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 Janeway Conger, 87, of Wilmington. Died Sept. 2 at Grace Cottage Hospice in Townshend. Born in New Brunswick, N.J., daughter of John Conklin Conger and Katharine Abeel Janeway. Devoted her life to social work, counseling, lay ministry and the Episcopal Church. Was a veteran of World War II, serving with the Women's Army Air Corps. Memorial information: A funeral service will be held at St. Mary's in the Mountains Episcopal Church in Wilmington, on Sunday Sept. 12, at 1 p.m. Donations to St. Mary's Episcopal Church Wilmington, VT 05363, or the Vermont Land Trust.
• Frank P. Dubiel, 74, of Guilford. Died Aug. 28 at his home. Husband of Vivian J. Holt for 27 years. Father of Becky Garland and Nancy Giroux, both of Guilford; Paula “P.J.” Braun of Hinsdale, N.H.; Sharon Ellis of Brattleboro; William Dubiel of Hinsdale, N.H.; and Robert Jutrus of Newfane. Brother of Lorraine Paquette of Chicopee, Mass.; Maryanne Bingle of Easthampton, Mass.; Edward Dubiel of Chicopee, Mass.; and Thomas Dubiel of Russell, Mass. Graduate of Chicopee (Mass.) High School. Served in the Army from 1959-1961. Was a machinist for TiteFlex Manufacturing in Springfield, Mass., and previously worked for 22 years for Chicopee Manufacturing. Memorial information: A graveside committal service was held on Sept. 4 in Sadawga Cemetery in Whitingham. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family through Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Roger Allen French, 53, of Athens. Died Sept. 1 at home. Son of Marguerite (Frechette) French. Father of daughter Paulette Potorski, stepdaughter Dawn Blake, stepsons Christian Mark and Cory Parent. Brother of William, Edmund and Larry French Jr., Stella Roberts and Nancy Meade. Predeceased by his father Lawrence French Sr.; his life partner, Diane Blake; and his daughter Madeline French. Worked in the area as a house painter. Memorial information: A graveside memorial service will be held in the Walpole Cemetery on Sept. 9, at 6 p.m.
• Lois Hahn, 85, formerly of Brattleboro. Died Aug. 21 in Concord, Calif., at Stonebrook Healthcare Center. Wife of the late Riley Hahn for 38 years. Mother of Coral Eggers and Eugene Hahn. Memorial information: No service information available.
• Raymond O. Hutchins Sr., 73, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 1 at Pine Heights Nursing Home in Brattleboro. Brother of Virginia Howard and Sam, and Nancy Farrell, both of Vernon; Elaine Greenwood of Putney; Brenda Hatt and Rick of Westmoreland, N.H.; Monica Morris and Peanut of Westminster; Danny Hutchins and Joyce of West Brattleboro; Jack Hutchins of Dummerston; and Owen Hutchins, Jr. and Pam of Vernon. Predeceased by his parents, Owen F. Hutchins Sr. and Helen A McLaren, and a brother, Glenn Hutchins. Attended schools in Cambridge, Lincoln and Bristol, Vt. Served in the Navy, where he was based in the Mediterranean. Was a self employed carpenter and mason. Memorial information: Private graveside services will be held at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney at the convenience of the family. Donation to the Activities and Rehab Department at Pine Heights, 187 Oak Grove Ave., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Gerald “Gerry” James, 68, of Guilford. Died Aug. 30 at home. Husband of Susan James. Father of Benjamin K. James and his wife, Tanya Luttinger, MD, of Brattleboro; Thomas W. James of San Antonio, Texas; and Willem van Loon of Guilford. Brother of Anne Jacobosky, of Forest Hills, N.Y. Attended Manhattan School of Music, and played professionally as a percussionist in venues ranging from summer stock to New York's City Center. Worked for McGraw-Hill in Manhattan before moving to Guilford in 1967. Was involved in a variety of successful entrepreneurial endeavors including the Ingenuity Shops in the 1970s, where he also ran the much-loved toy store, Fun For All. Owned and operated the graphic design company, Optima Communications, in the 1980s. Developed Interworld Music with his son, Ben, and ran the music and video production firm and produced more than 80 world music recordings and videos. Memorial information: A celebration of his life was held on Sept. 5 at the West Village Meeting House in West Brattleboro. Donations to Guilford Volunteer Fire Department; 108 Guilford Center Rd., Guilford, VT 05301 or Brattleboro Arts Initiative; 50 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• George F. Lian, 88, of Horseheads, N.Y. Died Aug. 26 at the Manor at Bethany Village. Husband of the late Pamela Space Lian for 56 years. Father of Rev. Fred (Kerrie) Lian of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Christopher (Jill) Lian of Elmira, N.Y.; Brother-in-law of Stephen V. Space of Dummerston, Vt. Son-in-law of the late Victor and Mildred Space of East Dummerston, Vt. Veteran of the Army Air Force, serving as an aerial photographer and radio man during World War II. Was the chief photographer to the Olean Times Herald in Olean, N.Y., and later retired as the chief photographer for the Elmira (N.Y.) Star Gazette in 1987. He was a life member of the National Press Photographers Association. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held at St. Mary Our Mother Church in Horseheads on Sept. 4, with burial with military honors in Maple Grove Cemetery. Donations to the Falck Cancer Center, 600 Roe Ave., Elmira, NY 14905. Remembrances and condolences may be left and viewed at www.barberfuneralhome.com.
