Obituaries

Thomas Joseph Cousino, 80, of Vergennes

THOMAS JOSEPH COUSINO

VERGENNES — Thomas Joseph Cousino, 80, of Vergennes, Vt., unexpectedly took flight on the afternoon of Jan. 21, 2022.

He was born on May 7, 1941, to Peter and Bernadette Cousino of Bristol, Vt. He was longing to be with the family members who went before him and eager to meet our Lord.

Tom was a feisty, talkative, opinionated and very loving man. In his younger years, he spent time working in Florida and at Basin Harbor in Vermont. He worked at the Brown/McClay Funeral Home when it was still Gordon Brown, but his main occupation throughout life was a painter. After his retirement, he went to work on a farm in Addison, Vt. He was well trained for this job after growing up on the family farm in Bristol.

Tom loved to travel, and after he enlisted in the United States Air Force, he was stationed for a time in Greenland as well around the U.S. He visited Europe several times and was very proud of meeting the Pope when he was in Rome. Recently, he realized two dreams. He turned 80 and he visited Disneyland while on a vacation at his brother Charlie’s in Florida.

Tom was a deeply religious man. The most important thing in his life was his strong Catholic faith. He spent countless hours learning about the Saints and the ways of the church. He prayed incessantly for everyone he knew and really, he could have been a preacher because he was pretty good at that too! He visited Medjugorje seven times. It was his crowning glory to visit that shrine in Venezuela, and he wanted everyone to go. He will be pleased to see Sister Isolene so soon. They had a special bond and he delighted in delivering boxes and boxes of chocolates to her nursing home at Christmas.

With the help of his siblings, Tom cared for his mother for the last eight years of her life. He was completely devoted to her. He delighted in telling jokes, some of them totally inappropriate for the company he was in. He adored children and did anything to get a laugh out of them, including turning his eyelids inside out.

Tom leaves behind eight siblings, but he is joining seven others in heaven. He was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Bernadette Cousino as well as five brothers: Eugene, Joseph, Lucius, and Ambrose Cousino, all of Bristol, Guy Cousino (Pauline) of Vergennes; and two sisters, Marjorie Paquette (Emile) and Veronica Mayer (Raymond), both of Bristol.

Tom leaves eight siblings: Yvonne Morgan (Ray) of Middlebury, Roger Cousino (Denise) of Bristol and S.C., Charles Cousino (Susan) of New Haven and Fla., Anne Myrick of Bridport, Patricia Atkins (Victor) of Lincoln, Linda Roscoe (Kirk), Mary Bingham (Robert) and Peter Cousino (Gail) all of Bristol. He leaves behind sixty nieces and nephews and more greats than we could count, as well as numerous cousins and friends. He also leaves behind Garry and Cindy Cousino and their sons who were precious family to him.

A very special thanks to Pat Wager who drove Tom to church every Sunday and took him on outings or shopping, and to his neighbors Cookie and Racheal Steponaitis, who looked after Tom and often kept him company. His belief in the power of prayer was total. Please say a prayer that Tom is zooming right into heaven.

There will be calling hours on Friday, Jan. 28, from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Brown/McClay Funeral Home in Bristol. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Bristol at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29. Because of the COVID spikes, there will not be a gathering at this time. Perhaps a picnic this summer. To send online condolences to his family please visit www.brownmcclayfuneralhomes.com. ◊

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