Archive - Mar 2008 - Obituaries

Ina Mae (Ranney) Wendland

MONKTON — Ina Mae (Ranney) Wendland, 73, died at home Saturday morning, March 22, 2008. She was born Oct. 12, 1934, in Concord, the daughter of Marjorie (Ranney) McLean and Henry Ranney.

She was a graduate of Lyndon Institute and University of Vermont, where she earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in education; she later graduated from Champlain College with an associates degree in computer programming and accounting. She taught school at a variety of grade levels in several states and countries.

She also did computer programming and accounting for several businesses throughout her life, including her own family business with farming and tower management.

Married for over 50 years, she met her husband Peter E. Wendland while at UVM, and they were later married Aug. 24, 1957.

A long-time resident of Monkton, where she and her husband built their stone house with dramatic views of Lake Champlain, she was a long-time teacher, homemaker, mother and wife. According to family she found tremendous enjoyment in singing, church, family and nature, and enjoyed traveling extensively in North America and Europe.

She was a long time member of the Friends Methodist Church in Monkton where she played the organ, led the church choir, and taught Sunday school. She was also a member of the Champlain Echoes Barbershop Group. She and her family frequently went sailing on their boat on Lake Champlain and Maine.

She is survived by her husband, Peter; three daughters and their spouses, Wanda and Eric Conroy of Granby, Conn.; Tiana and John Grgurina of San Rafael, Calif.; and Marjorie and Bill Weeks of Newbury, N.H.; and six grandchildren.

The funeral service was held on Saturday, March 29, at the Friends Methodist Church in Monkton. The interment service will be held later in the spring.

John C. Sylvestri

LEICESTER — John C. Sylvestri, formerly of Mahopac, N.Y., died peacefully on March 24, 2008, of congestive heart failure at age 86.

He was born June 29, 1921, in Ossining, N.Y., the son of Donato and Jenny (Fasciani) Sylvestri. He graduated from Ossining High School at age 16. During World War II he was an Army stenographer, stationed in the central and southern part of the country. He later worked as a sales representative and retired from General Foods Corp.

It was during his travels on the job that he met his future wife, Vera T. “Pat” Shook, owner of Pat’s General Store in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. They married in 1952 and raised a family in Mahopac, N.Y. He resided there for 50 years prior to moving near his daughter Chris Sylvestri and her family in Vermont.

Famous for his golf game, he started as a caddy in his young teens, and in his prime he was a scratch player with three holes-in-one. He loved people of all ages, and he liked to have fun, especially with his children. Even in his 80s, he could be seen pitching a game of softball with his grandkids. Family said that many people recognized that his quick smile, sense of humor and twinkling blue eyes stayed with him to the end of his life.

John is survived by his son, John Sylvestri Jr., and his partner Becky Daddazio of La Grange, N.Y.; his daughter Chrisandra Sylvestri and her husband, Scott Totten, of Salisbury; his daughter Michele and her husband, Russ Day, of La Grangeville, N.Y., his stepdaughter-in law Patricia Meade; sisters Clara Beninati and Joan Mattson; brothers Henry Sylvestri and George Sylvestri; and 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife, stepson Harold Meade and sister Florence Perry.

Jamie “Jamer” Marvin Kosloski

BRISTOL — Jamie “Jamer” Marvin Kosloski, 15, died March 19, 2008, at home in Bristol after a long battle with brain stem cancer. He had been receiving treatment from Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Mass.

 He was born Feb. 14, 1993, to Traci L. Jackson and Brian D. Kosloski in Syracuse, N.Y. He attended school in Middlebury and was employed part-time with Nop Bros. and Sons of Salisbury.

He was an avid hunter with his uncle Ron and other family members. He loved to mountain bike, snowmobile, and any outdoor activities. Family said that “Jamer” was very outgoing, easygoing, hard working and always on the go. He looked up to his big brother whom he adored and his sister whom he loved and protected. He was a fun-loving kid and enjoyed life to its fullest.

