Manchester Journal

Jordan T. Smith of West Pawlet, Vermont, passed away unexpectedly on August 4, 2022. A complete obituary can be found at www.durfefuneralhome.com

David Guthrie Van Sickle, Jr. of Solomons, Maryland died Friday, July 29, 2022. He was 83. Van Sickle was born on May 16, 1939 in Arthurdale, West Virginia to David and Lucy (Gore) Van Sickle. He worked as vice president of manufacturing for Bijur Lubricating Corporation in Bennington, for AAA in Florida and Washington D.C and later as a freelance automotive journalist. The Van Sickle's built a home in Manchester Center and lived there briefly in the early 90's and following his retirement from AAA in 2004 until 2016. He is survived by his wife, Beverly (Rohl) Van Sickle, his daughter Dawn Fischer-Van Sickle and his grandchildren Grace and Kyle Fischer of Karlsruhe, Germany in addition to...

Lois (Leggett) Hatch died on July 25th, 2022 at Equinox Terrace in Manchester, VT after a long illness. Lois was born in Quincy, MA to Robert and Constance (Stoner) Leggett on August 31st, 1928. She grew up in Braintree, MA and graduated from Thayer Academy there. In 1949 she received her bachelor's degree from Smith College with a major in German. She was proficient in Spanish and French from youth and added Irish later in life. Lois got her master's degree from The Teacher's College of Columbia University and was credentialed in Early Childhood Education. She taught at The Weekday School of Riverside Church in New York City, later was the director of Gardens Nursery School-Kindergarten on...

Barbara Stepp Neilson recently passed away at her home in Dorset after a long, gutty, grinding battle against cancer. She was born in Odessa, Texas and graduated in 1965 from Permian High School ? the high school featured in "Friday Night Lights." Understanding that there was a bigger world out there, she headed to Houston right after her graduation and talked her way into a job operating a key-punch machine, having never seen one before. Today's kids might scoff at her skills, but her character, courage and hard-won talents would serve her well for the rest of her life. Those talents included cooking, short-hand dictation, typing at a high rate of speed, organization, attention to...

Elizabeth Miller of Manchester, VT died after a long illness on July 7, 2022 in the Equinox Terrace at the age of 98. A celebration of life for Elizabeth will be held in Peru, with a service in the Peru Cemetery on August 21, 2022 at 1:00 PM, followed by refreshments and food at the Town Center. For the full obituary and to send personal condolences, please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.

Lee Steven Nemlich, 86, a resident of Summit Trails Road, Weston, passed away Saturday, July 2, 2022. Lee was born in NY on August 6, 1935, the son of the late Bernard and Jeanneatty (Burstein) Nemlich. He graduated from Washington Irving High School in Tarrytown NY, Class of 1953, where he was a standout athlete, achieving All Westchester County and All Metropolitan football honors. He was a member of the Brown University Class of 1957 and a member of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity. Lee was a principal owner of Regan Furniture Corporation, a third generation family business, located in midtown Manhattan. He and his wife, Jeanne, raised their family in Croton-on-Hudson, NY where Lee was a...

Virginia Catherine Alison Welford passed away at age 66 after a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. She was born March 19, 1956, in Redruth, Cornwall, England to James and Dorothy Welford, the third of four daughters. In 1962 the family moved to the U.S. finally settling in Weston Massachusetts. She always loved reading, especially science fiction. She graduated from Weston High School in 1974 as an Honor Society student where she was on the fencing team and sang in the choir. She received a Bachelor of Science in Plant Pathology from the University of Massachusetts in 1978 and then worked at Connecticut Valley Biological Supply Company where she revamped the greenhouse to grow plants for sale to...

This is a picture of Michael feeling happy, grateful and blessed. He's looking out over his beautiful gardens. They brought him great joy and he tended to them with loving care. He shared his life with his husband Tim, their beloved yellow labs: Skye, Storm and Kansas, and his family of friends, especially Kyle, Joe, Mary and Larry. Their home Roaring Branch was the center of Michael's love of food and entertaining. A hard worker all of his life, Michael loved bringing his passions to life and sharing them with all. His generous spirit touched all he met and will be missed. A celebration of Michael's life is to be announced at a later date. Memorial donations in honor of Michael can be...

