Obituaries
• Helena Blais, 92, of Swanzey, New Hampshire, formerly of Richmond, New Hampshire, Died peacefully in the company of her family July 11, 2026. Born in Erechim, Brazil, she was the daughter of the late Friedrich and Karoline (Otter) Bößenecker. Helena and her family left Brazil in 1939 to seek essential medical treatment in Germany. Unbeknownst to the family, a second world war was brewing at home. Those who knew Helena may have heard stories of the airstrikes on Ansbach, the tuberculosis that claimed her two eldest siblings –whom she survived – and the death of her father. Despite all the strife and adversity she endured in her youth, resilience and compassion emerged as some of her most defining qualities. As a young adult, Helena began working at a “Konditorei” (a German confectionery shop & cafe), where she earned certification in Baking & Pastry Arts and later met her husband of 60 years, George Blais. They wed in 1957 in Hennenbach, Germany, before moving to George’s hometown of Lewiston, Maine. She experienced a unique introduction to the states, as she spoke very little English and George’s family spoke mostly French. She later learned English and how to drive, often speeding down Stinson Hill with no regard for the brakes. From 1964 to 1973, Helena and George owned and operated the Richmond 4 Corner Store. The shop touted Helena’s homemade squares, cakes, cookies, pies, and the wonderful aroma of her baked beans. She answered the phone, ordered supplies, and kept the books. She made grinders, stocked shelves, and pumped gas. There was little she couldn’t do. Through it all, she welcomed each visitor with warmth and kindness. Helena wore many hats. Although well-known for her delicious meals and sweet treats, she was a seamstress, a crafter, and a gardener. She loved kids and animals and was known as “Snow White” for her unique ability to connect with all things living. Helena loved cards and won often against family and friends. She had the luck of an angel, and perhaps a sleeve full of cards, though never proven. Again, there was little she couldn’t do – nor did she stop to take a break when she was at her best. Helena’s open-heart, steadfast determination, and light-hearted humor lives on in all who loved her. She is survived by her four children, Christine (Luis) Ortiz of Longboat Key, Florida; Fred (Robin) Blais of Swanzey, Ruth (Jim) Thompson of Dublin, New Hampshire; Roxanne (CJ) Jack of Swanzey; and five grandchildren, Marissa (Joel) Ortiz-Miguel, Kyle (Kelsey) Blais and great-grandchildren Gwendolyn, Kali (Peter) Spanos, Scott Thompson, and Grace Jack. She is predeceased by her beloved husband, her brothers Helmut, Hugo, Fritz, Heinz, and Günther; and sisters Lotte and Angelina. Memorial information: Services will be held at Richmond Community United Methodist Church Friday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. A celebration of Helena’s life will follow at the Veteran’s Hall in Richmond. Donations to Richmond United Methodist Church, 11 Fitzwilliam Rd., Richmond, NH 03470, or Amazing Grace Animal Sanctuary, 161 Center St., Sullivan, NH 03445.To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Helmuth G. Busse, 88, of Vernon. Died peacefully in his home July 21, 2026. Helmuth was born in Meiersberg, Germany, Sept. 26, 1937, to Georg and Elfriede (Lemberg) Busse. One of five children, and the oldest son, he followed in his father’s footsteps as a professional stone mason/bricklayer. He met the love of his life, Gerda Groeger, in Asslar, Germany in 1961, and they married in December of that year. Married 65 years, they had two daughters, Monika and Linda. Helmuth, Gerda and 3-year-old Monika immigrated to Brattleboro in 1965, where he immediately began a career that would span the millennium and see his work make a permanent impact on the Greater Brattleboro area. In 1970, he reached his ultimate goal and proudly became an American citizen. In addition to the hundreds of chimneys, fireplaces, foundations, and homes throughout the Tri-State area, Hemuth was the master bricklayer for the current Brattleboro Memorial Library as well as the restoration of the historic Brooks House. Helmuth ended his official career for Salem Refractories working as a specialist in jobs as far away as Hawaii. After retirement, he could still be seen repairing chimneys, repointing walls, and assisting friends and neighbors. Helmuth leaves behind his loving wife Gerda, their two daughters, Monika Busse, formerly of Burlington, and Linda Carrier and her husband, Rick Carrier, of Hinsdale, New Hampshire; his sister, Helga Hoffman; and brothers Friedhelm, Guenther, and Peter, along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his adored mother-in-law, Johanna Washam. Memorial information: In lieu of flowers, donations to the Monadnock Humane Society (who gave the family their beloved Buck) would be appreciated.
