Obituaries
• Scott C. Bovat, 53, of Brookline. Died on Sept. 7, 2023. He was born on Dec. 27, 1969 in Saratoga Springs, New York. Everything he did, and was, made a huge impact on the lives he touched. From his warm smile to his big bear hugs, he had a way of making people feel important and loved. He was impressive. Scott and Sam (Samantha) were high school sweethearts, together for 36 years and married for 31. Their love for one another was immeasurable and he is leaving a very big hole in her heart. As a father, he taught his boys everything they needed to know in order to be loving brothers and sons, hard workers and integral members of their communities. Scott was extremely proud of his kids and the men they grew up to be. Family was everything. His face lit up whenever the grandbabies and daughter-in-law arrived at the door. He enjoyed nothing more than spending time cuddling with the kids in his chair. He had a wonderful sense of humor and the gift of gab. He was an avid outdoorsman who would hunt all day and sit by a campfire all night. His passion for life was contagious and he always pulled up a chair for others to join in. He married into a very large family and quickly led the pack of "outlaws." He was truly a brother to all of Samantha's siblings. He was a jack of all trades and able to fix anything, including a gourmet meal out of leftovers. He was a Master Plumber and is leaving Scott's Plumbing & Heating in the very capable hands of his children. He will be missed by the tradesmen and customers that worked with him over the years. Although a child should not depart before their parents, they should be proud of the great job they did in raising this amazing individual. He is survived by his wife Samantha of Brookline; sons Harrison, his wife Elizabeth and grandchildren Bailee and Theodore of Wardsboro, Jeremy of Brookline, and Christopher of Dover; parents David and Cynthia of Grand Isle; and brother Gregory and his wife Heather of Holden, Massachusetts. Scott was predeceased by his first grandchild Henry; and grandparents Harrison and Edwidge Bovat, and Maitland LaForce and Phyllis Story Lee. Memorial information: A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 10:30 a.m., at Indian Acres Farm in Brookline (476 Grassy Brook Rd). Bring a lawn chair, full cooler with what you want to drink, and your favorite Scott stories. There will be a tent, tables, and food, but feel free to bring a dish to share, if you are able. This is an outdoor event and the dress is casual. Donations to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37839, Boone, IA 50037-0839 or Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT 05353. To share a memory or extend condolences to Scott's family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Carol Le Cain Church, 89, of Westminster West. Died on Sept. 7, 2023 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Carol was born March 11, 1934, in Swampscott, Massachusetts to the late Arthur and Ruth (Van Blarcom) Le Cain. Carol is survived by her children, Linda Church and her wife, Kirsten Turner, and Lloyd Church, and his wife, Debra Cobb Church; grandchildren Robert Lloyd Mugford, William Arthur Church and his wife, Janice Embleton Church, Elizabeth Ann Church Bill, and her husband, Timothy John "T.J." Bill; and great-grandchildren Serene, Cheyanne, and Deven Mugford; Taylor and Lydia Church; and Riley and Morgan Bill. Carol was predeceased by her husband of 36 years, Lloyd Ellsworth Church. She would continue to celebrate their wedding anniversary yearly and got to 68 years. She also is predeceased by her brother, Reginald C. Le Cain, and her sister, Marcia K. Le Cain Coffee. Carol loved doing Sudoku puzzles daily and going on rides and picnics with her children. She worked on family history for 59 years and passed her love of family history on to her daughter, Linda. For many years, she would geocache with her daughters, Linda and Kirsten, then would take friends out and go geocache with them. Carol also enjoyed visiting cemeteries and writing down the information she found on family stones and adding it to her family history. Carol had various jobs and was a journalist in the early 1950s for the Claremont Daily Eagle and would cover the car races at Claremont Speedway under the byline of "Cookie Le Cain." She was the librarian for the Westminster West Library and a school librarian for Walpole Middle School. She was a member of the United Church of Christ in Westminster West and taught Sunday School for many years. She belonged to the Grange in Westminster West and was a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. She was the editor of Branches and Twigs for the Genealogical Society of Vermont for about 25 years and was Auditor for the town of Westminster. She worked on the Cemetery Committee to get flags on soldiers' stones before Memorial Day weekend. Carol hiked many of the trails and mountains in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and was part of the Ramblers who hiked in Windham County. She particularly liked going to the heron rookeries. She also enjoyed visiting the Great Meadows in Putney and climbing Putney Mountain to watch the hawks fly overhead and migrate. Carol was very proud that she had hiked up and down Mount Washington several times. She loved gardening and going to nurseries to find new plants to add to her yard. Memorial information: Burial took place on Sept. 16 at Westminster West Cemetery.
