Obituaries
• Dr. Hilke (Thiessen) Breder, 79, of Brattleboro. Died Dec. 7, 2021 at Pine Heights nursing home. Hilke was born on March 7, 1942 in Hamburg, Germany. She attended the Kunsthochschule (Art School) of Hamburg and left Hamburg in 1965 to live in New York City. After a number of years in New York City, Hilke moved to the Midwest where she graduated from the University of Iowa in 1972. She continued her studies in medicine, graduating in 1976 from University of Iowa Medical School. Hilke received her M.D. in 1979 from University of Kansas College of Medicine. She was a doctor of internal medicine in Brattleboro. Hilke was a voracious reader and learner, avid bird enthusiast and photographer. She maintained a bird blog, onejackdawbirding.blogspot.com. Hilke appreciated visual art and thoroughly enjoyed international travel, exploring and hiking in nature. Her adoration for all in the animal kingdom endured throughout her life, and she was especially devoted to all the dogs she had over the years. While Hilke could seem outwardly reserved, she deeply cared about her pets, patients, colleagues, her family and a few dear friends. She is survived by her husband, Bill Jacques. All other living relatives reside in Germany. Memorial information: Memorial donations to the Humane Society of one's choice.
• Craig Cantwell, 61, of Brattleboro. Died on February 26, 2022. As a young man from the Philadelphia area, he was diagnosed with a severely debilitating form of hereditary arthritis, complicated by other chronic health problems, affecting plans of any long-term career. With this diagnosis, Craig chose to live his life pursuing his passion for music and peacemaking. As a young man, he enjoyed working in music supporting bands as a sound technician and road manager. He also worked as a volunteer to better poor living conditions of Native Americans living on reservations throughout North America. In 1994, he moved to Brattleboro and, in 1995, became a Quaker and member of Putney Friends Meeting. He followed his leading to dedicate his life to the ways of a peacekeeper and working for equality for all. Craig had a saying: “It's all about balance, without balance nothing will ever work right and will eventually fall apart.” He was an active member of Amnesty International as well as being active on the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of Putney Friends Meeting. Craig helped co-found The Family Peace Project, Inc. of Brattleboro, volunteering many hours of working along with others trying to bring active peace in family life to those touched by physical and emotional violence. He founded the Southern Vermont Digital Forensics Lab, devoted to proving a level playing field for people who are accused and often innocent. Craig's favorite poem was “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. He felt that it best described his life. Craig is survived by his father, sister, and niece. Memorial information: A memorial meeting will be held at Putney Friends Meeting, 17 Bellows Falls Rd. (Route 5), in Putney on March 19 at 2 p.m. Donations to Brattleboro Area Hospice. 191 Canal St, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Lewis Robert “Bo” Horvath, 97, of Marlboro. Died Feb. 27, 2022 at the Community at Rockhill in West Rockhill Township, Pa. He was the husband of the late Phyliss (Gainer) Horvath, who died in 2002. Born in Milford, Conn., he was the son of the late David and Mary (Nagy) Horvath. A Navy veteran, he proudly served on the U.S.S. Iowa during his more than three years of service in World War II. After the war, he was employed as an industrial truck lift mechanic for Monarch Equipment in Milford for more than 25 years until retiring. A proud American, he was a member of American Legion Post 5 in Brattleboro. He was multi-talented with his hands and was adept at fixing things, gardening, and woodworking, particularly tables and toys. He especially loved spending time with his family and friends. He is survived by two daughters, Paula Horvath Borzillo and her husband Ronald, and Kathie Horvath McGill and her husband Roger, all of Barefoot Bay, Fla.; grandchildren Tracy Cepaniewski and her husband, Jim, of Unionville, Conn., Carrie Borzillo and her husband, Eric, of Los Angeles, Kellie Leight and her husband, Kerry, of Perkasie, Pa, and Patrick McGill and his wife, Melanie, of Nuremberg, Germany; five great-grandchildren, John Maguire and his wife Nazly, Ryan Maguire, Kacie Leight, Nick Leight and Zoe McGill; a brother-in-law, William Gainer and his wife, Marilyn, of Southington, Conn.; many nieces and nephews; and an “honorary” grandson, Chris Borzillo and his wife Debby, of Wallingford, Conn. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, David Horvath and two sisters, Wilma Gerner and Ethel Mayernick. Memorial information: Graveside services with Military Honors will be held Saturday, April 2, at 11 a.m., at Kings Highway Cemetery, 271 Cherry St., Milford, Conn. Donations to American Legion Post 5, 32 Linden St., Brattleboro, VT 05301; Marlboro Cares, P.O. Box 222, Marlboro, VT 05344; or to Rescue, Inc., 541 Canal St., Brattleboro, VT 05301.