• Thelma M. Dunn, 90, of East Dummerston. Died peacefully at home July 22, 2026, following a period of declining health. A lifelong resident of the area, Thelma was born at home in Putney on Jan. 24, 1936, the daughter of Clyde and Ruby (Fuller) Hulett. She was raised and educated in Putney, attending Putney Central School. Thelma worked for several years at the former Estey Organ Company in Brattleboro. She also worked in the dietary department at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital and at the Converting Plant in Bellows Falls. She enjoyed country music and loved to go dancing. She loved fishing, gardening, and time spent at her home. Thelma was also an avid reader. She was first married to Jesse Lafayette in Claremont, New Hampshire, in 1954. Her predeceased her in 1975. Thelma later exchanged wedding vows with Charles A. “Charlie” Dunn on July 21, 1979, at Whipple’s Chapel in Ballouville, Connecticut. Charlie died on May 19, 2025. Survivors include two daughters, Cecile Fournier (Bernard) of Saxtons River and Bonny Lafayette-Haley of East Dummerston; two sons, Jesse Lafayette, Jr. of Brattleboro and Ben Dencare of Keene, New Hampshire; a nephew, Henry Roberts of East Dummerston; and nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Thelma was predeceased by a daughter, Juanita Haley; two sisters, Edith Roberts and Marjorie Hulett; and six brothers, Robert, Roger, Richard, Earl, Morris, and Raymond Hulett. Memorial information: Graveside committal services will be conducted in West Hill Cemetery in Putney, where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband Charlie, at a later date. Donations to Dummerston Cares, P.O. Box 302, West Dummerston, VT 05357. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Marjorie Lee Helen Leclaire, 62, of Brattleboro. Died July 15, 2026, at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital after an extended period of declining health. Born in Brattleboro Feb. 20, 1964, to Murray and Leora (Derby) Ellison, Marjorie was raised in Whitingham, where she attended local schools and graduated from Whitingham High School. As a young woman, she was an accomplished athlete, competing on the swim team and playing fast-pitch softball. She played flute in the high school band and became a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In her early years, she moved to St. Thomas. There, she embraced island life wholeheartedly, working aboard charter boats, in renowned restaurants, and a fine jewelry store. She loved the sea, the salt air, and the adventure. New England called her home again. Over the years, she built a life defined not by a single career but by a willingness to work hard and care deeply. She worked as a licensed nursing assistant at Vernon Green Nursing Home, managed Fleming Oil Company’s Texaco station on Western Avenue, and later built her own successful interior painting business, Refresh, Renew, Restore – Fine Interiors by Marjorie. Her meticulous craftsmanship and eye for detail reflected the pride she took in everything she did. In July 1992 at the Colonel Williams Inn in Marlboro, she married David Leclaire, who predeceased her in April 2021. Majorie had an insatiable curiosity for the world around her. She was a voracious reader, devouring crime novels, poetry, and history texts. She loved Japanese culture and art in all forms. She believed every object, every place, and every person had a history worth understanding. She sought adventure wherever she could find it. Sometimes it meant traveling to places she’d only known through books. Sometimes it meant wandering a beach for hours in search of shells and sea glass. She found beauty in small treasures that others might overlook. Marjorie never met a bowl of spaghetti she didn’t love, believed there was almost no problem that couldn’t be improved with cheese, and made soups and stews that family and friends still wish they could taste one more time. But if there was one thing that defined Marjorie above everything else, it was her kindness. She met people with an open heart and an open mind. She believed in second chances, assumed the best in others, and offered compassion freely. She gave generously of her time, her love, and whatever she had. Marjorie is survived by her daughter, Danielle Leclaire of Brattleboro; her brothers, Christopher Ellison and Matthew Ellison, both of Brattleboro, Mark Ellison of Wardsboro, and Morgan Ellison of Marlborough, New Hampshire; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. She was predeceased by her parents and her brothers, Michael and Mitchell Ellison. No formal funeral services are scheduled. Memorial information: A memorial gathering celebrating Marjorie’s life will be announced. