Charles W. Thompson
BRISTOL — Charles W. Thompson, 74, died Monday, Nov. 19, 2007, at home following several years of failing health. He was born in Starksboro on March 30, 1933, the son of Nixon and Edna (Kimball) Thompson.
He worked for various contractors in the area.
According to family, he was an avid sportsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a fan of country and western music and was well known for his collection of license plates.
He is survived by his wife, Donna (Wheelock) Thompson of Richmond; his daughter, Roselyn Thompson and husband Larry Beitel of Arizona; his sons, Robert Thompson of Bristol, and Reginald Thompson of Huntington; nine grandchildren; his sister, Jacqueline Hallock of Middlebury; his four brothers, Norman of Starksboro, Martin of Bristol, Winthrop of Starksboro, and Nixon Jr. of Richford; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his son, Roger Thompson; and sisters, Barbara Smith of Huntington, Alice Paya of Jericho, and Ruth Parker of Winooski.
A memorial service was held Monday, Nov. 26, at Gifford Funeral Home in Richmond. Burial will be in Maplewood Cemetery in Huntington at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donations may be made to American Lung Association of Vermont, 372 Hurricane Lane, Suite 101, Williston, VT 04595.
Albert Eugene Surprise
NORTH FERRISBURGH — Albert Eugene Surprise, 77, died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007, at Helen Porter Health and Rehabilitation Center in Middlebury. He was born April 29, 1930, in Ferrisburgh, the son of Howard and Jennie Hastings Surprise.
He worked at Basin Harbor Club for 50 years.
He is survived by three brothers, Benjamin Surprise of Westfield, Mass., Leonard Surprise of Northfield Falls, and Harry Surprise of Vergennes; two sisters, Norma Raymond of Burlington, and Hilda Surprise of Randolph; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a brother, Herbert Surprise, in 1993.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Vergennes. Interment was in Gage Cemetery in Ferrisburgh.
Memorial contributions may be made to Vergennes Area Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 11, Vergennes, VT 05491.
Ila Hill Smith
STARKSBORO — Ila Hill Smith, 91, died on Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, at the Burlington Health and Rehab Center in Burlington. She was born in Starksboro on Nov. 20, 1916, the daughter of Mark and Belle Clifford Hill.
She graduated from Bristol High School in 1933 and married Leroy Edgar Smith of Starksboro in 1937. She was a farmer’s wife in her early years, but found time to help out with church suppers and firemen’s auxiliary dinners. Ila served her community as town clerk and treasurer from 1941 to 1947.
She was predeceased by her husband in 2000.
She is survived by her niece, Dorothy Hill Romprey of Cocoa, Fla.; a nephew; a niece; a cousin, Lorraine Emmons of Williamstown, Vermont; and several grand-nieces and -nephews.
Friends may call at the Brown McClay Funeral Home in Bristol on Friday evening, Nov. 30, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at the Starksboro Baptist Church on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m. Interment will be in the Green Mountain Cemetery in Starksboro.
Memorial contributions may be made to Starksboro Baptist Church, 11 Parsonage Road, Starksboro, VT. 05487; Addison County Home Health and Hospice, P.O. Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753; or Starksboro Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 55, Starksboro, VT 05487.
HOLLIS, N.H. — Mrs. Linda (Ammann) Piper, 57, of Hollis, N.H., died on Nov. 10, 2007, at home from multiple myeloma, surrounded by her family. She was born in Newark, N.J., on Nov. 29, 1949, the daughter of Ernest and Marie (Liccese) Ammann.
She was raised in Bloomfield, N.J. She graduated from West Virginia University and later moved to the Nashua area in 1980, where she founded Career Connections Staffing Services in 1982, and served as its president. As a successful local businesswoman, she held several civic positions.
For 23 years she was the wife of Stephen Piper, who grew up in Weybridge, and graduated from Middlebury Union High School.
She had been a resident of Hollis for the past 17 years. According to family her greatest joys were traveling with her family to various locations all over the world and spending her summers at her lake house in Laconia, N.H.
She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Stephen Piper; her children, Brian Andrew Piper, and Sara Jane Piper; her siblings, Charles Ammann of Manchester, Conn., and Jeanne Perry and her husband Thomas of Califon, N.J.; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A mass of Christian burial was held on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at the Parish of the Resurrection in Nashua, N.H.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pan Mass Challenge and mailed c/o Steve Piper, 20 Sherwood Drive, Hollis, NH 03049.
VERGENNES — Jeanne d’Arc Rachel Senesac was born in Elmore on March 11, 1915, the daughter of Jacques and Alida (Choiniere) Senesac.
