Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home

Loving wife and mother and kind friend, Audrey Caroline Balassie died in peace at the age of 96 on April 15, 2024, at home in Bennington, Vermont. She was born Audrey Martin on July 19, 1927, in Stamford, Connecticut, the younger of two daughters of Philip and Alice Martin. Audrey attended local schools in Stamford and upon graduation went to work for Conde Nast. During this time she embarked on a blind date that would change her trajectory when she met the love of her life, her late husband, Eugene Balassie. After marrying they moved to the Midwest for a period of years and went on to have four children and a happy, active life. Audrey loved being a homemaker and raising kids. She also...

Shane Adrian Fressola, 49, a resident of Chapel Road, passed away April 6, 2024 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center following a brief illness. Shane was born in Bennington on March 10, 1975 the son of Michael and Dawn (Grusendorf) Fressola. Shane attended Bennington schools, graduating from MT. Anthony Union High School, class of 1993. Shane was raised in Pownal and was a junior member of the Pownal Rural Fire Department. He was employed for the last 26 years at the Beverage Smokers Den where he was so knowledgeable about the merchandise. Early on Shane earned the moniker of "The Beer Guy". Shane was all about the great outdoors with a love of nature. He loved hiking, exploring, camping...

Chief Warrant Officer, Retired U.S. Army Raymond A. Smith, a resident of Arlington, VT, passed away April 5, 2024 at the Vermont Veterans' Home in Bennington, Vermont. Graveside services with military honors will be held in Evergreen Cemetery to be announced in June. There will be no visiting hours. To send the family personal condolences and for complete obituary details please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com . The family has entrusted arrangements to the care of Hanson-Walbridge Funeral Home, Arlington Chapel, Historic 7A Arlington, VT.

Linda A. Hoffman passed away on April 5th, 2024 at the age of 80. A memorial service will be held at the West Arlington Grange Pavillion on May 18th 2024 at 12pm. Following the service, Linda will be taken down River Road one last time before being placed at rest in the family lot in the West Arlington Cemetery. Immediately following the burial, friends and family are invited back to the pavilion for a Celebration of Linda's life where there will be light refreshments. To view her complete obituary, please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com

Fred W Houston passed peacefully at his home in the wee hours of the morning on Friday, April 5th, 2024 after a night of watching footie (soccer for the rest of us) and chatting with dear friends. The man lived a full life that took him around the world more than once. "For the sins of his youth" he went into law and practiced in Brattleboro, Londonderry and finally Wilmington before retiring into curmudgeonhood at his apartment at 6 South Main St. Prior to practicing law he was a member of Putney Folk at Windham College, then toured across the country as a roadie with Dawson Sound Company, hauling gear for bands such as Steely Dan and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He is predeceased by his...

Whitney T. Hamilton of Higley Hill Road, Marlboro, died unexpectedly on April 5, 2024. He was born on November 14, 1984, in Brattleboro and grew up on his grandfather's dairy farm. He graduated from Brattleboro Union High School in 2003. Whitty worked at the Retreat Farm, Feed Commodities in Bernardston, Wayne Corse Excavating, the Town of Whitingham, VT Roadworks, and Whetstone Valley Excavating. He was a member of the Marlboro Volunteer Fire Department. Whitty enjoyed working on dairy farms and operating equipment. He was a sensitive, loving father and thoughtful friend and neighbor who was happy sitting on a log skidder with a chainsaw by his side. He leaves behind his significant other,...

Janet C. Fabricius, 87, a resident of Bennington, passed away March 27, 2024 at Brookdale at Fillmore Pond. Janet was born in New Bedford, MA on February 25, 1937, the daughter of the late R. Alton and Marion (Gould) Pitcher. She attended Berne Knox Central School in Berne, NY graduating in 1954, graduated from Union College and the Albany, NY School of Nursing in 1957. On Oct. 27th, 1957, she married Dr. Richard Fabricius and moved to Monroe, Louisiana. She worked as a nurse while Richard completed an orthopedic surgical residency at Ochsner Foundation Hospital. Upon completion, they then moved to Bennington in 1961. Janet kept her RN license active throughout the years and provided...

Christopher W. Kilburn 65 of Bennington, passed away March 20,2024 at Bennington and Health Rehabilitation. There are no visiting hours. There will be a private burial at a later date. To view his complete obituary, please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.

Sharon J. Sylvester, of Bennington Vermont passed away at 72 years-old on March 18, 2024 at Southern Vermont Medical Center. To honor Sharon's final wish, a celebration of life will be announced in the late spring. To view her complete obituary please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com

Helen Tasker Doxsee, 106, daughter of John Tasker and Helen Rohde Tasker, passed away peacefully on March 17th at Brookdale Fillmore Pond Senior Living in Bennington, Vermont. A celebration of life will be held at the First Congregational Church, Manchester, VT on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 10:00AM. To view her complete obituary, please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.

Sarah (Sally) A. Treat, 86, a resident of Manchester, passed away March 16, 2024 at home surrounded by her family. Sally was born in Granville, NY on February 16, 1938, the daughter of the late John Holmes and Beatrice (Loomis) Andrus of Pawlet, Vermont. Sally was the loving and devoted wife for over 62 years to Robert (Bob) E. Treat and an amazing mother of 5 children. She was passionate about spending time with her family, and proud of her children and grandchildren. She received a degree in biology from Syracuse University and was a high school biology teacher prior to having children. She worked with Bob at Green Mountain Veterinary Hospital for many years after her children were grown....

