College news
• Chelsea D. Lee of Vernon has been named to the President's List for the fall 2019 semester at Husson University in Bangor, Maine.
Transitions
• Twombly Wealth Management Group, LLC of Brattleboro recently announced that Christopher Stoner has been named partner by David B. Twombly, wealth advisor and owner. Stoner is a certified financial planner with more than 14 years of financial services experience. He spent the majority of his career working at various investment firms in Boston and Portsmouth until he joined the Twombly team in June 2018.
• Terran Momaney has joined Berkley & Veller Greenwood Country Realtors as their newest real estate agent. He grew up in the area and developed a great appreciation for real estate from working in the family business, Momaney Painters of West Dummerston. Berkley & Veller is the area's largest real estate agency, with 420 transactions totaling more than $121 million in sales in 2019.
Obituaries
• Theresa A. Blouin, 90, of Winchester, N.H. Died Feb. 21, 2020, in the comfort of her home with family at her side. Born at home in Hinsdale on Sept. 7, 1929, the daughter of Marshall and Beatrice (Bourgeois) Blouin, she was raised and educated in Hinsdale, graduating from Hinsdale High School with the class of 1948. She began her working career at the former Holstein-Friesian Association in Brattleboro, and later worked at the former White-Washburn Paper Company in Hinsdale. For more than 30 years, she was employed as an administrative assistant for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, first in Brattleboro, and then in Keene, N.H., from which she retired. After retiring from Met Life, she continued to work for Cheshire National Bank in Keene and then as a home health aide for Home Health Care in Keene until age 75. A devout Catholic, she was a longtime communicant of St. Joseph's Parish in Hinsdale. Theresa never married, but enjoyed helping her sister, Mary Ann Jacques, raise her three children, Marcia (Jacques) Berner, Gordon Jacques, and Joanie Jacques at the family home in Hinsdale. She gave much love and devotion to all her nieces and nephews. Theresa was an avid reader and enjoyed following local, state and national politics. She especially enjoyed time spent with her family, spending winters in Clearwater, Fla., for many years as well as summer vacations at York Beach in Maine. Survivors include her sister, Mary Ann Jacques of Winchester, N.H.; sisters-in-law Carolee (Nelson) Blouin, Marilyn (Robert) Blouin, and Pat (Henry Blouin) Sederstrom; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, as well as many very special long-time friends. She was predeceased by one sister, Alice Hudon, and five brothers: Napoleon, Marshall Jr., Henry, Robert, and Nelson Blouin. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held Feb. 29 at St. Joseph's Church in Hinsdale. She will be laid to rest in the Blouin/Jacques family plot in Saint Joseph's Parish Cemetery later in the springtime. Donations to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, in care of St. Bernard's Church, 161 Main St., Suite 204, Keene, NH 03431. To send messages of condolence to the family, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Debra Lynn Rausch, 64, of Vernon. Died unexpectedly at home on Feb. 22, 2020. She was born at Eglin Air Force Base in Niceville, Fla. on Aug. 4, 1955, the daughter of William and Cecile (Nadeau) Gerry. She was raised and educated in Hinsdale, N.H., graduating from Hinsdale High School. She went on to attend Greenfield Community College, where she received her associate's degree in information systems. At the time of her death, she worked at C&S Wholesale Grocers in Brattleboro. Previously, she worked at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend and had been employed for many years at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in the medical records department and later as a tumor registrar. A loving and devoted mother, her life centered around her children and family. She was a lover of animals, especially her children's dogs and cats. Debra loved the outdoors, hiking, and nature and she would capture this love through photos. She also frequently observed nature while in her yard or gardening and would speak of these encounters often. She enjoyed volunteering her video photography skills at the Vermont Jazz Center, as well as for numerous New England rock bands. She especially enjoyed music and had eclectic tastes in music spanning many decades. She enjoyed traveling and always baked the best desserts for holiday gatherings. Survivors include a daughter, Christine Rausch of Brattleboro; sons Erin Rausch of Marlborough, N.H., and Nicholas Rausch of Portland, Maine; three brothers, Glenn Gerry (Diane) of Spring City, Tenn, Wayne Gerry (Elaine) of Aztec, N.M. and Keith Gerry of Montrose, Colo.; and two sisters, Sheila Pinette (Michael) of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and Karen Thomhave (Bjarni) of Niceville, Fla. Additionally, she leaves her nieces and nephews, Melanie, William, Tara, Michaela, Christiana, Megan, Kelcie and Kalena. She was predeceased by her parents and two nephews, Christian and Matthew. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church on Feb. 29. Donations to Big Brothers/Big Sisters, P.O. Box 1729, Brattleboro, VT 05302, or the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To send messages of condolence to the family, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Rollene M. “Trudy” Ridlon, 90, of Jacksonville, formerly of Attleboro and Plainville, Mass. Died peacefully Feb. 25, 2020 at Pine Heights in Brattleboro. Born in Portland, Maine, on July 30, 1929, she was one of three daughters born to George and Dorothea Randall. She grew up in Ashland, N.H., where she attended local schools. She was married to the late Wesley Edward Ridlon. For many years, Mrs. Ridlon had worked at Fosters Jewelry in Attleboro. She also spent most of her life volunteering her time with the Boy Scouts of America. Having four boys, she became deeply involved with Scouting, and she and her husband held many positions within the Boy Scouts. They traveled throughout the country volunteering their time. She received several awards from the Scouts honoring her more than 60 years of service, including the Silver Beaver, District Award of Merit. She received her Scout and Cub Scout Wood Badges, as well as being a trainer for these badges. She was also a member of the Roundtable staff to train adults in Scouting. She volunteered at Sturdy Memorial Hospital and was a devoted member of St. John the Evangelist Church where she loved reading and singing with the choir. She leaves her sons Michael Ridlon and his wife, Virginia, of South Attleboro, and John Ridlon and Marianne of Live Oak, Texas; sisters Gail Randall of Tucson, Ariz., and Lillian Piper of Compton, N.H.; five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by two sons, Stephen and Timothy Ridlon. Memorial information: A funeral Mass was held March 2 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Attleboro, with burial beside her husband in the family lot in Holy Cross Cemetery in Franklin, N.H. Memorial gifts in her name may be made to Boy Scouts of America, Camp Norse, in care of Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 15, Wilmington, VT 05363.