• Gladys B. Jaquith, 100, of Brattleboro, formerly of Hinsdale, N.H. Died Feb. 23, 2022 at Thompson House,with her youngest daughter by her side, after a brief period of declining health following a battle with COVID-19 in November. She celebrated her biggest goal of reaching 100 years of age last year. Gladys was born Aug. 28, 1921 to Charles Ward and Annie (Blackmer) Burnes. Gladys was the next to the youngest of five children. In 1941, she attended the Thompson School of Nursing. Upon receiving her associate's degree in 1943, she went on to work at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in the obstetrics department until 1950. From 1941 to 1946, she lived with her sister-in-law, Irene, on Southern Avenue in Brattleboro while her brother, Harold, was deployed in World War II. While attending school, she also held as many part-time jobs as possible to help out, such as working at Hotel Pharmacy, serving as a nanny and office nurse for Dr. Philip Wheeler, and as a counter clerk at the former Central Vermont Public Service. Upon the end of World War II, she met the love of her life who would soon be her husband, Harold (Maxim) Jaquith. They enjoyed 51 years of marriage and had two daughters: Suzanne Marie (born 1950) and Nicole Ann “Nikki” (born 1958). After the birth of their children, she went on to work the evening shift at Thompson House. In 1964, she went to work at the former Linden Lodge Nursing Home until her retirement in 1984. Gladys' interests included reading, crocheting, word and jigsaw puzzles, bird watching (especially cardinals) and she was especially known as a fantastic cook, and she always loved to prepare a lot, just in case anybody would stop by for a visit at “dinner time.” Gladys was predeceased by her husband, in 1997, and her eldest daughter, Suzanne (Marie) Hamblin, in 2014, as well as her parents and all of her siblings. She is survived by: her son-in-law, Robert “Bobby” Hamblin of Hinsdale, and her daughter, Nicole (Nikki) and her husband, Phil Rancourt of Brattleboro; and three grandchildren, Ashley (Hamblin) Houston of Keene, N.H., Megan Rancourt and her partner, Robert Nixon of West Islip, L.I., and William (Katharine Gatz) Rancourt of Lebanon, N.H. She also leaves four great-granddaughters: Emily Taylor Houston, Harper Marietta Rancourt, Paisley Bryce Rancourt, and Hazel Winnie Rancourt, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins, including many on her husband's side that she thought of as her own. She also leaves behind some very special friends of her daughters that have kept in contact with her through the years and right up until the time of her death: Sharon (Hubbard) Flanagan of Swanton, Monica (Leon) Zinn of Crystal River, Fla., Tim and Lorraine Ferris of Brattleboro, and Paula and Jeff Hale of Hinsdale. She lived the last 20 years with her daughter and son-in-law on Marlboro Avenue, and it was possible with the help of family, and these extended family members. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, April 23, at 11 a.m., at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, National Processing Center, P.O. Box 758541, Topeka, KS 66675; American Cancer Society, Vt. Division, P.O. Box 1070, Williston, VT 05495; Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302; or a charity of your choice in Gladys' name. To send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Amy Jo (Armstrong) Paquette, 48, of Walpole, N.H. Died Feb. 22, 2022 in Tampa, Fla., surrounded by her family. Amy was born on July 8, 1973 in Bellows Falls, VT to Elizabeth A. (Lockerby) Armstrong and William M. Armstrong. She grew up as one of nine children in Cambridgeport, and played for many years on the family softball team, the Cambridgeport Marauders. Amy graduated from Bellows Falls Union High School in 1991. Shortly thereafter, Amy met her soulmate, Michael Paquette, and they moved to Walpole. The loving couple were wed in August 1994. In 1999, Amy and Mike were blessed with their first child, their daughter Madison Marie Paquette. In 2002, they welcomed their son, Hunter William Paquette, and their family was complete. After Hunter's birth they purchased a home and moved to North Walpole. Michael, Madison, Hunter, and their home became Amy's life's work and her greatest masterpiece. Described by many as Walpole's Joanna Gaines, Amy loved to entertain and craft beautiful spaces in her home for her family and friends to enjoy. She had an eye for detail and infused everything she touched with thought and care. Amy loved working with children and dedicated many years working for various schools in the Walpole and North Walpole area. Amy enjoyed running, whether it be a half-marathon with her sister Sarah, 5Ks, or early morning runs with her good friend Nancy. She walked with her daughter daily around Walpole, admiring the gardens along the way and stopping at Burdick's for an iced hot chocolate. She loved watching her son play ball, cheering him on proudly. Amy loved vacationing with her family and cherished their many summers spent on the Maine coast, and most recently, the Gulf Coast in the Tampa Bay area. Her sisters were her very best friends. Above all else, Amy loved God and her family. She had a smile that could light up the world and a light inside her that touched many people. They say wherever you find God's people Heaven and Earth overlap. Heaven shown brightest wherever Amy was. As a lifelong devout Christian, her love for her family was matched only by her love for the Lord and for her church. Amy was a kind, generous, and beautiful soul, and the weight of her loss is immeasurable. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, David Armstrong. In addition to her devoted husband and children, Amy is survived by her sister Bette “Sissy” Morse and her husband, Ken, of Westminster, brother Randy Armstrong and his wife, Kerri, of Westmoreland, N.H., brother William (Ted) Armstrong and his partner, Joyce, of Alstead, N.H., brother Jon Armstrong and his wife, Tammy, of Rockingham, sister Shelby Barber and her husband, Albert, of Bellows Falls, sister Jennifer Marquay of Walpole, sister Sarah Hayes and her husband, Ken, of Bellows Falls, sister-in-law Tonya Armstrong of Sharon, brother-in-law Christopher Paquette and his wife, Stephanie, and many nieces, nephews, and her large extended family. Memorial information: A memorial service will be hosted on Saturday, March 12, at 1 p.m., at Grace Community Evangelical Free Church, 49 Old Swanzey, Spofford, N.H.