He is survived by his mother, Traci of Bristol; father, Brian of Rutland; stepfather, Bill Jackson of Middlebury; brother, Justin; sister, Jennifer; grandparents, Pat Smith of Bristol, Joe and Lorrie Kosloski of North Syracuse, N.Y., and Homer and Geraldine Jackson of Ripton; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and many friends.

He was predeceased by a grandfather, Marvin Smith, in 2001 and an aunt, Jackie Jackson, in 2006.

The funeral services were held on Saturday, March 22, at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Bristol. Interment will be in the spring in Morgan Cemetery in Monkton. Contributions may be made to the Jimmy Fund Clinic, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115.

Jamie “Jamer” Marvin Kosloski

BRISTOL — Jamie “Jamer” Marvin Kosloski, 15, died March 19, 2008, at home in Bristol after a long battle with brain stem cancer. He had been receiving treatment from Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Mass.

 He was born Feb. 14, 1993, to Traci L. Jackson and Brian D. Kosloski in Syracuse, N.Y. He attended school in Middlebury and was employed part-time with Nop Bros. and Sons of Salisbury.

He was an avid hunter with his uncle Ron and other family members. He loved to mountain bike, snowmobile, and any outdoor activities. Family said that “Jamer” was very outgoing, easygoing, hard working and always on the go. He looked up to his big brother whom he adored and his sister whom he loved and protected. He was a fun-loving kid and enjoyed life to its fullest.

He is survived by his mother, Traci of Bristol; father, Brian of Rutland; stepfather, Bill Jackson of Middlebury; brother, Justin; sister, Jennifer; grandparents, Pat Smith of Bristol, Joe and Lorrie Kosloski of North Syracuse, N.Y., and Homer and Geraldine Jackson of Ripton; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and many friends.

He was predeceased by a grandfather, Marvin Smith, in 2001 and an aunt, Jackie Jackson, in 2006.

 Funeral services will be held Saturday March 22, at 11 a.m. at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Bristol.  Interment will be in the spring in Morgan Cemetery in Monkton. 

Friends may call at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Bristol on Friday, March 21, from 6 to 8 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Jimmy Fund Clinic, Dana Farber Cancer Inst., 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115.

Irene Martha (Hunt) Tatro

Henry C. Norton

ADDISON — Henry C. Norton, 80, died Thursday, March 13, 2008, at his home in Addison. He was born Nov. 19, 1927, in Addison, the son of Cora Bell Norton.

He retired from Simmons after 35 years, and, according to family, he enjoyed camping, dancing, traveling, and working around his house.

 He is survived by his two daughters, Rose Cote and her husband Giles of Colorado, and Bettie Cassidy and her husband William of West Ferrisburgh; three granddaughters; a great-grandson; companion Sylvia Soulia of 23 years; two sisters, Ellen Grant of Florida, and Florence Gordon of California; and a brother, Harvey Smith Jr. of Bristol.

 Memorial contributions may be made to Vergennes Area Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 11, Vergennes, VT 05491.

BRISTOL — Joan (Bosworth) Jackman, 80, died on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at Porter Hospital surrounded by her family after a brief illness.  She was born on March 27, 1927, in Peru, N.Y., the daughter of Carlton H. and Pauline H. (Hosford) Bosworth.

 Joan graduated from Bristol High School in 1944 and from UVM in 1948. She married Fred E. Jackman on August 23, 1947. She taught elementary school in Vergennes for 18 years. According to family she enjoyed her grandchildren, reading, crosswords, and playing cards with friends and family, as well as her dogs Luna and Cooper, and she was a life long Red Sox fan.

 She is survived by her husband of 60 years; four children, Paul Jackman and his companion Cheri Rockwood, Peter and Debra Jackman, Lori Jackman, and Lisa Jackman; nine grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her brother, John F. Bosworth.

BethAnn Laramay

MONKTON — BethAnn Laramay, 48, of Monkton died at her parents’ home on March 10, 2008, following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Malone, N.Y., on September 19, 1959, the only daughter of Norman Laramay and Kathleen (Kay) Barse Laramay of Moira, N.Y.

She graduated from Trinity College in Burlington in 1981. She continued her education at SUNY Potsdam, receiving a master’s degree in education. She also attended Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., receiving certification in reading recovery.