• Richard “Dick” Rousseau, 89, of Bradenton, Fla., formerly of Brattleboro. Died peacefully on Feb. 17, 2020. Born and raised in Keene, N.H., the youngest of 11 children of Joseph Octave and Marie Antoinette Rousseau, he graduated from Keene High School in 1948 and then served six years in the Air Force. He married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Ann Vogel, in 1951 and the two of them were happily married for 56 years until her death in 2008. After his service with the Air Force, Dick started working as a part-time Keene police officer and full-time at Sears, Roebuck. He began his banking career with Vermont National Bank in 1955 and moved to Brattleboro with his family in 1956. He worked for VNB until his retirement 35 years later. He really enjoyed his time as a roving branch manager, traveling and working throughout the state. He was especially fond of getting to know and interacting with customers and employees. He had a quick wit and knack for conversation and always made people feel at ease. Dick's high energy for the enjoyment of life and devotion to helping people made him a very active and appreciated presence in the Keene and Brattleboro communities. This included being a YMCA camp leader, a Boy Scout leader, a Brattleboro Fire Department Rescue Squad member, a founding charter member of Rescue Inc. in Brattleboro, a certified American Red Cross First Aid instructor, and a member of the National Ski Patrol, for which he was recognized by both for saving a life during his distinguished service. He was active in many other Brattleboro community services including helping to organize and manage the Community Chest, United Way fundraising, Big Brother programs, the Rotary Club, and Winter Carnivals. Dick also had an entertainment side to his personality and managed to put it to good use performing as a principal actor during the Brattleboro Little Theater days. He was a triple threat with his acting, singing and dancing abilities. He was also a favorite for his Master of Ceremony abilities and entertained at many local events and functions. He continued his love of entertainment with his family and friends singing and playing his guitar. Out of the limelight, he really enjoyed his solitude and turned to his love of the outdoors to recharge. He also loved things that go fast and furious. When speed was his outlet, he turned to his abilities as an expert downhill skier, skydiver, motorcyclist, and go-kart racer. Dick had diverse talents and interests and enjoyed many hobbies including a special gift of being a legitimate Dowser. He took pride in being more accurate than geologists finding water. He is survived by his two children, Peter (Khin Zar) Rousseau of Wilmington and Ann (Patrick) Morris of Bradenton; elder sister Ethel Brosnahan of Brattleboro; and seven grandchildren. Memorial information: A chapel service for family and friends was held on Feb. 29 in Florida. There will be a memorial service held in Brattleboro at Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery sometime later this spring/summer. Donations to Rescue Inc., 541 Canal St, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Jan Marie Ryan, 60, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Feb. 18, 2020, at her home. She was born on Aug. 19, 1959, in Springfield, Mass., the daughter of Harold and Shirley Livermore Ryan. She graduated in 1977 from Cathedral High School and went to Thompson School of Nursing in Brattleboro to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. She was a nurse for several years until she elected to stay at home and raise her children. Jan eventually went back to work at PC Connection, Smiths Medical, and Huffington Post. Jan married Rick Lykins in 2006. She loved life, and has been described as a force, a spitfire, and a firecracker; bubbly and happy spirited. She was all of these, but she was also warm, giving, and loving. She was a champion of her family, a defender of the underdog, a storyteller, and someone who made everyone who met her feel better. Jan loved decorating, cooking, baking, gardening, arts and crafts and sewing. She often called herself Ma Ingalls. She was also a techie, always in the know of the latest electronic gadget. She was a self-described dichotomy. She loved to travel and visited five continents, making friends everywhere she went. She hated prejudice in all forms. Jan was predeceased by her parents and is survived by her husband; daughters Sara Rochford of Keene, and Danielle Rochford of Burlington; son Patrick Rochford of Boulder, Colo., brother Harry Ryan and his wife, Kerry, of Auburn, Calif., nephews Nick, Dan, and Tom, and her sister Lynn and her husband, Peter, of Springfield, N.J. Memorial information: A celebration of life ceremony will take place Saturday, March 7, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the Cremation Society of New Hampshire, 57 High St., Brattleboro. All are invited to attend and share their favorite memories. Donations to the Girl Scouts of America.