• Raymond David Rawling, Jr., 51, of Alstead, N.H. Died unexpectedly at his home on Feb. 19, 2022. Ray was born July 6, 1970 in Pittsfield, MA to Raymond Rawling Sr. and Jane (O'Connell) Selves. Together with his sisters, Ray was raised in Westminster West, with his father and stepmother, Yvonne. He graduated from Bellows Falls Union High School in 1988, where he played varsity football. Ray was a dedicated soldier with an 18-year military career in the Army and Vermont National Guard in the 131st Engineers, later reorganized to become Alpha Company of the 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion. He was honorably discharged in March of 2019 as a sergeant. For many years, he drove for BDR Transport then, together with his wife, Wendy, started their own company, RAZMEN Trucking, named after Ray and his children. Ray will be remembered as a loving husband and father, loyal friend and a dedicated racing fan with a smile like no other. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and participating in the 100-mile bike ride to benefit the Prouty and was a supporter of fellow soldiers battling PTSD. He especially enjoyed the end of the summer bash named “Rawlingfest” that he and Wendy hosted. Ray is survived by his four children, Zachary, Andrew, Noah, and Mary-Elizabeth; his three parents Ray Sr [Karen Westcott], Jane [Norman Selves], and Yvonne, his four sisters Jennette [Alex Stradling], Amy, Ivy, and Jacquie. Additionally, he is survived by his nephews Jonathan, Bryce, Dylan, and Zebadiah, nieces Bridgette, Miranda, Kyla, Hannah, Aurelia, and Lily, along with several aunts, uncles, cousins, many friends and a large military family. Ray is also survived by his estranged wife, Wendy and her three sons Franklin, Daniel, and Benjamin. And last, but not least, Ray is survived by his dog Bobby. Memorial information: Services will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family. Donations to The Josh Pallotta Fund (joshpallottafund.org), which was created by a group of veterans, family, and community members in memory of Joshua R. Pallotta, a member of the Vermont National Guard who deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. Upon his return home, he struggled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and took his own life in 2014. Arrangements are being made through Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls.
• Tom Veitch, 80, of Arlington. Died of COVID-19 in Bennington on Feb. 14, 2022. He was born Sept. 26, 1941, the eldest of six children, growing up in Walpole, N.H., and Bellows Falls, and was educated at Columbia University. From 1963 to 1965, he was an active participant in the literary florescence of New York's Lower East Side through the St. Mark's Poetry Project. His first published work, Literary Days, appeared from Ted Berrigan's “C” Press in 1964. Other early books of poetry include Toad Poems, Cooked Zeroes, My Father's Golden Eye, and Death College. From 1965 to 1968, Tom was a cloistered Benedictine monk in Weston. The copper-enamel crucifix he sculpted still hangs in the main chapel at Weston Priory. In 1968, he moved to San Francisco where he met his wife, Martha, wrote a novel, The Louis Armed Story, and edited his own poetry journal, Tom Veitch Magazine. In 1969, Tom began collaborating with artist Greg Irons on many underground comix, including The Legions Of Charlies, Deviant Slice, Slow Death, and Skull Comix. He also wrote scripts for comics illustrated by Richard Corben, Jack Jaxon, and his brother Rick Veitch. In 1973, he won the Big Table Award for Poetry. Two more novels were published, Antlers In The Treetops with Ron Padgett, and Eat This! In 1976, Big Sky published Death College & Other Poems, with an afterword by Alan Ginsberg. Returning to Vermont in 1982, he worked for Hemmings Motor News. In 1988, he began collaborating with Scottish cartoonist Cam Kennedy on the Marvel/Epic Comics series, The Light and Darkness War, under editor Archie Goodwin. Tom sent the series to film director George Lucas who chose Tom and Cam to create all new Star Wars comics. Dark Horse released Tom and Cam's Dark Empire in 1991, followed by Dark Empire 2 and Empire's End in 1995. Kenner released four toy action figures based on the series in 1998 and elements of the story were later incorporated into Star Wars films. Wikipedia credits the series with “sustaining the profitability of Star Wars in the 1990's.” Through the 1990s and 2000s, Tom was an active writer of mainstream comics, including The Nazz with artist Bryan Talbot, Clash with artist Adam Kubert, and My Name Is Chaos with artist John Ridgway, and Animal Man, for DC Comics. A lifelong spiritual seeker, Tom founded and moderated the popular internet message board, “Lightmind Forum” devoted to discussing various metaphysical schools of thought. He published a spiritual memoir, The Visions of Elias (A True Story of Life In The Spirit) in 2016 through his own Sky River Press. Tom owned and operated Old Bennington Books, a bookstore in downtown Bennington, for many years. He is survived by his wife, Martha Veitch, of Arlington; daughter Angelica Veitch Stasolla of Brunswick, Maine; grandsons Tommy Walls and Jacob Walls of Brunswick, Maine; sister Wendy Lillie of Rockingham; and brothers Robert D. Veitch of Minneapolis, Minn., Rick Veitch of West Townshend, Michael Veitch of Woodstock, N.Y., and Peter Veitch of Chester. Memorial information: None provided.
