.H. Her responsibilities will include the recruitment of full-time, temp-to-hire, and temporary office and administrative personnel. Kendall was the founder and president of GFI Professional Staffing Services (originally known as Gal Friday, Inc.) in Keene and Brattleboro from 1981 to 2007.
Obituaries
•Vernon R. Avera, 85, of Jacksonville. Died Oct. 10 at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington following a brief illness. Husband of Lucy (Nurse) Avera for 51 years. Father of Christopher Avera and his wife, Linda, of Wilmington; Joshua Avera of Stratton; and Scott Avera and his wife, Diane, of Keene, N.H. Brother of the late Edna Murdock. Born in Washington, N.C., the son of Nicholas and Edna (Royle) Avera, he grew up in the Patterson, N.J. area. He graduated from Panzer College (Monclair State University) with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1958. A Korean War Veteran, he served in the Navy for two years aboard the USS Sturgis and, due to his athletic ability, he was chosen to represent the Navy in athletic events for his last two years of service. An exceptional athlete, he excelled in all sports while in high school, college, and the military, and was a pro prospect. He had been an educator and sports coach throughout his life, beginning in the old Whitingham High School (now the Municipal Center), then in New Jersey, eventually completing his career in the Ashfield, Mass., school system. After retirement, he focused his time on his passions in life; his family, the outdoors, sports, and tinkering. He was an avid golfer, playing in many local leagues, and also enjoyed softball. He and his wife wintered in Florida for nine years, where he became a champion Bocce player. Throughout life, he enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren participate in a variety of school sporting events. His greatest enjoyment was his time spent with his boys and his grandkids. He was a former member of the Whitingham Jacksonville Lions Club. Memorial information: A memorial service was held Oct. 18 at Jacksonville Community Church. Interment was be private. Donations to the charity of the donor's choice.
• Francis “Chick” Bird Jr., 67, of Wilmington. Died Oct. 9 at his home. Husband of Barb Bird for 44 years. Father of Jeremy Bird. Brother of Linda Bird, Jo Anne Driscoll, and Steven Bird Sr. Born in Bennington, he grew up in Whitingham, attended school there, and proudly served in Vietnam. He was an artist, woodcarver, storyteller, lover of animals as well as the Vermont streams and woods. Memorial information: No services will be held. Eternal Blessings of Guilford is in charge of arrangements.
• Michael J. Cross, 63, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 11 at his home. Wife of Sally (Bishop) Cross for 30 years. Father of Katie Cross. Brother of Debbie Cross and her companion, Kevin Robinson, of Stratton; Donna Yule and her husband, Mark, of Wilmington; Randy Cross and his companion, Nancy Hoffer, of Barton; Amanda Cross and her husband, Kevin Butler, of Whitingham; and the late Stephen Cross. Born in Bennington, the son of Eugenia (Rubazewicz) and the late Myron Cross, he grew up in Wilmington and graduated from Wilmington High School in 1969. He continued his education at the University of Vermont, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1973, where he was enrolled in ROTC and was at the top of his class in marksmanship. After college, he worked as a carpenter with his grandfather. Since 1980, he worked as a telephone company lineman and had been more recently employed by FairPoint Communications. In his younger years, he enjoyed farming and sugaring with his father and grandfather. He loved animals and had many special dogs throughout his life, he also enjoyed bird watching and horses. He liked to fish and visit the ocean where he could sit on the beach. He spent his leisure time gardening and reading classic literature. He was particularly proud that his daughter had become a nurse, a dream of his ever since she was born. Memorial information: A funeral service was held at Covey, Allen & Shea Funeral Home in Wilmington on Oct. 15, with burial in Riverview Cemetery. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
• Margaret “Peg” A. Deane, 72, of Guilford. Died Oct. 10 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Wife of Willis “Willie” Deane for 29 years. Mother of Robert M. Hannemann and his wife, Grace, of Delanco, N.J., and Constance Felker of West Barnstable, Mass. Stepmother of Timothy Deane and Pamela Deane, both of Bernardston, Mass. Sister of Gilbert Ruff, and his wife, Susan Bonthron, of Guilford. Born in Riverside N.J., the daughter of Gilbert and Anne (Knight) Ruff, she was educated in New Jersey and received a nursing degree from Greenfield (Mass.) Community College. She worked for many years as a nurse in Franklin County. Before she got into nursing, she drove a truck for Charles Deane Construction in Bernardston. She was well-known for her lifelong love of horses. In her younger days, she was the first female thoroughbred trainer to work on the racetrack in New Jersey. She was also the official pit raker for the Franklin County Fair Draft Horse Pull in Greenfield. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m., at Center Cemetery in Bernardston. Donations to the charity of one's choice. Kidder Funeral Home in Northfield, Mass., is in charge of arrangements.