She taught reading at Brushton-Moira Central in New York and from 2005 to 2008 at Lincoln Community School in Lincoln. She was also a consultant for the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union in Bristol, and she taught other teachers in Vermont how to do reading recovery.

She lived in Middlebury for eight years in the 1980s and worked at the Counseling Service of Addison County.

She is survived by her parents; three brothers, Michael Laramay and his wife Elizabeth of Moira, N.Y., Steven Laramay and his wife Rebecca of Texas, and Mark Laramay and his companion Vickie of Malone, N.Y.; and nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by two brothers in infancy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Ann’s Church, St. Regis Falls, N.Y., on Saturday, March 15, at 11 a.m., with Father Alfred Fish officiating. A gathering of friends and family will follow immediately at St. Ann’s Parish Hall. There will be no calling hours. Interment will be in The East Dickinson Cemetery in the spring.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the North Country, Malone, N.Y., or the Moira Fire and Rescue Service.

Althea Muriel Keeler

Marian M. Strobridge

VERGENNES — Marian M. Strobridge, 93, of Vergennes died on Saturday, March 1, 2008, at Ringer’s Community Care Home in Vergennes following a courageous battle with ALS. She was born Oct. 6, 1914, to the late Ashley and Bertha Munger in the same house in which her mother was born.

She was raised in Peacham and graduated from Peacham Academy. On Aug. 9, 1941, she was married to Edgar “Norton” Strobridge in West Barnet.

Following an extended wartime separation, she joined him for Army assignments in Louisiana before returning to civilian life in the Northeast Kingdom. When he was appointed as a Vermont Fish and Game warden, they moved to Poultney in 1947 and subsequently to Vergennes in 1956.

She played the piano for the children’s choir of the Vergennes United Methodist Church for more than 20 years and served as treasurer for the church and as bookkeeper for Howard LeBoeuf and Son contractors.

Despite multiple hardships, including severe hearing impairment since childhood; loss of a daughter, Judith Ann, to leukemia in 1954; and loss of her husband to heart disease in 1974, she devoted her energies to her home, church, music, friends, extended family, and the Boston Red Sox, according to family.

She is survived by her son Steven and his wife Carol of Springfield, Va.; her son Peter and his wife Christina of Worcester; five grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; a sister-in-law, Judith Munger; and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Stanley, Loring and Roy.

A memorial service was held on Wednesday, March 5, at Vergennes United Methodist Church.

Memorial donations can be made to Addison County Home Health and Hospice, P.O. Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753.

Rene A. Benoit

Jane Marie (Chamberlain) Joy

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Jane Marie (Chamberlain) Joy, 63, died Feb. 26, 2008, after a seven-year battle with cancer. She was born in New Haven on April 27, 1944, the daughter of Harold and Lula (O’Bryan) Chamberlain Sr.

She graduated as valedictorian of her class at Beeman Academy in 1962. She then graduated from O’Brien’s School of Cosmetology in 1963 and for many years owned and operated The Pine Grove Beauty Shop in New Haven. She later moved to Arizona where she pursued a career in real estate and eventually settled in San Diego, Calif.

According to family, she enjoyed her flower gardens and her daily walks and swims in the pool.

She is survived by her companion, Ray Oliver of San Diego, Calif.; her two sons, Christopher Kimball and his wife Kim of Prescott, Ariz., and Andrew Kimball of Las Vegas, Nev.; two grandsons; her parents of Marietta, Ga.; two brothers, Edwin and his wife Diane of Marietta, Ga., and Harold “Fred” Chamberlain Jr. and his companion Susan Robbins of Burlington; her sister, Mary Shaw and her husband “Butch” of Florence; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also survived by her former husband, Howard Kimball.

She was predeceased by a sister, Lorraine Chamberlain, in 1944.

At her request, private services will be held by the family.

Kathleen B. Johnson

MIDDLEBURY — Kathleen B. Johnson, 66, passed away quietly at home on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008. She was born in Middlebury on June 28, 1941, to the late Francis and Margaret (Smith) Bullock. She was adopted by the late Ted and Ruth Johnson in 1944 and was raised in Brandon.