Archive - Nov 2008 - Obituaries

Janet L. Salsman

NORTH FERRISBURGH — Janet L. Salsman, 58, died Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008, at the Fletcher Allen Health Care after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born in St. Albans on Nov. 11, 1950, the daughter of Mary Bergeron and the late Donald Bergeron.  She was a graduate of Fanny Allen School of Nursing, and dedicated her life to her nursing profession. She was employed with the DeGoesbriand Hospital, Fletcher Allen Health Care and the American Red Cross.

She and her husband, Steven, enjoyed camping and fishing trips together, and taking rides in the country. She could be found gardening or working with her crafts. Her family, extended family, grandchildren and friends were dear to her.

She is survived by her husband, Steven Salsman of North Ferrisburgh; two daughters, Lori Basiliere of Burlington and Tricia Basiliere of North Ferrisburgh; her mother, Mary Bergeron of Addison; her sister, Brenda Bergeron of Middlebury; her brother, Andrew Bergeron of Bristol; her mother-in-law, Lorraine Salsman of Ipswich, Mass.; two grandchildren; and two nephews.  She was predeceased by her father, Donald Bergeron, and two infant sons, James and Andrew Basiliere.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at the Ready Funeral Home, South Chapel, 261 Shelburne Road, Burlington officiated by Barry Barkley and Roger Cleveland. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery.

Donations may be sent to Fletcher Allen Health Care, Breast Care Center, Development Office, 111 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT 05401.

Leslie Robert Posdamer

RIPTON — Leslie Robert Posdamer was a resident of Ripton for 36 years.

Daniel Joseph White

SHELBURNE — Daniel Joseph White, 96, died on Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, in Shelburne. He was the husband of the late Catherine (Sharkey) White. He was born in Lynn, Mass., on Sept. 18, 1912, the son of Daniel J. and Agnes (Daley) White. He lived in Lynn for 65 years until moving to Maryland. He spent the last several years in Shelburne.

He worked for the General Electric Co. in Lynn, Mass., for over 36 years. He retired in 1976. He spent his summers on Lake Dunmore for many years and enjoyed his morning visit with his friends at the “breakfast club.”

He is survived by his children, Daniel E. White and his wife, Bertha of Lynn, Mass., Dorothy White of Brandon, and Thomas White and his wife, Barbara of Crofton, Md.; his former daughter-in-law, Madeline Tetrault of Chesapeake Beach, Md.; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by a sister, Margaret Mather, and three brothers, Eugene, Joseph and John White.

His funeral was held on Friday, Nov. 21, in Lynn, Mass., followed by a funeral Mass in Sacred Heart Church. Burial was in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Lynn, Mass. Donations may be made to the Angel Fund (for ALS research) 649 Main St., Wakefield, MA 01880 or Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.

Charles S. Bergen

MIDDLEBURY — Charles S. Bergen died peacefully from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease at Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Middlebury on Nov. 5, 2008, with family at his side. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on June 23, 1924, the son of Charles S. and Marion (Weakley) Bergen. On Dec. 18, 1948, he married the love of his life, Sylvia Reed, who survives him.

Ursella Mae Wadleigh

VERGENNES — Ursella Mae Wadleigh, 94, died Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at Helen Porter Health and Rehabilitation Center in Middlebury.

She was born July 1, 1914, in Vergennes, the daughter of Samuel and Frances (Trudeau) Wadleigh.

She is survived by several cousins. She was predeceased by her sister, Ellen C. Wadleigh.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, Nov. 13, at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Vergennes, and interment was in Prospect Cemetery in Vergennes.

Mary Elizabeth Southwick

BRANDON — Mary Elizabeth Southwick, 75, of Brandon died Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, at Porter Hospital in Middlebury.

She was born in El Paso, Texas, on Sept. 15, 1933, the daughter of Harry and Bennie (Jones) Wustenberg.

She received her education in the El Paso, Texas, school system. She moved with her family to Vermont in 1961. She worked as a cook at the Waybury Inn in East Middlebury for several years. She later cooked at the Brandon Training School and for Sully’s Restaurant in Brandon. Family say she enjoyed fishing, her Pomeranians and her flower garden — especially yellow roses.

