College news
• Marie S. Dennis of Marlboro, made the Dean's List for her fall trimester at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, R.I. She ended with an overall GPA for the term of 3.84. Dennis is in her junior year and is a liberal studies major with a minor in business.
Honors
• Dr. Robert Backus was presented with the 2017 Vermont Emergency Medical Services Lifetime Achievement Award on Dec. 4 at the Rescue, Inc. headquarters in West Townshend. Dan Batsie, Emergency Medical Services chief with the Vermont Department of Health, recognized Dr. Backus for his hands-on EMS involvement and support during 40 years of medical practice serving the West River Valley. Based out of Grace Cottage Hospital before his retirement earlier this year, Dr. Backus is known for never hesitating to leap into action to render aid, and is widely acknowledged for his critical role in building an EMS capacity in the area that has made a life-and-death difference for the people served.
Obituaries
• Patricia H. Dennison, 81, of Keene, N.H., formerly of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 23 at her home. She was born in Barre on March 23, 1936, the daughter of the late George A. and Edna (Hutchins) Holden. She grew up in Burlington, where she attended the local school system. She then graduated from Chester High School. She married William H. Dennison in 1955, and together they moved to Brattleboro, and later to Keene, where she had been a resident since 1974. She was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker who was employed in the retail business in both Brattleboro and Keene. She was previously active in PTA organizations in both communities and in the Girl Scouts. She was a religious instructor at St. Bernard Church and a member of AARP and the Keene Senior Center. The Dennisons enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends and family. She was predeceased by her husband, William; a daughter, Joanne Dennison Gall; and sisters Jacqueline Holden and Clara MacLeay. She is survived by a son, John Dennison and his wife, Jean-Marie, of Troy; a daughter, Jeanette Kononan and her husband Timothy of Peru, N.Y.; a sister-in-law. Linda LoPizzo and her husband Tom of Manchester, NH; as well as five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Memorial information: A private graveside service was held Nov. 29 at Monadnock View Cemetery in Keene. Donations to Monadnock Humane Society, 101 W Swanzey Rd, Swanzey, NH 03446. Online condolences may be offered at www.fletcherfuneralhome.com.
• Geneva M. Dix, 90, of Jacksonville. Died Nov. 24 at her home. She was born in Whitingham on Sept. 14, 1927, the daughter of the late Fred A. and Malah Grace (Murdock) Bernard. She attended school in Whitingham and was a graduate of Whitingham High School, Class of 1946. She worked at the Burrington Hill Ski Club and the Rough and Ready Leather Shop, both in Whitingham, the Stone Soldier in Jacksonville and G.S. Precision for 15 years, retiring in 1992. She loved her home, snowmobiling, the outdoors, traveling, and cherished times spent with her family. She was a member of the Jacksonville Community Church, the Breakfast Club in Jacksonville, the Senior Group, American Legion Auxiliary Post 17 in Whitingham, the E-Z Riders Snowmobile Club, and the VFW in Brattleboro. She is survived by her sons Robert Dix of Florida and Dana and Gary Dix of Whitingham, her sister Dorothy Session of Heath, Mass., 19 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 9 great-great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank Dix, whom she married in 1946; her sons Richard Dix Sr., Frank Dix, and Douglas Dix; grandson Richard Dix Jr.; brother Kenneth (Sonny) Bernard and sisters Grace Dix and Mary Havreluk. Memorial information: Funeral services were held Nov. 28 at Jacksonville Community Church, with interment in the family lot in Jacksonville Center Cemetery. Donations to the Deerfield Valley Rescue Building Fund or the Whitingham American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship Fund, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. To send the family condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Barbara M. Dustin, 81, of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Nov. 27 at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. She was born in Taunton, Mass., on Feb. 6, 1936, the daughter of Frank and Mary (Oliveira) Silvia. She was born with no sight and attended and graduated from the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Mass., the first school for the blind in America. She worked as an assembly worker for Streeter's Machine Shop in Hinsdale and previously performed assembly work for the state of New Hampshire. She was very independent and was known for her outgoing personality and spirit of friendship. She enjoyed attending yard sales and loved dogs and cats. She was a proud member of the Perkins School Alumni Association. In 1965, she married to Francis Dustin, who predeceased her in 1995. There are no surviving relatives. She leaves two very close and dear friends, Margo Wilkins and her husband, Bill, of Hinsdale, and Sharon Slipik and her husband, Mitch, of West Bridgewater, Mass. She also leaves her extended family at Rolling Hills Village and her beloved cat, Peaches. Memorial information: In keeping with her final wishes, no services are scheduled. Burial was in St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in Taunton, where she was laid to rest next to her late husband and parents. Donations to The Perkins School for the Blind, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Sheila M. Fennessey, 73, formerly of West Dover and of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Died Nov. 24 at her home in Fort Lauderdale. Born in Boston on April 21, 1944, the daughter of the late Jerome and Mary M. (Howlett) Coughlin, she graduated from Quincy, (Mass.) High School, Class of 1961 and from the Chandler School for Women in 1963. She worked as a secretary in administration at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Marriott Corporation Family Restaurants, and retired from Watson-Wyatt. She loved to travel and was an avid boater. She enjoyed knitting, was an avid gardener, loved Big Band music, the Beatles, and Willie Nelson. She also loved watching the Patriots and Red Sox. She is survived by her children, Paul Fennessey of Newport, R.I., Kevin Mahoney of West Roxbury, Mass., Lori Fennessey of Avon, Colo., Kelli Fennessey of Jackson, Wyo., and Nancy Waldron and her husband Tim of Orleans, Mass.; her brother, Denis Coughlin of Princeton, Mass.; four grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Fennessey ,whom she married in 1985 and died on June 4, 2017. She was also preceded in death by her son, Christopher Mahoney, siblings Brian Coughlin and Maureen Costigan. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held Friday, Dec. 8, at 1:30 p.m., at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Wilmington. Interment will follow in the family lot in Riverview Cemetery. There are no visiting hours. Donations to the American Cancer Society, in care of Covey-Allen & Shea Funeral Home P.O. Box 215 Wilmington, VT 05363. To send the family condolences, visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.
