Births
• In London, England (Kings College Hospital), March 20, 2015, a daughter, Sybilla Alana Lazoi Distler, to Aaron Distler and Sandra Lazoi of London; granddaughter to Arlene Distler of Brattleboro and the late Alan Distler, and Renna Gabriela and Luigi Lazoi of Lecce, Italy.
Obituaries
• Patricia Fenton, 93, formerly of Brattleboro. Died March 27 at Devon Senior Living in Devon, Pa. Sister of the late Edward J. Fenton Jr., Cordelia Frances (Fenton) Biddle, and Mary Katherine (Fenton) Hooper. Aunt of Livingston L. Biddle IV, Jonathan Hooper, Cordelia Frances Biddle, and Susan Hooper. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of the late Edward J. Fenton and Mary Frances (Higgins) Fenton, she graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1939 and attended the University of Kentucky, with additional studies at New York University and the Alliance Francaise in Paris. A longtime resident of Washington, D.C., she served in the Navy with the WAVES in World War II and later was a public information specialist with the U.S. Department of Labor and the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped. She also held writing and editing positions in the private sector, including with Better Homes and Gardens magazine. She began her writing career at age 17 as a stringer in Brattleboro for the Springfield Republican. Her hobbies included tennis, sailing, snorkeling and international travel; especially to Ireland and Curacao. Memorial information: Donations in her name may be made to Washington National Cathedral or Doctors Without Borders.
• Annette Filion Murphy, 85, of Brattleboro. Died March 24. Wife of the late Charles Joseph Murphy for 53 years. Mother of Meloney Roy and her husband, Don Roy. Sister of Margaret Collette of Kellwood, Fla., and Richard Filion, of Thousand Oaks, Calif. Born in Brattleboro, the daughter of the late Wilfred and Mary Filion, she found her passion for music in the midst of the beautiful Green Mountains at the Marlboro Music Festival. Her lyric soprano voice caught the attention of Marlboro Music founders Louis and Blanche Moyse, who mentored her and helped begin what was to be a 60-year career as a professional singer, singing teacher, and choral conductor. Her music touched the lives of many. From children's choirs and theatrical groups to vocal chamber groups, from performances of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas to Requiem Masses, her love of music spanned the spectrum of musical styles and her teaching influenced many generations of performers. Chamber groups founded and conducted by her include the Consortium for Early Music Chamber Singers (New Hampshire Lakes Region), the Keene (N.H.) Chamber Singers and, most recently, The Oaks Chamber Singers, whose performances delighted audiences in the Thousand Oaks, Calif., area for 15 years. Her first-found love was music, but her true love was her husband, who died in 2007. Together, they lived primarily in Southern New Hampshire, the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, and Brattleboro. In the mid-1990, they moved to California to be closer to their daughter. Memorial information: None provided.
• Susanna Palmer, 76, of Townshend. Died March 28 at her home. Mother of Kirsten Palmer. Sister of Priscilla Simmons. Born in East Meadow, Long Island, N.Y., the daughter of the late Walter and Mina Emily (Miller) Seidler, she graduated in 1960 with a history degree from Earlham College. Her objective in life was to help people in hard times, and she had a long and dedicated career in the pursuit of that goal. She was a licensed private investigator for the state of Vermont from 2005 to present. She served as a Guardian ad Litem for the Windham County Family Court from 2003 to 2009. She investigated child abuse for SRS/DCF from May 1986 to September 2003. She also worked at the Brattleboro Retreat as a counselor for adolescents and as a welfare worker for the state of Connecticut. She loved her family and friends and she also enjoyed photography and advocating for the well-being of animals and was devote to their causes. One of her favorite sayings was that “a good laugh and a good sleep are the two best cures for anything.” Memorial information: A celebration of her life will take place at the Adams Funeral Home, 35 Depot St., Chester, on Saturday, April 11, at 11 a.m., where there will be a time to share memories of Susanna. Donations to your local horse rescue or any animal care fund, for her wish is for everyone to do all that they can to help prevent the neglect and abuse of animals.