• Robert Reed "Bob" Fredericks III, 70, of Sebastian, Florida, formerly of Vermont. Died peacefully, with family by his side, on Aug. 30, 2023, Bob was born August 6, 1953 to Carole Emerson Fredericks and Robert Reed Fredericks, Jr. in Sellersville, Pennsylvania, living his early years in North Wales, Pennsylvania. The family moved from there to New England in June of 1965 and Bob graduated high school from the Stowe School in 1971. He married Christine Zaluzny in 1974, and the two lived together in the towns of Halifax and Vernon. They were married for 39 years and had two children together, Colin and Justin. Bob had a career in management that spanned the footwear and book binding industries including roles at Dunham, GH Bass, and The Book Press. After he retired, Bob moved to Sebastian, where he volunteered at the Friends of Sebastian Inlet State Park. He was encouraged to join the Friends as a general board member before serving as the vice president, then the president. He worked hard, doing an amazing job of managing all aspects of the organization and was instrumental in leading fundraising for the park. During the summer months, Bob also assisted as a scout for the park's Turtle Watch and Manatee Watch programs, two environmental programs he was passionate about. Bob always enjoyed boating, fishing and music. In his earlier years, he was an expert skier, and in his later years, he became a wood carving artist creating amazing wood sculptures of fish, birds and other animals. Spending time with his two grandchildren brought Bob great joy. Most of all, he was a kind and caring person to so many. Bob is survived by his two sons whom he loved dearly, Colin (Sarah) of Malden, Massachusetts and Justin (Jessica) of Atlantic Beach, Florida. He is also survived by grandchildren Ryan and Nell Fredericks, his mother, Carole Fredericks, his sister Linda (Michael) Putnam, his brother David (Cindy) Fredericks and his former wife Christine Fredericks. He was predeceased by his father in 2019. In addition he leaves several nieces and nephews of whom he was quite fond, as well as many close friends who span his lifetime and communities around the globe. Memorial information: A private service will be held at a later date at the discretion of the family. Donations to Friends of the Sebastian Inlet State Park, 13180 Highway A1A; Vero Beach, FL 32963 (state in memo line: In Memory of Bob Fredericks). The donations earmarked with Bob's name will be used to erect signage for The Turtle Walk, Bob's overriding passion at the park.
• Eileen Janice Freeman, 83, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 15, 2023 at Pine Heights, surrounded by her loving family, following a brief illness. Eileen was born in Lyon Mountain, New York on August 31, 1940, the daughter of Owen and Florence (Benjamin) Lord. At an early age, with her family, she moved to Brattleboro where she attended Saint Michael's Parochial School through the eighth grade. She graduated from Brattleboro Union High School with the Class of 1958. Eileen started working at the Grand Union grocery store while in high school and continued full-time employment with the company, retiring after 38 faithful and dedicated years with the Brattleboro store. On November 19, 1960, she was married to her high school sweetheart, Arthur E. "Art" Freeman. With her husband, she was a member of Centre Congregational Church on Main Street. Eileen was a former communicant of St. Michael's Catholic Church, where for many years she was active with the Daughters of Isabella, Ave Maria Circle #128. Eileen loved people, especially children. With a large extended family and lots of friends, she had an abundance of childrento keep track of and look after. She was known for her pleasant personality and spirit of friendship. Eileen's passion was cooking and she spent lots of time baking and creating delicious meals. She loved to feed people and many enjoyed her wonderful creations. Of her other leisure time activities, she loved to take trips to the casinos and thought pulling the slot machine handle was good exercise. Many times she beat the odds, bringing home some handsome earnings which she generously shared, treating her family to dinners out at their favorite restaurants. Besides her faithful and devoted husband of almost 63 years, she leaves her four children, Debbie Kennedy and husband Will of Montpelier, Virginia, James Freeman and wife Angie of Vernon, Daniel Freeman and wife Kim of Brattleboro and Brian Freeman, also of Brattleboro; one sister, Mary Jane Sykas of Ludlow, Massachusetts; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Additionally, she leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, and their children. She was predeceased by two sisters, Dawn Bokum and Debbie Millerick, and two brothers, Owen "Tanny" Lord and Terry Lord. Memorial information: Funeral services were