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society (windhamcountyhumane.org) or The Center For Solace (centerforsolace.org). To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Dennis Michael Mayotte, 76, of Brattleboro. Died July 21, 2026, with his family and his beloved cat Jellybelly by his side. Dennis was born in Richford June 26, 1950, to George and Mary Mayotte. When Dennis was diagnosed with cancer in 2025 he moved from Brattleboro, to Battle Ground, Indiana, to be with his daughter, Stephanie, and his son, Jesse. Dennis is also survived by his brother James and his wife, Wendy; his brother Charles and his wife, Sue; his sister, Gloria Lisella; grandchildren Megan, Emma and Rylan; great grandchildren Easton and Leighton, and many nieces and nephews. Dennis was predeceased by his sister Marianne and her husband Marvin Miller. Dennis joined the Marine Corps in 1969 and served in Vietnam. He was a proud Marine and a “brother” to all military men and women. Dennis was an avid reader, hunter, golfer, and cat lover, and he was a proud member of VFW Post 1034 and Elks Lodge 1499 in Brattleboro. He was part of a group of men who went to a hunting camp in Brattleboro, where he loved to spend his time. He also was a member of the Brattleboro Country Club.Memorial information: A celebration of life will be announced.
• Carleton Charles “Charlie” Richardson, 91, of Dummerston. Died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, onJuly 21, 2026. Known as “Dad” and “PaPa” by a few, and a husband by one, Charlie’s life began on a snowy January day in 1935 as a 2 pound, 10 ounce baby born to the late Eleanor (Gillette) Richardson (1991) and Carleton Richardson (1993) in Brattleboro. The “miracle baby,” as he was called by his mother, didn’t just survive, but thrived. He went on to become a Boy Scout, an athlete, an outdoor enthusiast, a veteran, a forester, a husband, a father and grandfather, an avid gardener, diehard Red Sox fan, a volunteer fire fighter, a devoted member and former longtime deacon and trustee of his church, an ardent steward of the environment, and so much more. During his time at Brattleboro High School, Charlie played baseball, basketball, and football. Charlie was always very proud of playing for Coach Andy Natowich; an experience that filled him with pride, life lessons, and great stories. In 1955, Charlie graduated from Paul Smith’s College with a degree in forestry and a passion for silviculture (managing woodlands) and supporting wildlife. Soon after college, Charlie was conscripted into the Navy, where he served his country on the aircraft carrier USS Valley Forge (CVS-45). After the Navy, Charlie worked as a scaler for Victor Morse at his sawmill, a forester for the New England Forestry Foundation and, later, as a private consulting forester for clients in the tri-state region. When talking about his career in the woods and love for his vocation, Charlie was known to say, “I never worked a day in my life.” Charlie is survived by his wife and true love of 68 years, Bessie (Gardner) Richardson; his five children: Michael Richardson (Marian), John Richardson (Theresa), Nancy Lehane (Robin), Anne Dixon (Samuel), and Brian Richardson (Jennifer); and nine grandchildren (John Peter, Georgia, Rebekah, Catherine, Ira, Amie, Isaiah, Lucy, and Kate) of whom Charlie was so proud. The recent news of an expected great-grandchild made Charlie cry with joy.To capture a life well lived in a few words is impossible. Charlie lived his faith quietly and consistently and served his community in so many ways. Whether providing rides to medical appointments and treatments, his decades-long service on the West Dummerston Volunteer Fire Department, working with his friends at the Wood Pantry providing firewood for those in need, or any number of projects at Dummerston Congregational Church, Charlie was there for others. Family was the most important thing in Charlie’s life. He spoke fondly of the trips of his