Surviving are two daughters, Linda LaFoe of Florence and Rene Osbourne of Port Natchez, Texas; five sons, Charles Graves of South Hampton, Mass., Harry Graves, Michael Graves, and Russell “Rusty” Barrows, all of Brandon, and Larry Graves of Kilgore, Texas; 14 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

The memorial service will be held on Friday, Nov. 21, at 2:30 p.m. at the Miller and Ketcham Funeral home in Brandon. Thomas Sawyer, President of the Rutland Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, will preside.

Donations may be made to the Brandon Area Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 232, Brandon, VT 05733.

Charles “Ryan” Frazier

Harriet Nichols Livingston

WEST ADDISON — Harriet Nichols Livingston, 79, died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, at her home on Burgey Farm Road in West Addison, with her husband, Philip H. Livingston, by her side.

She was born Oct. 5, 1929, and farmed with her husband for over forty years on a successful dairy farm in Bristol before retiring to Eastham, Cape Cod in 1986, where she spent many enjoyable years. She discovered a new passion while on the cape, driving a school bus for children who were less fortunate. Over the years she enjoyed quilt making, rug hooking, being a member of Home Dem and at one point she was crowned queen of the Vermont Flying Farmers in 1970.

She is especially remembered for her lovingly made sweaters and clothing, her famous birthday cakes, the always-full cookie jar, and her home cooked meals.

She is survived by Philip, her husband of 56 years; her six children, Philip N. Livingston and his wife Diane of New Haven, Karen Mindling and her husband Timothy of Michigan, Stanley Livingston and his wife Mary Jeanne of Bristol, Janet Newman and her husband Perry of Stannard, Sue Lang and her husband Terry of Omaha, Neb.; and David Livingston and his wife Wendy of Bristol; 16 grandchildren; seven great- grandchildren; two sisters, Nancy Sundstrom and Helen Kidder of Westboro, Mass.; and two brothers, Edward Nichols of Sutton, Mass. and George Nichols of Cape Cod, Mass.

She was predeceased by both of her parents, George and Hattie (Johnson) Nichols; a sister, Polly; and two brothers, Robert and Harold.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 17, at the Bristol Federated Church. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Bristol. Donations may be sent to Addison County Home Health and Hospice, P.O. Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753.

Albert H. “Al” Freeman

Phyllis Freda Zsido

BRANDON — Phyllis Freda Zsido, 70, died Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, at Rutland Regional Medical Center.

She was born in Peacham on April 5, 1938. She grew up in Shrewsbury, where she received her early education. On Feb. 27, 1961, she married John Zsido. They made their home in Rutland. She had been a resident of Brandon since 1970. She had worked at the Brandon Training School for several years before being forced to retire due to disability. She was a former member of the Brandon American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 55. She was an accomplished artist with charcoals, pastels and oil on canvas. She enjoyed crocheting and knitting. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brandon.

She is survived by three daughters, Joann Meinking of North Carolina, Lori Brock of Nashville, Tenn. and Marci Lane of Addison; a brother, Charles Haughton of Rutland; three sisters, Nellie Howland of Rutland, Grace Johnson of White River Junction and Martha Jordan of Brimington, Mass.; five  grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by her husband on Oct. 10, 1990; a sister, Bertha Haughton; and three brothers, Ralph, Frank and Burt Haughton.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 13, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Brandon. The Rev. Albert “Skip” Baltz, was the celebrant. A private graveside committal service and burial will take place, at a later date, in Riverside Cemetery in Proctor.

Donations may be made, in her memory to The Brandon Area Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 232, Brandon, VT 05733.

Calvin Lawrence Trudo

SALISBURY — Calvin Lawrence Trudo, 84, died Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, following a brief illness, at Helen Porter Health and Rehabilitation Center in Middlebury.

Charlene Anne Zubaty

JASPER, Fla. — Charlene Anne Zubaty, 62, died Tuesday Nov. 4, 2008, at her home in Jasper, Fla., surrounded by her family.

She was born March 31, 1946, in Burlington, the daughter of Harold and Shirley (DeGuise) Boyer. She resided in the Bristol area for more than three decades before moving to Florida.