Joan Lillian Romieu Bourque died peacefully in Rutland, Vermont on June 4, 2022. She was 91 years old. Joan was born in Springfield, MA, the beloved daughter of George and Caroline Romieu. As an only child, she enjoyed the loving attention of her parents during her many years living in Longmeadow, MA. Her fondest memories were of summer holidays spent on the Connecticut shore. In 1951, Joan met a neighborhood boy, William Bourque, and they were happily married for 54 years. Family was the center of Joan's world, her 4 children, 13 grandchildren and 3 great granddaughters kept her busy and brought her much happiness. Joan and Bill enjoyed cruising the Carribean, travelling in Europe,...

MANCHESTER- James Cheney Bushby 92, a resident of Bromley Manor passed away peacefully on June 3rd, 2022. Full obituary available on www.maharandsonfuneralhome.net

Nancy Mershon Ferrenz Carey passed peacefully on May 18, 2022 in Bennington, VT. A resident of Manchester, VT, she was born in New York, NY, daughter of George H. Ferrenz and Jane Mershon Ferrenz. Mrs. Carey grew up in Dobbs Ferry, NY and married her Dobbs Ferry High School sweetheart, James Henry Carey, in 1954. They lived in Tarrytown, NY, Briarcliff Manor, NY and Amelia Island, FL before settling in Manchester, VT. Mrs. Carey was a 28-year volunteer at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Tarrytown, NY, including 11 years managing the Information Desk. She was a talented needlepoint artist and a pug aficionado, with great strength of character and a playful sense of humor. Mrs. Carey was...

John M. Clark, Sr. 85, passed away May 3, 2022 at The Copley Manor. John was born on July 12, 1936 in New Haven, Connecticut, a son of the late John B. & Mary Kelly Clark. He married Jeanne Halligan on July 18th 1964 in Madison, CT. Mr. Clark was a proud graduate of The University of Notre Dame, and was always proud of his time with the "Fighting Irish". In the early 1960's, as a member of the US Airforce, he served our country during the Berlin Wall Crises in Germany. John was a parishioner of the Blessed Sacred Church in Stowe. His professional career started at Cheeseborough-Ponds. Jack then became an executive at Schick Razor Company. Schick was purchased by Warrner-Lambert...

Joyce Campbell Phelan of New York City and Dorset, Vermont died peacefully at the age of 86 on April 19, 2022, at her home in Dorset. She was the beloved wife of the late John J. Phelan. She is survived by her sister Janet Kettner, and her three sons John C. Phelan, David C. Phelan, and Peter M. Phelan. Joyce died as a result of complications from Parkinson's Disease which she had struggled with for several years. Joyce is remembered by all her knew her as a loving mother and devoted friend who had a genuine warmth and affection for all people regardless of their circumstances, social position, race, or nationality. Joyce Catherine Campbell was born on June 5, 1935 and grew up in London....

Forever in our hearts. Francoise (Hertoghe) Casale, 89, of Brookfield, CT., formerly of Manchester, VT and Vero Beach, FL., wife of the late John B. Casale, MD, died peacefully on Saturday, April 16. She was born in Antwerp, Belgium on January 28, 1933, daughter of the late Antoine and Germaine (Jonckheere) Hertoghe. She was lovingly known by family and friends as "Biche," or little doe, in french. Champion golfer many times over in Westchester/Fairfield County, Florida and Vermont. She was a dedicated volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Vero Beach FL and was a Board Member, The Moorings Yacht & Country Club. A beautiful and natural artist through various mediums... needlepoint was...

Tricia Hayes, 73, passed away at home on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Born in Trenton, New Jersey, she graduated from Chestnut Hill College with a degree in history and received her master's degree in public administration from Antioch. Tricia lived all over Southern Vermont and Nantucket until making her home in Manchester in 1972 and soon after she built her own local business, Focus Advertising and Public Relations. Throughout her career, she lent her skills to the Bennington Museum, Vanderbilt Equities, the Equinox, and the Sagamore. She launched the first street fair, coordinated the roundabout project, and edited the Battenkill Business Journal, among many other acts of service. Tricia was...