Jeanne loved her family, her church and her community. On the family farm her parents taught the children to care for each other and their neighbors. Serving and caring — that was their way of life, and Jeanne lived that credo throughout her life, teaching her children to do the same.
She was educated in schools in Potash Bay, Vergennes and Villa Barlow Academy in St. Albans, as well as the Perry Business School in Vergennes. Her parents were her most influential teachers. Jeanne married Charles Jackman in 1936 and together they raised six children in Vergennes.
Jeanne was on the first board governing the John Graham Emergency Shelter, often softening the hard attitude of the governing powers of the community toward the homeless. She also served on the first board for Addison County’s United Way.
She was a charter member of the St. Ann’s Society and one of the first to be appointed as Lay Minister of the Eucharist at St. Peter’s Church. Her commitment and service to the church and its youth were an important part of her life.
Many St. Peter’s parishioners will remember the numerous pageants performed when Jeanne was their Catechism teacher as well as classes being taught in her home. Her table could always be expanded to include anyone who dropped by at mealtime.
Jeanne and Charlie’s home was known as a place where young people were welcomed and nourished. Long before teen centers were common, Jeanne advocated for and was instrumental in the establishment of a local teen center, a place where teens could gather safely to socialize.
Jeanne and Charlie gave their children the two camps on Lake Champlain to instill the importance of family togetherness. Her time at “the lake” was always special and she loved seeing the joy the camps brought to her family.
That joy also was visible in the close relationships she had with her grandchildren. Many of them continued that special bond, caring for her the last few years of her life as her physical health declined.
Jeanne taught herself to play piano on the player piano when she was young and continued playing piano into her 90s. She also kept her family and friends on their toes playing poker and bridge.
Jeanne’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her many family members and friends will always remember the twinkle in her eye, her nonjudgmental listening, her welcoming smile and her open arms in times of happiness and sorrow.
All who knew Jeanne will feel a great sadness at her passing. But more importantly, they will feel a sense of gratitude and joy at having known her.
Jeanne married Charles E. Jackman on Feb. 10, 1936. Charlie died in 1988, after celebrating their 50th anniversary in 1986. Jeanne was also predeceased by her brothers Marcel and Gerald and her sisters Theresa (Ripchik), Marguerite (Casey) and Genevieve (Houle).
She is survived by her six children, Patricia (Bob) Kellogg, Alice (Al) Renaud, C. Michael (Terri) Jackman, Mary (Jim) Sullivan, Tom (Arlene) Jackman, and John (Maureen) Jackman; 16 grandchildren: Deborah (Glen) Hathaway, Katie (Rob) Martin, Jennifer (Marc) Maurais Rob Kellogg; Albie (Corinne) Renaud, Stephen (Nadine) Renaud, Andrea (Kevin) Masse; Jason Jackman, Mason Jackman; Patrick (Kori) Sullivan, Sarah (Chris) Hale; Matthew Jackman, Erin Jackman; Stephen (Traci) Jackman, Andrew Jackman, Ann-Marie Jackman, Patrick Jackman; and 17 great-grandchildren: Nicholas; Devyn, Maya; Madeline, Emma; Charlotte, Alice, Camryn, Callum, Jack, Layla, Joseph, Camilienne; Emily; Chastan; Sean and Lillian.
She is also survived by her brothers Levi and Jimmy (Sally) Senesac, her sisters-in-law Mickey (Gerald) and Frances (Marcel) Senesac, and brothers-in-law, Frederick (Joan) and Ralph (Merle) Jackman as well as many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, godchildren and friends.
Jeanne could not have lived at home these past three years without the following wonderful people: Kay Norris, her primary care giver and dear friend as well as Jodi James and Kelly Wellings, very special friends who have been important in Jeanne’s life the past three years.
We are also grateful for the wonderful recent care given by Rose Cleveland and Lucie Huckabay. The family also wants to thank and acknowledge the wonderful care from Addison County Home Health and Hospice.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 29, at 11 a.m. in St. Peter’s Church in Vergennes. Interment will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Vergennes.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Restoration Fund, the John Graham Shelter or Addison County Home Health and Hospice.
MIDDLEBURY — Helen I. Baldwin, 97, died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007, at Helen Porter Healthcare. She was born in Weybridge on June 11, 1910, the daughter of William and Eva (Hier) Baldwin.
She graduated from Middlebury High School and was a member of St. Mary’s Church. She was a legal secretary for attorney Phyllis Armstrong prior to her retirement. She enjoyed NASCAR.
She is survived by two nieces, Phyllis Pelland and Beatrice Grant, both of Rutland.
She was predeceased by her sister, Evelyn Baldwin, in 2000.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at St. Mary’s Church in Middlebury, with the Rev. Justin Baker, pastor, as celebrant. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.