She is survived by her husband, Mike Zubaty of Jasper, Fla.; five children, Robert Miller of Bristol, Brenda Vaughn of Bristol, Bryan Miller of Bristol, William Miller of Cambridge and Bonnie Sweeney of Fairfax; two step children, Michael Zubaty Jr. of Camache, Iowa, and Laurie Anderson of Ohio; eighteen grandchildren; eight great- grandchildren; five brothers, Harold Boyer of Middlebury, Ricky Boyer of St. Albans, Mickey Boyer of Swanton, Michael Boyer of Williston and David Boyer of Winooski; two sisters, Diane Papesca of Jasper, Fla. and Karen Cox of Bristol; a half-sister, Namoni Boyer of St. George; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Cheryl Miller Bluma.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Monday, Nov. 10, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Bristol. Interment was in Mt. St. Joseph Cemetery in Bristol. Donations may be made to Haven Hospice, 6037 US Hwy 90 West, Lake City, FL 32055.

Raymond Mulcahy

LEICESTER — Raymond Mulcahy, 86, died at home in Leicester on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.  He will be remembered as a pioneer in the education and training of people with developmental disabilities.

David Spencer Yates

PROCTOR — David Spencer Yates, 77, died Oct. 31, 2008, of respiratory failure.

He was born in Burlington on Feb. 7, 1931, the adopted son of Sheldon Smith and Edith (Cutter) Yates of Englewood, N.J.

He was a 1949 graduate of Deerfield Academy and attended the University of Virginia. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

He was a birder, naturalist and historian, and gave his time to many organizations, most recently St. Dominic’s Church of Proctor and Rutland County Audubon Society.

He enjoyed golf, skiing, canoeing, hockey and world travel. In the 1970s, he built and operated the Whiteface Mountain KOA campground near Lake Placid, N.Y.

Survivors include a daughter, Mary Yates of Bristol; two sons, D. Spencer Yates Jr. and John Yates of Proctor; three grandchildren; a brother, Robert Yates of New Canaan, Conn.; numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Yates was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Janice Lanzillo Yates, in 2003.

The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at St. Dominic’s Church in Proctor followed by a reception and calling hours at 11:30 a.m. at the Union Church reception hall in Proctor.

Contributions may be made for the preservation and upkeep of the West Rutland Marsh Boardwalk, to Rutland County Audubon Society, in care of John Yates, 28 Olympus Road, Proctor, VT 05765.

Arlene Frances “Archie” Tebbetts

BRANDON — Arlene Frances “Archie” Tebbetts, 66, died Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, at her home in Brandon.

Margaret C. (Antman) Dye

VERGENNES — Margaret C. (Antman) Dye, 87, died of pancreatic cancer Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008, at her home in Vergennes.

She was born in Passaic, N.J., on Nov. 22, 1920, the daughter of Frank and Margaret Antman.

She attended NYU, majoring in biochemistry. While working for Heyden Chemical Company she met John Dye.  They were married on July 17, 1943.  She lived in several locations in New Jersey, Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania.

Her passions were birding and ice hockey.  She wrote nature columns for area newspapers and gave talks to many civic and educational groups.  She enjoyed ice skating, hiking and canoeing.  She and her husband traveled to 32 countries photographing birds, plants and butterflies.  Before each trip they thoroughly studied the  natural habitat of the area.  This would have been the fiftieth year that she participated in the national bird Christmas count.

After her husband retired from DuPont, they moved to North Ferrisburgh in 1976.  They loved the seasons in Vermont, especially winter.  They held season tickets to Vermont Catamount hockey.  She was very proficient in flower arranging and served as federated judge for shows.  An excellent creative cook, she prepared many gourmet meals for family and friends.

She was a longtime member of Forest and Field, VINS, the Ferrisburgh Friendship Club, Vermont Audubon, Vergennes Garden Club and the Middlebury Garden Club.  She held many offices but often served for many years as treasurer.  She delighted in sharing her knowledge of birds, butterflies and plants.

In 1997 she moved to Vergennes and for many years she was elected Justice of the Peace.  She enjoyed immensely performing wedding ceremonies.