Obituaries
Helen Simmons
ORWELL — Helen Helenski Simmons, 90, died Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, at her home in Orwell.
The memorial service “In Celebration of Her Life” will take place May 15, 2010, at 11 a.m., at the First Congregational Church of Orwell. The Rev. Richard Esty, pastor, will officiate. The graveside committal service and burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery in Orwell.
Memorial gifts may be made to Addison County Home Health and Hospice, PO Box 765, Middlebury, VT 05753, or the Orwell First Response Squad, c/o Robert LaDuc, Treasurer, 32 Royce Hill Road, Orwell, VT 05760.
Christine Rathan
MIDDLEBURY — Christine (Chrysi) Linda Rathan died peacefully at Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Middlebury on Dec. 23, 2009, of a rare neurological disorder, spino-cerebellar ataxia, type 2.
A memorial service celebrating her life was held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Wednesday, Dec. 30. Memorial donations made be made to Addison County Home Health and Hospice, PO Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753, or Hospice Volunteer Services, 73 Maple St., Middlebury, VT 05753.
Charles Novak
MIDDLEBURY — Charles Novak’s life journey ended on Dec. 22, 2009. Charles was born to Elmer and Elizabeth Kenmore Novak on July 26, 1921, in Middlebury. He was the grandson of Joseph and Anna Novak, originally from Budapest, Hungary.
A memorial service with military honors will be held at Sanderson Funeral Home, 117 South Main St. Middlebury at a time to be announced in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that contributions be made to the Helen Porter Nursing Home and/or Addison County Home Health and Hospice.
Martha Munger
BRANDON — Martha E. Munger, 87, died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, at Rutland Regional Medical Center.
The funeral service was held Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, at the Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon. The Rev. Richard White, pastor of the Brandon Congregational Church, officiated. A private graveside committal service and burial followed in the family lot at Pine Hill Cemetery.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Brandon Area Rescue Squad, PO Box 232, Brandon, VT 05733.
She was born in Brandon on April 29, 1922. She was the daughter of Carl and Martha (Welch) Munger.
Blanche Lafrance
VERGENNES — Born Blanche Farnsworth in Springfield, Mass., on Nov. 20, 1928, Blanche Rheaume La France passed away peacefully at age 81 in her home in Vergennes on Dec. 22, 2009.
Blanche lived most of her life in the Vergennes area. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, and cherished time spent with over 100 pen pals.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, at 11 a.m. at Brown-McClay Funeral Home at 48 South Maple St. in Vergennes.
Thomas Healey
ATTLEBORO, Mass. — Thomas Stephen Healey, 90, of North Attleboro, formerly of Attleboro and East Middlebury, Vt., died peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009, at the Madonna Manor Nursing Home in North Attleboro, where he had made his home since earlier this year.
Memorial donations may be made to the Dyer-Lake Charitable Foundation Inc., 161 Commonwealth Ave., North Attleboro, MA 02760, to benefit the Madonna Manor Resident Activities Fund and/or the Christopher Heights Recreational Fund to benefit residents.
Peter Coe
SHOREHAM — Peter James Coe, 43, died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009, while helping a stranger by the side of an icy road.
A celebration of his life will be held Thursday, Dec. 31, at 1 p.m. at the Shoreham Congregational Church, the Rev. Gary O’Gorman officiating. Following the ceremony the family will receive friends at the Shoreham Fire Station, for a time of fellowship and remembrance.
Memorial gifts may be made to The Peter Coe Memorial Fund, for the benefit of his children, c/o Mark Young, First National Bank of Orwell, P.O. Box 38, Orwell, VT 05760.
Deborah Ketcham
NAPLES, Fla./CORNWALL, Vt. — Deborah Ann Sears Morrison Ketcham died unexpectedly on Dec. 17, 2009, at the Physicians Regional Hospital in Naples, Fla., with family and friends at her side.
Memorial contributions may be made to benefit an education fund for Ian and Dallas to the Deb Ketcham Memorial Fund, National Bank of Middlebury, c/o Grover Usilton, Box 189, Middlebury, VT 05753.
A memorial mass and graveside service will occur in May in Middlebury, Vt., with burial next her son Nate.
James Halnon
SALISBURY — James McNulla Halnon, beloved husband of Ann, and lifetime resident of Salisbury, died at the age of 90 on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Middlebury, on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009, with the Rev. Brian O’Donnell, parochial vicar, as celebrant. Spring burial with military honors will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Leatha Brown
STARKSBORO — Leatha A. (Weston) Brown, 91, died peacefully with family by her side on Dec. 13, 2009, at Helen Porter Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Middlebury.
Funeral services will be private and there will be no public calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to Addison County Humane Society, 236 Boardman St., Middlebury, VT 05753.
She was born in Huntington on Oct. 29, 1918, the daughter of Joseph A. and Mae (Paige) Weston.
She married Wayland A. Brown on June 1, 1935, and he predeceased her October 13, 2002.
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Submitting an obituary
The Addison Independent publishes paid and free obituaries. Paid obituaries run just as submitted with a charge of $9.00 per column inch, and the editor shapes free obituaries to conform to our editorial style. We run photos of the person if they are submitted in a relatively high-quality format.
Generally, obituaries follow this form:
TOWN - Name, age, of town, died on date, of cause of death. He/She was born on date in town, the son/daughter of father's name and mother's name, including maiden name in parentheses.
Then include a paragraph or two about where the person went to school and what they did for work; where they lived, who they married and when.
Add a sentence or two about what made the person special to family and friends, including hobbies, avocations or other telling details about their life.
He/She is survived by spouse's name; children named individually (and their spouses and towns of residence, if appropriate); siblings named individually; number of grandchildren, parents or other immediate family members.
He/She was predeceased by names of immediate family members.
A memorial service will be held (fill in details of date, time, and place, plus officiate if applicable) with interment at (place). Memorial contributions may be made to (name and complete address, if applicable).
Obituaries can be e-mailed to: news@addisonindependent.com
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