• Helen A. Newton, 92, of Vernon. Died Aug. 31 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. Wife of the late Lawrence Lagro and the late Charles “George” Newton. Mother of Howard Lagro and wife, Linda of Las Vegas, Nev.; George Lagro and wife, Ann of Vernon; and Joyce Smith and husband, Mike of Salem, Ore. Sister of Louise Hawkins of Washington State. Predeceased by siblings Howard, Eugene and Kenneth Ball, and Lucy Wells and Bessie Tellier. Was a nurse at the Tranquility Nursing Home in Randolph, Vt., and the Mayo Nursing Home in Northfield, Vt. Also worked at several convalescent facilities in Florida and was also a private duty care giver in both Vermont and New Hampshire. Memorial information: Funeral services were held Sept. 3 at the Advent Christian Church in Vernon, with burial in the family lot in Woodlawn Cemetery in Rochester, Vt. Donations to The Gathering Place, 30 Terrace St., Brattleboro, VT 05301, or the Senior Meals Program, 207 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family through Atamaniuk Funeral Home at www.atamaniuk.com.
• Herman F. Petrie, 78, of Vernon. Died Aug. 27 at his home. Husband of the late Louise A. Wright and Barbara E. Puffer. Father of Cindy and husband, Mark Curtiss of Hinsdale, N.H.; Larry and his companion, Tracy; Bev and husband, Jeff Robinson; and Doug and wife, Sue, all from Vernon; and stepdaughters Katrina Jackson also from Vernon, and Sandi and husband, Mark Witalis of Texas. Brother of Edward of Guilford; Richard and wife, Maureen of Brattleboro; and Loretta (Jane) Slicer of LaFargeville, N.Y. Predeceased by an infant son, Roy Francis Petrie, and two sisters, Shirley Petrie Franklin and Frieda Petrie Franklin. Graduate of Brattleboro High School, Class of 1951. Served in the Army between 1952 and 1954 during the Korean War and earned two Bronze Service Stars and the Combat Infantry Badge. Worked for Merrill Gas Co., Henry Transportation, Inc., and Raymond H. Puffer, Inc. Belonged to the American Legion, Vernon Senior Citizens and the Vernon Historians. Memorial information: No funeral service planned. Burial at a later date. Donations to Vernon Senior Citizens, c/o Marnie Bruce, 82 Hucklehill Road, Unit 209, Vernon, VT 05354; or the Vernon Historians, c/o Carol Hammond, P.O. Box 282, Vernon, VT 05354; or a charity of one's choice.
• Thelma T. Wilson, 89, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Sept. 2, at Applewood Healthcare in Winchester, N.H. Wife of the late Alfred Wilson. Mother of Terry Butler and husband, Bob, of Hinsdale; and Charlene Cannon of Largo, Fla. Sister of Ralph “Red” Smith of Walpole and Perley Smith, Jr., of Taylors, S.C. Born in Bellows Falls, attended schools there and worked at the shoe shop and rubber factory. Memorial information: A graveside service was held Sept. 4 at the Walpole, N.H., Cemetery. Donations to Applewood Healthcare, 8 Snow Ave., Winchester, NH 03470.
Births
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Aug. 25, 2010, a son, Terry James Reno Jr., to Leigh-Anne (Fuller) and Terry James Reno Sr. of Newfane; grandson to Nancy Fuller, Terry D. Reno and Carol A. Reno.
• In Mount Pleasant, S.C., (East Cooper Regional Medical Center), Aug. 13, 2010, a daughter, Bella Pearl Osgood, to Tracie and David John Osgood; granddaughter to Richard P. Sannicandro and Mary I. Sannicandro of Milford, Mass., and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth E. Osgood of Grafton; great-granddaughter to Aline G. Sannicandro of Hopedale, Mass., and Pearl O'Connor of Athens; also great-granddaughter to the late Michael R. Sannicandro, the late Maria G. Villani, the late Fiorino M. Villani, the late John H. O'Connor, the late Phyllis F. Osgood and the late Earl E. Osgood.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), Aug. 4, 2010, a daughter, Helen Kipling Webb, to Emily (Zak) and Benjamin Webb of Dummerston; granddaughter to Louise Zak of Dummerston and Dana and Deb Zak of Brattleboro; great-granddaughter to Catharine Allen of Bedford, Mass.
• In Brattleboro (Memorial Hospital), July 10, 2010, a daughter, Camren Allen Saunders, to Danielle McAllister and Brannan Saunders of Rockingham; granddaughter to Sherry Mork and Russell McAllister, and David Saunders and Donna Saunders.
College news
• Matthew J. Nault, son of Mr. John E. Nault and Mrs. Helen Nault of South Londonderry, began his first year at St. Michael's College in Colchester this month. Nault graduated from Ridgefield (Conn.) High School before coming to St. Michael's.