conducted Sept. 21 at Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro, with burial in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery. Donations to Centre Congregational Church (Book of Remembrance), 193 Main St., Brattleboro, VT 05301; or to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To share a memory or extend condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Robert J. "Bob" Hewitt, 84, of Saxtons River. Died on Sept. 6, 2023, surrounded by his family. He was born on April 20, 1939, in Luzerne, Pennsylvania to Ernest and Geraldine (Grabsky) Hewitt. He married Jacqueline Jenkins on August 25, 1961, in Luzerne and they remained together until her death in May 2017. Bob graduated from Luzerne High School and went on to receive his teaching degree from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. After earning his degree, he taught high school in New Jersey while also performing research at the pharmaceutical company, Squibb, with the team that developed synthetic penicillin. In 1968, he moved the family to Vermont where he continued teaching science and photography at Vermont Academy, retiring in 2001. Bob spent his retirement years perfecting his self-taught woodworking skills. He attended craft fairs in Southern Vermont and was always willing to strike up a conversation. Affectionately known as "Doc," he is survived by his three children and their families: Robert (Pamela) Hewitt of North Haven, Connecticut, Charles (Laura) Hewitt of Bellows Falls, and Patricia (James) Rumrill of Ludlow. He is also survived by six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Bob was predeceased by his parents and his wife of 56 years, Jacqueline. Memorial information: A private service will be held at a later date. Donations to Rockingham Free Public Library, 65 Westminster St., Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
• Judith Elaine "Judy" Laundry, 82, of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Died Sept. 16, 2023, at the home of her daughter on Old Chesterfield Road, following an extended period of declining health. Mrs. Laundry was born in Hardwick, Vermont on Dec. 12, 1940, the daughter of Edwin and Julia (Carpenter) Smith. She was raised and educated in Hardwick, where she attended public schools including Hardwick High School. At an early age, Judy started working. One of her first jobs was on a chicken farm in Connecticut. For many years, she was employed at the former Book Press in Brattleboro and previously worked at the Belchertown (Mass.) State School, a facility to help care for those with mental challenges. She also drove a school bus, the one position that she genuinely enjoyed. When she retired, she was a sales associate in the boys' and girls' department at the Walmart store in Hinsdale. Of her pastimes and interests, she enjoyed camping, watching Hallmark movies, games, puzzle books, and mostly spending time with her family. On Aug. 10, 1991, at the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, she was married to Marshall Laundry, who predeceased her on February 10, 2021. Two former husbands, Rev. Timothy Mylott and Elmer Bird, also predeceased her. Survivors include daughters Monica Larson and her husband Ron of Hardwick, Massachusetts and Melinda Bousquet, and her husband Todd of Hinsdale, New Hampshire; stepson Richard Laundry, whom she considered a son, and wife Toni of Enfield, New Hampshire; stepdaughter Lisa Daggett and her husband Paul of Iowa; and two other stepsons. Additionally, she leaves four grandchildren: Amanda Bird Pangelinan and partner Kevin of Nelson, New Hampshire, Sabrina Bird Douglas and husband Dave of Westminster, Melaina Cominoli Lazarick and husband Joshua of Chicopee, Massachusetts, and Katelynn Cominoli of Hinsdale, New Hampshire; as well as many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother, father, and sister, Mary Ellen Dumas Butler. She was also predeceased by her only son, Andrew William Bird, and two twin-great grandchildren. Memorial information: A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, Oct. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Millstream Community Center on Main Street in Hinsdale. The burial of her cremated remains, along with her husband Marshal Laundry's, will be in Durant Cemetery in Cabot, Vermont on Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To offer condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Beth S. Mclean, 37, died on Sept. 16, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. Born March 6, 1986 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, she was a 2004 graduate of Brattleboro Union High School. Beth loved music and played the flute through middle and high school. She attended Temple University in Philadelphia, where she obtained a bachelor's in criminal justice and graduated Cum Laude in 2008. An adamant believer in law