College news
• Jessica Tatro, a biology major in the Class of 2024 from Brattleboro, was named to the Dean's List for the spring 2023 semester at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Obituaries
• Jane Arend-Denko, 60, of Bellows Falls. Died suddenly on Sept. 12, 2023, at her home. She was born on May 6, 1963 in Waterbury, Connecticut, the daughter of Jan and Leola (Bullock) Arend. She attended school in Connecticut and received a master's degree from the University of Phoenix. Jane worked in human resources for area department stores. Jane enjoyed spending time with her dogs and cats and posting on Facebook. On Feb 14, 1998 in Brattleboro, she married Stewart Denko, who survives. She is also survived by two sons, Kevin and Richard; a daughter, Sabrina; and two sisters, Veronica Beam and Holly Hammond. Memorial information: Following cremation there will be an hour of visitation on Oct. 6, 2023, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home, 55 Westminster St., Bellows Falls.
• Robert S. Dompier, 86, of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 16, 2023, at Thompson House in Brattleboro. He was born in Keene, New Hampshire on Aug. 5, 1937, the son of the late Sherman and Rachel (Pratt) Dompier. He loved to take walks, watch television, country music, apple pie, and had a great affection for animals, especially dogs. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Gloria (Dompier) Turner of Brattleboro in 2015. He is survived by his sister Jeannette (Dompier) Bookhammer of Denver, Colorado, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Memorial information: A graveside service will be held on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 1 p.m., at Oakwood Cemetery in Townshend. Ker Phaneuf Funeral Home of Brattleboro has been entrusted with arrangements. To view an online tribute, leave a message of condolence, or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net.
• Linda M. Jones, 73, of Rockingham. Died on Sept. 17, 2023, after a brief fight with cancer. Linda was born on Aug. 24, 1950, and was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a devoted animal lover and spent much of her time with her family and her beloved dogs. Linda was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond I. Jones. She is survived by her loving son, Steven Lanou and his wife, Heather; daughters Corinna Jones and Lisa Moul and her husband, Earl; as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A celebration of life service was held at the Bartonsville Grange on Oct. 1. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a local animal shelter in Linda's memory.
• Sharee May Nelson, 68, of Bellows Falls. Died on Sept. 23, 2023, surrounded by her children. She was born in Keene, New Hampshire on Sept. 29, 1954, the daughter of Donald and Mary (Bradbury) Nelson. Sharee was a school bus driver for the Windham Northeast school district. Her family includes her children Todd Bellefeuille of Alstead, New Hampshire, Laura Bellefeuille of Bellows Falls, April (Bellefeuille) Putnam of Walpole, New Hampshire, Mindy Sault of Bellows Falls, and Mandy (Sault) Holland of Waverly, Rhode Island; siblings Wayne Nelson of Winchester, New Hampshire, Danny Nelson of Keene, and Susan Smith of Shelburne, New Hampshire; and 12 grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents and brother, George Nelson. Memorial information: Services will be held privately. To view an online memorial or send a message of condolence, visit www.stringerfh.com.
• Thomas Francis Wells, 76, died on Aug. 14, 2023 at the Hospice of the Upstate in Landrum, South Carolina, from complications of Alzheimer's. Tom was born on May 3, 1947 in Westfield, Massachusetts to Ann (Moore) and E. Stuart Wells. He was an active volunteer in the Guilford Elementary School PTA, and also contributed his time to the Brattleboro Small Fry, Little League, and Babe Ruth baseball programs and was a volunteer Study Buddy at Blythe Academy in Greenville, SC. Tom also enjoyed serving on the Old Deerfield faculty board. A sports enthusiast and an avid golfer, Tom was proud of winning a Club Championship award at the Pine Grove Springs golf club in Massachusetts. An active member of the Brattleboro Union High School Class of 1965, Tom graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a B.A. degree in history. He taught high school history and math in New Hampshire, Vermont, and South Carolina. He leaves his wife of 57 years, Donna (Halladay) Wells; his son John Wells (Remy), daughters Jean Reilly and Jessica Wells, grandchildren Michael, Mackenzie, Dante, Madison, and Lucy; his siblings Martha, Steven, James, Mary, and Patricia; and many nieces and nephews. Tom was predeceased by his daughter Jennifer and his brother Bernard. Memorial information: Requesting no funeral service, Tom asks instead that you support the Project Christmas Child/Shoebox, a program of Samaritan's Purse. Or do a good deed for someone less fortunate.
This Milestones item was submitted to The Commons.