Daniel C. Collette Sr., 73, a resident of Bennington, Vermont passed away peacefully on March 10th 2024 at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. A celebration of Daniel's life will be held at 2pm on March 16th, 2024 at Bounti Fare in Adams, MA. Family and friends are invited to come have a drink and to sing in memory of Dan. Food will be provided. To view his complete obituary, please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.

Sally Marie Ayrey, 81, a resident of Sunderland Hill Road, passed away February 28, 2024 at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. A mass of Christian death and burial will be celebrated Saturday March 9, 2024 at 11am at Christ Our Savior Church in Manchester, VT. Interment will be held later in the spring. Visiting hours will be held Friday March 8, 2024 from 4-7pm at Hanson-Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home Arlington Chapel, Historic Route7A, Arlington, VT. To send the family personal condolences and for complete obituary details please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted arrangements to the care of Hanson-Walbridge & Shea Funeral...

Lawrence Roger Disco, age 71, beloved husband, treasured father, and grandfather passed away on February 22, 2024 following a courageous battle with Covid. He had resided in Manchester, VT. Calling hours will be held at Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home at 213 Main Street, Bennington VT on Thursday, February 29th from 1PM - 3 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Saint Francis de Sales Church at 238 Main Street in Bennington on Friday, March 1st at 11AM. A private burial will be held in the spring. To send the family personal condolences and for complete obituary details please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.

Mrs. Eva Emmaline (Elliot) Grusendorf (age 90) of Pownal, Vermont passed away on February 7, 2024 of natural causes. Eva was born on February 23, 1933 to Homer and May Elliot in Birdsell, New York. Eva married Lyle Frederick Grusendorf (April 6,1927 -Dec 7, 1992) in Filmore New York on January 19, 1952. They moved to Vermont in 1958 when Lyle took a job at Bennington Potters. Eva would also eventually work as a finisher at Bennington Potters until her retirement at 80 years old. She was an active member of several local churches through the years, the last being The Williamstown Baptist Church. She played piano and Organ and enjoyed the Arts. She is survived by her 6 children. Rev. John...

Regretfully, I must announce my demise on Thursday, January 25, 2024 at the age of 101. It is not only regrettable but also inconvenient not only for me but above all for my daughter Gwen, however, since the mortality rate of human beings tends to be 100%, to complain about it is both useless and in bad taste. Instead, I'll demonstrate how a person of average talent can achieve, with good luck, a most satisfactory, joyful life that, over a period of 5+ decades (1944-1998), even reached the level of happiness. It all started with the lucky break of being born(in Vienna, Austria)into the loving and adequately prosperous family of Richard and Anny(Kohn)Tauber and my 2 year old sister Kitty, on...

Joan Campbell Shaw (age 99) of Manchester, Vermont crossed over gently, as was her way, at home on Cottage Street where she and her late husband Douglas Parker Shaw raised their five children. Memorial Services will be announced at a later date. To send the family personal condolences and for complete obituary details, please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.

Beatrice Jane "Bea" (Herrick) Mattison, 96, passed away this morning, Jan. 23, 2024 at The Center For Living And Rehabilitation in Bennington, Vt. She was the wife of the late Gerald Gardner Mattison, Sr. who passed away on May 15, 2014. Bea was born on Aug. 21, 1927, in Pittsfield, Ma., the daughter of Ralph J. and Angeline B. (Coulter) Herrick. She graduated from North Bennington High School. Bea was employed by Stanley Tools in Shaftsbury, Vt., for most of her working life and for nine years by the Shaftsbury U. S. Post Office. Bea was a life-time member of the Shaftsbury United Methodist Church, the Shaftsbury Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary and the Bennington Club where she...

Helen S. Greaney, a resident of Bennington, VT, passed away January 21, 2024 at Brookdale Village at Fillmore Pond. Helen was born in Worcester, MA on January 11, 1926 the daughter of Dr. Mark Stanley and Ethel Steeves. She married George B. Greaney in 1948 in Washington, D.C. George and Helen moved to Bennington, VT in 1975. Helen spent many years enjoying hikes with the Green Mountain Club, travelling, cross-country skiing at Prospect Mountain-- and with her husband George--managing their U-Pick Strawberry business while living on Chapel Rd. Helen spent many hours enjoying the Sage City Symphony, the Park McCullough House and time at the Unitarian Fellowship. Many will remember Helen...

Bruce P. Knapp, 66 of Bennington, VT passed away at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center on January 14, 2024 surrounded by his family. A Celebration of his Life will be held at the VFW, Bennington January 27, 2024, 2-5pm for family and friends. To send the family personal condolences and for complete obituary details please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.

Constance Dufresne, 84, a resident of Shaftsbury, VT, passed away January 14, 2024 at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center. At Connie's request there are no funeral services. To send the family personal condolences and for complete obituary details please visit www.sheafuneralhomres.com. The family has entrusted arrangements to the care of Hanson-Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home 213 West Main Street Bennington, VT.