and justice, Beth found a home with Brattleboro Probation & Parole, where she worked from an internship to a supervisor position. She deeply loved her work and team. She was an involved member of many interagency teams where she developed valued relationships as they worked together for the betterment of the community. Over the years, Beth would lend a hand, donate, and participate in causes and community events such as Yellow Ribbon and Relay for Life. She leaves behind a legacy of her kindness, compassion, and passion for her convictions. She was a beautiful and thoughtful soul who loved to read and write, and who created special photo quilts for loved ones. While she will be missed by many, the light of her life, her son, Colton is the one she loved bigger than the whole world. Her greatest joy was watching him learn and grow, and getting to share all she loved with him including teaching him to bake, snuggling with him and their pets for movies, understanding how to make time to share with loved ones, and sharing visits to her favorite place, Wells Beach. In addition, she leaves behind her husband, Jon; her parents, Michael and Elaine Denyou; her sister, Jamie; and several uncles, aunts, cousins, and extended family; Jon's family including his maternal grandmother, Edna Sherlin; sister and brothers in-law and extended family; as well as numerous friends, co-workers, and many others. Memorial information: Services were held Sept. 24 at Dummerston Congregational Church. Donations to the Creative Arts Program at Dartmouth. Beth highly appreciated the program throughout her treatment.
• Esta Liimatainen Morse, 76, of Springfield, Vermont. Died on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, following a nine-month battle with chronic pain. Known for her generosity and love of family and animals, she will be missed by many. One of eight children, Esta was born in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1946 to Hazel O'Brien and Toivo Liimatainen Sr. She grew up in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, where she was a prominent athlete at Hinsdale High School, playing basketball and softball. After graduating in 1964, Esta moved to Brattleboro where she raised her first family of daughters, gardening and cooking together; camping and sharing her love of the beach in the summer; and hiking in the fall. She pitched on local softball teams for a number of years, won several trophies participating in local candlepin bowling tournaments, and ran numerous 10K races. In 1996, while working at C.S. Wholesale Grocers, she met and married Steven Morse. One day on a country drive in 1999, the couple came upon the Dutton property in Springfield, and so began their new chapter as organic farmers, humanely raising cows, chickens, pigs and turkeys, and selling their products at multiple farmers markets; and harvesting and selling hay as Ephraim Mountain Farm. She had a prime spot by the waterfall at West River Farmers Market in Londonderry, where she waited on customers-turned-friends. Esta loved the outdoor, physical lifestyle of farming, most notably the meditative time on her tractor. Having been a foster child herself, Esta always wanted to give back and from 2001 through 2021, she and Steve opened up their home to nearly 80 foster children, falling in love with and adopting several girls and raising their own family. All inherited her passion for the outdoors and hard work on the farm; a deep bond with animals, particularly dogs; a fondness for the weekly races at Thunder Road; and the joy of cooking and family meals. In 2014, they were awarded the Windsor County Farm of the Year Award. In recent years, the couple and their kids headed to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and had just purchased a house in Morven, North Carolina, with the hopes to renovate it and turn it into their permanent escape from Vermont's harsh winters. Esta is survived by her husband and soulmate of 27 years, Steven J. Morse of Springfield; her daughters Karen (Croumie) Thomas of Rootstown, Ohio; Katharyn (Croumie) Pacheco of Westfield, Massachusetts; Kimberlee Croumie of Swanzey, New Hampshire; their daughters, Stormie Morse Gordon of Windham, and Ashley Lynn Morse, Autumn Morse, and Ciana Winston all of Springfield. She is also survived by her siblings, Martha Doyle of Keene, New Hampshire, Ernest Liimatainen of Chicopee, Mass., John Liimatainen of Hinsdale, Warren Liimatainen of Sullivan, Maine, and Toivo Liimatainen Jr. of Laconia, New Hampshire; grandchildren Angela (Gaudette) Alarie, Antone Pacheco, Johnny Comer Jr., Zachary Thomas, Christina Comer, and Carson and Remington Gordon; many beloved nieces and nephews; and her cherished dog, Maverick. She was predeceased by her siblings, Linda Liimatainen and Alan Liimatainen, and her canine companion of 15 years, Barney. Memorial information: None provided.