youth to Charlestown, NH to visit with his aunts, uncles, and cousins [Carleton (1991), Gloria, Harland, and Shirley]. The family camping trips that Charlie and Bess made possible were legend and simply magical as a lifetime of memories were made. A child could not ask for a better dad. His love, patience, support, humor, strength, and resilience were boundless. He instilled a deep love of the natural world in all of his children and grandchildren and will be remembered for this gift. Memorial information: A memorial service was held at Dummerston Congregational Church July 25 . To honor Charlie’s life, he would want you to go outside, work in the garden, take a walk in the woods, and do something kind for others. Donations to Dummerston Congregational Church, 1535 Middle Road, East Dummerston, VT 05346 to continue the programs that he cherished and supported for decades. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Gary Richard Smart, 65, of Brattleboro. Died unexpectedly July 18, 2026, at his home.A longtime resident of the area, Gary was born in Keene, New Hampshire, Aug. 2, 1960, the son of Francis and Yvonne (Jackson) Smart. He was raised and educated in Hinsdale, graduating from Hinsdale High School with the Class of 1978. He had been employed at Plumb Pak in Winchester, New Hampshire, for 10 years, retiring in October 2025. Previously, he worked for FedEx in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire, and during his younger years was employed as custodian at Hinsdale High School. Gary loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing and riding his motorcycle. Most importantly he cherished time spent with his family. He was a faithful and devoted husband and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. On Dec. 5, 1982, at the Broad Brook Grange in Guilford, he married Lavonne Martocci, who survives. Besides his wife of 44 years, he leaves his daughter, Christine Smart, and her companion, Dana Beauvais, of Vernon; two sisters, Shari Russell of Wisconsin, and Teri Tu of Manchester, New Hampshire; his two grandsons, Brett and Derek Parsons; and his three great-grandchildren, Madison, Lillian and Matthew. Additionally, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, and several cousins. Gary was predeceased by his parents, a brother, Alan Smart; and his sister, Susan Smart. Memorial information: No formal funeral services are scheduled. A memorial gathering will be announced. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Katherine Marjory “Kathie” (Ploof) Woodbury, 82, of Athens. Died June 12, 2026, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. She was born July 23, 1943, in Claremont, New Hampshire, the daughter of Arthur and Hazel Ploof Sr. There were seven children in this family: Shirley, Gloria, Arthur Jr., Katherine, Goldie, Linda, and Loretta. Kathie graduated from Springfield High School with the Class of 1961, and married Henry Woodbury in Weathersfield, July 7, 1962. After a short time in Springfield, they settled with their two sons Norman and James in Weathersfield Center. They soon purchased a home in Athens, where Henry would set up his automobile repair business which served them well for many years up to the present day. Kathie was active in local Taking Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) groups, served as assistant teacher at her sons’ grade school in town, as well as capably filling almost every office in the town of Athens at one time or another. She is survived by husband, her sons, Norman Woodbury of Rockingham and James Woodbury of Westminster; Norman’s sons Kyle Woodbury (and wife Elysia) and great-grandson Connor of Sullivan, New Hampshire; and Ben Woodbury of Athens. Kathie’s surviving sisters are Goldie (and Clarence) Cook of Chester, and Loretta Benware of Bennington, as well as her oldest best friend Pat Kelley of Royalston, Massachusetts. Memorial information: Services will be private, with burial at Athens Cemetery.
Services
• A memorial service celebrating the life of Chaplain Dr. Edward “Ed” Flower Jr., who died June 22, 2026, will be conducted Saturday, Aug. 8, at noon at Newfane Congregational Church. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. To view his full obituary or offer condolences to Ed’s family, visit atamaniuk.com.
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