Marguerite (Peg) Anna Smith of South Londonderry, VT, and Tampa, FL, passed away under hospice care at Renaissance North Tampa on March 8, 2022. Peg is proceeded by her husband of 60-years, Ronald (Ron) George Smith and is survived by her 4 Children: Mark and his spouse, Susan; Laura and her spouse, Steve; Elizabeth (Beth) and Bradley (Brad); 6 Grandchildren: Jesse and his spouse, Bernadette (Bernie); Heidi, Bart and his spouse, Caroline; Jennifer (Jenny), Ashlyn and Brooke; and 4 Great-Grandchildren: Diedra (Didi), Gio, Lizbeth & Athena; and nieces and nephews Chris Brient, Justin Smith Courtenay Smith, Fergus Smith and Trevor Smith. Memorial Services will be held on Monday May 2,...

Elizabeth Florence Gilbert, a resident of Dorset, Vermont, died peacefully March 7, 2022, in the presence of beloved family members. She was 93. Betty was born Feb. 14, 1929, in Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts, the last child of George Holley Gilbert and Helen Herrick Gilbert of Wellesley, Mass. She was reared in Dorset and in Ardmore and Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Betty had a life-long love of learning. She earned a bachelors in Botany at Wellesley College, a masters in Botany and doctorate in Botany and Ecology at the University of Michigan and a masters of public health in Pathobiology at Johns Hopkins University. Choosing an academic career, Betty's teaching and research work spanned 31...

Mary Cardel, 92, a resident of Manchester, VT passed away on February 28, 2022. Mary was born in Brooklyn, NY. She spent her childhood in Hoboken, NJ with her parents and siblings helping with the family's restaurant. Mary was a true original - a wonderful artist-a creative thinker-a worldly woman who had spent several years living in Greece. As a young woman Mary moved to Westport, CT where she lived most of her adult life until moving to Manchester, VT. Mary's choice to move to her family's ski home of 52 years proved to be a wise one. In Manchester, she made wonderful friends, was inspired to become a potter and continue painting. She was proud to call Vermont her home. She lived every...

Chester Dean Andrews (Chet) died unexpectedly on February 25, 2022, age 91. He was born June 5, 1930, to Stuart F. and Glenda M. Andrews of Stamford, CT. Chet married Joan Wells Kellogg on May 10, 1952. They raised four children and enjoyed a wonderful marriage. Joan preceded him in death. Chet will be remembered for the countless lives he touched, through both his professional work and his extensive volunteer service. At Stone Ridge in Mystic, where he and Joan moved in 2013, Chet served on the Resident Council, Employee Appreciation Committee, and Welcome Committee. He sang in the Stone Ridge Choir and helped manage the Country Store. He passionately led efforts to secure scholarships...

On February 19, 2022 Rose Boudreau passed away peacefully at her home in Manchester, Vermont at the age of 95. Rose was born on July 17, 1926 in a taxi on the way to the hospital in Chicago. Her parents, Edgar and Ida Leblanc, who predeceased her, moved back to New Brunswick, Canada during the Great Depression. In a small church in Barachois, New Brunswick,Rose, a devout Catholic saw her husband to be, Emery Boudreau, singing in the choir. Emery wanted to marry Rose when they were in their late teens but Rose insisted they would marry when she was 21 years of age. Rose and Emery moved to Massachusetts and then Connecticut where they raised five children, Rachel, who predeceased her,...

Elizabeth "Betty" O'Leary died peacefully on Feb. 19, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was born at home in Verplanck, New York, on July 2, 1932, the daughter of John and Margaret (O'Brien) Keon and the granddaughter of Irish immigrants. As one of seven children, she cherished her family and friends in their tight-knit community along the Hudson River. Betty attended Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose and upon graduation enrolled at Hunter College in New York City. She was determined to earn her degree and even spent a year as a guest at the Assisium School, run by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart on the Upper East Side, so that she could attend college in...