• Charles Boyd "Charlie" Robb Sr., 86, of West Brattleboro, Died peacefully at home on Sept. 23, 2023, following a brief illness. Charlie was born in Brattleboro on Sept. 30, 1936 at what was known as the Mutual Aid on Harris Place. He was the third son of Hermon and Bertha (Haynes) Robb, growing up on the family farm on Ames Hill. As a young boy in the 1940s, he recalled delivering milk with his dad on their milk route, as various hired help were drafted into World War II. Charlie attended the original Academy School in West Brattleboro and graduated in 1954 from Brattleboro Union High School. During his high school years, he was active in the Future Farmers of America (FFA), serving in several office positions and ultimately serving as a state of Vermont FFA officer. A fond memory was traveling by train to Kansas City to represent the Vermont FFA. Although his siblings all went on to college following high school, Charlie chose to stay home and help operate the farm with his father, and dedicate his life to the farm. At that time, he joined the Vermont National Guard, where he proudly served for seven years and eight months. He was also a proud volunteer fireman for the West Brattleboro Fire Department when the department was located in Levasseur's garage, serving under "Gramp" Levasseur. In 1964, he married the former Helen Thurber from the farm "down the road" who had always vowed to never marry a farmer. In 1973, Charlie and Helen bought the farm from his parents, and represented the fourth generation to own and operate the Robb Farm. In 1993, the Robb Farm became the Robb Family Farm, LLC which now included their son Charlie Jr, and his wife Karen, representing the fifth generation of this multigenerational farm. Charlie was civically active serving as a trustee, deacon and elder in his former church, West Brattleboro Baptist Church. He participated in the West Brattleboro Association activities and was a Representative Town Meeting member for many years. Although he enjoyed being a town rep, he always lamented that the annual town meeting was always held on the same weekend as the annual Vermont Maple Open House weekend, meaning he would miss out on meeting guests in the sugarhouse. He also complained loudly about the "redundant rhetoric" by certain reps at the town meeting. As the years have progressed, the Robb Family Farm has transitioned from dairy, selling the herd in 2011 to focus more on the maple sugaring aspect of the farm. Charlie thoroughly enjoyed giving tours to guests who visited the gift shop, or the Harvest Host guests, explaining the process of making maple syrup and how it has changed over his 86 years, with his favorite line "98% of the changes are good, but I'll debate the other 2% with anyone," at which point his wife could only smile and roll her eyes. His favorite pastime was sitting on the porch, talking with the neighbors, or smoking a cigar with his neighbor, Bob. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Helen; his son, Charles, Jr. and wife Karen; three daughters, Laurie and husband Samuel Garland, Mary and husband Michael Clark, and Betsy and fiancée David Eldridge; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Benjamin, Meghan, Lydia, Peter, and Daniel; and one great granddaughter, Olivia. He also leaves his older brother, Thomas and wife Carol; sister-in-law, Norma Robb; and brother-in-law, Richard Mansfield. He was predeceased by his parents, Hermon and Bertha; his sister, Mary Mansfield; and his brother, John (Jack) Robb. Memorial information: A memorial celebration of Charlie will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30, his birthday, at the Robb Family Farm at 1 p.m. If you are able, the family invites you to bring and share your favorite appetizer. Donations to the Brattleboro Fire Department Benefit Association, c/o Brattleboro Fire Department, 103 Elliot St., Brattleboro, VT 05301 or the Monadnock Covenant Church, specifically The Bridge Campaign, 90 Base Hill Rd., Keene, NH 03431. To offer condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
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