• Shirley Aldrich DeAngelis, 91, of Cohasset, Mass., and Hinsdale, N.H. Died Oct. 13 at her home. Wife of the late Joseph P. DeAngelis. Mother of Dr. Joe DeAngelis and hi wife, Dr. Kim Lee DeAngelis of Cohasset. Born in Greenfield, Mass, she grew up in Brattleboro and attended Brattleboro schools. She worked as a bookkeeper for many years at the A&P on Main Street and later at The Book Press. She married the love of her life, and they were loving partners for nearly 60 years before his death in 2000. She will always be remembered as “Aunt Shirley”by her nieces and nephews, as well as her extended family that loved her for her kindness, generosity and genuine caring for others. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Oct. 18 at St. Anthony Church in Cohasset. Donations to the Joseph J. and Shirley DeAngelis Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of Santander Bank, 380 CJC Highway, Cohasset, MA 02025.
• Robert A. “Pops” Eastman, 76, of Nashua, N.H. Died Oct. 8 at his home after a brief illness. Husband of Dianne B. (Bosse) Eastman for 45 years. Father of Derek A. Eastman and his wife, Patricia, of Merrimack; Todd E. Eastman and his wife, Cherie; and Keith E. Eastman, all of Nashua. Brother of Richard Eastman, and his wife, Cicely, of Brattleboro, Jean Nay of Hinsdale, N.H., and the late Carol Brown. Born in Medford, Mass., the son of the late Roger and Margaret (Hope) Eastman, he resided for a time in Hampton, N.H., then in Milford, N.H., for many years. He was a graduate of Milford High School, Class of 1955. He was employed by Hitchner Manufacturing in Milford for 10 years before joining the Nashua Police Department in May 1967. He was very dedicated to his job and spent 30 years on the force until he retired in 1997. In his leisure time, he refinished furniture and did wallpapering. He enjoyed candlepin bowling, trips to the beach, and traveling with his wife to many destinations, including Bermuda and Las Vegas. He was an avid New York Yankees fan. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Oct. 15 at St. Louis de Conzagne Church in Nashua, with interment in St. Louis Cemetery. Donations to the American Cancer Society, New England Affiliate, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701, or the Nashua Police Relief Association, Panther Drive, Nashua, NH 03062.
• Colan E. Johnson, 78, of Putney. Died Oct. 12. Husband of Myrtle B. (Eaton) Johnson for 58 years. Father of Wanita Theriault and her husband, Andy, of Milan, N.H.; Elberton Johnson of Groton, N.H; Gordon Johnson and his wife, Mary, of Putney; Sy Johnson and his wife, Deborah, of Westminster; and the late Rodney Johnson. Brother of Illene Calloway of Orleans and the late Viola Johnson. Born in Windsor, the son of the late Alice and Elberton Johnson, he worked with horses and farmed for many years. He enjoyed horse pulling, camping, and spending time with his family and grandchildren. Memorial information: No service information provided. Donations to Bayada Hospice, 1222 Putney Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Carol Lois Leonard, 59, of Brattleboro. Died Oct. 11 at her home. Longtime companion of Peter Sachau of Brattleboro. Sister of Jill Howe of Brattleboro, Glenda “Dee” Gleason of Davie, Fla., and the late Mel Leonard. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of Clarence and the late Doris (Howe) Leonard, she was raised and educated in Brattleboro and was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School, Class of 1973. She was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, working out of the Brattleboro post office, and was preparing to retire in December after 31 years of service. Previously, she worked at Santa's Land in Putney for the Brewer family, starting full time in 1969 and later working at Santa's Land on a part-time basis. She was a member of the National Letter Carrier Association and held membership in the American Legion Post 5 Auxiliary in Brattleboro. She enjoyed the holidays and time shared with her family, especially during the Christmas season. She was an avid NASCAR fan and enjoyed collecting Hummels. She was known for her friendly and kind spirit and was well loved by many of her mail route customers. Memorial information: Graveside committal services were held Oct. 18 in Oakwood Cemetery in Townshend. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302, or to a charity of one's choice. Arrangements were under the direction of Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro.
• Sandra R. Severance, 68, of Vernon. Died Oct. 15 at home. Wife of the late James W. Severance for 46 years. Mother of Lynn Sage and her husband, Frederick, of Vernon. Memorial information: At her request, no service will be held. Donations to the Brattleboro Fire Department Dive Team, 103 Elliot St., Brattleboro, VT 05301
• Cecile Vachon, 78, of Townshend. Died Oct. 13 at Valley Cares in Townshend. Born in Saint-Victor, Quebec, she was a homemaker and worked at Dunkin' Donuts for many years. She always enjoyed family and friends. A loving mother of three sons and three grandchildren, she also leaves many brothers and sisters. She was predeceased by her husband, Bob Vachon, and her sister, Jeanne Poulin. Memorial information: At her request, there will be no services.