• Gregory Edmund Gilbert, 34, of Seaford, N.Y. Died unexpectedly on Nov. 18. During his life, Gregory had been an avid snowboarder and attended Mount Snow Academy for two years. He was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High Scool and had attended Nassau Community College. He had recently become an apprentice bricklayer for New York Bricklayers Union Local 1 and was very proud of his work. He had a huge heart and larger social conscience. He made friends wherever he went and his smiling face and quick wit will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He is survived by his mother, Donna Sexauer Gilbert; his father, Eugene Gilbert; a sister, Samantha Sullivan Campbell; an aunt, Patricia Gilbert; an uncle, Ricky Sexauer; a cousin, Shenandoah Gilbert; a new niece, Addison Campbell; a brother-in-law, James Campbell; and two nephews, Kade and Reis Perotti, who he was very proud of. He was predeceased by both sets of grandparents: Edmund and Helen Gilbert, and Richard and Nancy Sexauer. Memorial information: Services were held in Seaford, N.Y. Donations to the Mount Snow Ski Educational Foundation, Inc.
• Marie Evelyn Sprague Lee, 83, of Seminole, Fla., and Guilford. Died Nov. 28 at her daughter's home in Guilford following a brief illness. Born on Jan. 3, 1934 to Leroy and Jane (Duplissia) Sprague, she was the youngest of 21 children. She married Erwin Lee of Guilford in 1953 and they were blessed with four children; Barbara of Guilford; Deborah Domingue (Paul) of Seminole, Fla.; Stephen of Newfane, and Michael of Guilford. She is survived by seven grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, and friends; her dogs, and her granddog, Lily. She was predeceased by her 20 siblings and son-in-law Joseph Roberto. Memorial information: Per her wishes, she was cremated and will be laid to rest with her husband, who died in 1987. A funeral Mass at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Brattleboro will be held on Dec. 9 at 11 a.m., followed by burial services in Lee Cemetery in Guilford. Donations to St. Brigid's Kitchen, in care of St. Michael's Catholic Church, 47 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Colleen McCloskey-Meyer, 27, of Winchester, N.H. Died at her family's home in Brattleboro on Nov. 28, after many years of living with anorexia. She was born in Brattleboro on May 14, 1990 and attended Brattleboro schools, graduating from BUHS in 2008. She had many talents while growing up. She worked at Omega Optical as a researcher and data analyst, from 2010 until 2014. Her greatest passion was the study of classical ballet. She traveled often to New York City, over the past 10 years, to attend ballet performances. She leaves her parents, Ann McCloskey and Joe Meyer, of Brattleboro; her sister, Caitlin McCloskey-Meyer, of Brattleboro and Long Island, N.Y.: and her close friend, Chris Garrecht, of Winchester. Memorial information: Burial will be private. A memorial service will be planned for a later date.
• Mary N. Wetherby, 67, of Brattleboro. Died Nov. 25, following a courageous battle with cancer. She fought her disease and ultimately departed this world with grace, strength, and resilience - just as she lived her life. Born on Nov. 22, 1950 at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend, to Francis Peeso and Ralph Peeso, she was a graduate of Brattleboro Union High School and was a devoted employee at Fulflex for over 28 years. She had a great impact on so many people over the years. Those close to her knew Mrs. Wetherby to be strong, fiercely loyal, independent, supportive, reliable, hard-working, compassionate, playful, and always told things as they were. She was preceded in death by her parents, and she is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Arnold Wetherby; children Rhonda Wetherby (Mikal Altomare) of Rio Rancho, N.M. and Shane Wetherby of Brattleboro; siblings, Donna Corliss (Norman), Linda Sanderson, Gayle Houle (Dean), Sandy Houle (Patrick), Helmer Peeso (Suzanne), and William Peeso; three grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial information: A celebration of life was held at the Brattleboro VFW on Dec. 1. Donations to ASPCA at secure.aspca.org, or Cancer Patient Support Foundation at www.cpsfvt.org. To sign an online guestbook with messages of condolence, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
Services
• A commemoration for Dorothy O. Olson, long-time West Brattleboro resident who died in Tucson, Ariz., this fall, will be held Sunday, Dec. 10, from 2 to 3 p.m., at Marlboro College in the Serkin Center for the Performing Arts, with a reception to follow.