• Thomas N. “Tom” Parmenter, 79, of Brattleboro. Died April 1 at his home after being stricken ill. Husband of Florence E. (Eddy) Parmenter for nearly 57 years. Father of Kelly Kruse and her husband, Paul, of Hinsdale, N.H. Brother of Nancy Kaeppel and her husband, Robert, of Brattleboro. Born in Brattleboro, the son of the late Robert and Mary (Coughlin) Parmenter, he was raised and educated in Brattleboro, attending St. Michael's Parochial and High School. Following high school, he served in the Vermont National Guard. For many years, he owned and operated Bolster Movers. He previously worked as a salesman and route driver for C.H. Eddy Beverage Company, which eventually became Leader Beverage. Most recently, he worked part-time as a courier for Green Mountain Messenger. Throughout the years, he owned many horses and was a member of the Eastern Draft Horse Association. He enjoyed attending local horse pulls and watching his daughter and grandchildren compete in horse shows. He loved animals and enjoyed time shared with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was a lifelong communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held April 6 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with committal rites and burial in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302; or to Rescue Inc. P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. Arrangements were handled by Atamaniuk Funeral Home of Brattleboro.
• Calvin C. Powling Sr., 89, of Marlboro. Died April 1 at the home of his son in Newfane, following a brief illness. Husband of the late Elizabeth (Howard) Powling for 35 years. Father of Calvin Powling, Jr. and his wife, Toni, of Newfane, Betty Brown and her husband, Francis, of Marlboro, and Susan Taylor of Jacksonville. Brother of Percy Powling of Williamsville and Violet Howard of Marlboro. Predeceased by three sisters and two brothers. Born in Weston, the son of the late George and Mildred (Baxter) Powling, he attended grade school and was a self-educated man who through the years saw, read, and experienced new and different things. A true native Vermonter and longtime resident of Marlboro, he worked as a logger in the family business, Powling Brothers Logging, eventually joining his son in the business. He had worked up until January 2015. He loved horses and throughout the years owned several, competing in area draft horse competitions, continuing to attend area events on a seasonal basis. An ardent outdoorsman, he also enjoyed hunting and time spent with his family. Memorial information: A funeral service was held April 7 at Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro, with burial in Center Cemetery in Marlboro. Donations to the Marlboro Volunteer Fire Dept. P.O. Box 69 Marlboro, VT 05344, Attn: Chief David Elliot.
• Kyle Walter Reichardt, infant son of Vincent Reichardt and Betty Tinkham of Jamaica. Died March 29 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend. He was born in Brattleboro on Oct. 22, 2014. He is survived by his parents, siblings Corbin David Reichardt and Kaylee Rose Reichardt, maternal grandmother Teresa Robertson of Brattleboro, paternal grandparents KathiAnn and Walter Stanley Olszewski of Winchester, N.H., aunts Marie A. Robertson of St. Albans and Vanessa Marie Cayton, and uncle Corey Allen Biddulph and many Reichardt family members. Memorial information: Funeral services will be private.
• Michael William “Mike” Walsh, 57, of Brattleboro. Died March 25 at his home. Former husband of Robin Rouleau Brassard of Port St. Lucie, Fla. Father of Kayleigh Walsh of Foster City, Calif., and Pember Walsh Wood and her husband, Patrick, of Union City, Calif. Brother of Katherine Walsh Borne and her husband, Albert, of Berlin, Vt. Close friend of Gail Clark of Vernon. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, the son of the late Arthur and Marianne (Baumann) Walsh. He was raised in Germany, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Maryland and Putnamville, Vt., graduating from U-32 High School in East Montpelier, Class of 1975. He enlisted in the Navy following graduation, and served six years both stateside and abroad until his honorable discharge in 1981. He later worked in the nuclear energy operations field in New London, Conn., Seabrook, N.H., and Oswego, N.Y. With his wife, he purchased Abbiati Monuments in Brattleboro in 1984. which he owned and operated until 2012. In conjunction with Abbiati, they owned and operated the former Greenfield (Mass.) Monumental Works. He also owned and managed several rental properties in the greater Brattleboro area. A former resident of Vernon for several years, he served on the Vernon School Board, was a commissioner for Morningside Cemetery in Brattleboro, and was a past member of the Brattleboro Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club. He enjoyed sports and was active in the Greater Brattleboro Men's Softball League for several years. He also enjoyed reading, gardening, construction and building projects, and had an interest in special motorcycles and custom cars. He loved politics, history, following world events, and was an avid Boston Red Sox, Washington Redskins, and New England Patriots fan. He never forgot his family roots that included his family abroad in Germany. He was known for his spirit of friendship and generosity. While owner of Abbiati Monuments, he donated several large projects to the community that included the flag staff in Morningside Cemetery. He was a communicant of St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church. Memorial information: Committal services and burial with full military honors will be conducted in the springtime in the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center, where he will be laid to rest next to his parents. Donations to St. Michael's School, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, in care of Elaine Beam, principal, or to Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Dept. of Vermont, P.O. Box 828, White River Jct., VT 05001.