GLENELLEN HAWTHORNE STEFANIAK

MIDDLEBURY — Glenellen Hawthorne Stefaniak died in Middlebury on April 8, 2025.

She was born in Boston, Mass., on Feb. 9, 1938, to Samuel Richards Gaines and Ellen Keiser Gaines. Samuel was a well-known composer and organist, and worked with other music industry leaders such as Percy Grainger. She and her brother, Roger Gaines moved to live with their aunt and uncle, John R. Groh and Karline Keiser Groh in Pennsylvania at a young age. Glenellen attended school at Linden Hall, college at Elizabethtown, and graduated from Wichita State University.

She was committed to the Vermont way of life, was an early member of the Middlebury Food Coop, and was passionate about classical music, nature, gardening, ballet and figure skating. Glenellen worked as a teacher, tutor, and did in-home and hospital health care, always nurturing others.

She is survived by her children, Dean Hawthorne of Shoreham, Vt., and Jennifer Hawthorne of Stamford Conn.; grandchildren, Jeffrey and Julian Peck; her cousins, Dianne Thiel, Vicki Freeland, and Kathy Cox and their spouses; and was pre-deceased by her husband, Ed.

She had a big heart for everyone and had many dear friends in the community. As she often said, “my arms around you.”

Arrangements under the direction of Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home.

Online condolences at www.sandersonfuneralservice.com. ◊