• Frederick Joseph “Jaju” Waryas Sr., 84, of Bellows Falls. Died on Feb. 24, 2022, surrounded by the love of his family.He was the first-born son of the late Antoinette and Edward Waryas on Feb. 2, 1938. He attended Bellows Falls' schools and was a 1956 graduate of Bellows Falls High School. Handsome and outgoing, he was a shining Terrier athlete, excelling at both football and track. After graduation, Jaju enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving from 1956 until 1958. It was during this time, while stationed at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina, he met a lovely young Southern woman, Peggy Sue Kendall. She was his “Rebel” and he was her “Polish Yankee!” They were wed in 1961 and enjoyed 40 years of marriage until Peggy's death in 2002. Over his lifetime, Jaju worked tirelessly to provide for his family. Most of his life he spent working at New England Power Company. He also worked at Granite State Electric until his retirement. Ever the community volunteer, Jaju held positions as president of the Alumni Association and was one of the organizers of the very first Toolshed dance. He was also president of the Vermont Heart Association, PTA President, and member of the Bellows Falls Union High School Board. He raised money for band uniforms for the Middle School, ran the “Chuck Wagon” concession to raise money for Pee Wee Football, and he and Peggy were both active members of the Booster Club. A devout Catholic and member of Sacred Heart Parish, he organized a number of Polish dinners as well as Polka dinner/dances to raise money for the church. As an active member of the Knights of Columbus, he served as the Grand Exalted Ruler. He was also a member of the Moose, Elks, American Legion Post 37, and the Polish American Club. Jaju was proud of his Polish heritage. Every Sunday on Gove Street, polka music would play before church. He and Peggy loved to dance the polka, winning a few competitions along the way. Kielbasa, golumpki, kapusta, and pierogis were often featured on Christmas Eve menus. Annually, the post-Toolshed celebration on Gove Street meant pierogis made by “the master.” He loved hosting “kids” of all ages and would nap so he could stay up when everyone stopped by late night. Memories were always made around the table when pierogis were in production. Deer hunting was an important tradition for Jaju and the Waryas family. Laugher echoed whenever hunting camp tales were shared, and re-shared, about the one that got away, or the big one scored. Jaju loved it all and was happiest when in the middle of the storytelling. Family was everything to Jaju. He found great joy in his grandchildren and all their accomplishments, attending many graduations and as many sporting events as he could. Dancing with his granddaughter Alli at her wedding was especially poignant. His family knew the most recent holiday season would likely be his last. Being together on Gove Street for both Thanksgiving and Christmas meant everything to him. Jane Westfall and Jaju, “the J's,” shared the last eight years together as partners in crime. Their love for one another was very special, and she will always be considered as part of the Waryas family. Besides his parents and his loving wife, Jaju was predeceased by his infant brother, Frank, and his brother, Ted (Peggy) Waryas, who died just hours before him on the same day in Indiana. He leaves his partner, Jane, and his four children and their families; Sueann Van Buren (Michael) and grandchildren, Dr. Allison Greene and husband Jason Weischedel, Katie Greene and Rose Van Buren; Timothy Waryas Sr. and grandchildren, Timothy Waryas Jr. and Holly Waryas; Paula Steele (Jeffrey) and grandchildren, Avery Steele and William Steele; and Frederick Waryas Jr. (Heather) and grandchildren, Griffin Waryas and Maya Waryas. He also leaves his brother Paul (Monique) Waryas. Jaju loved his Bellows Falls community. He will be missed by his many friends and extended family. Memorial information: Calling hours will be held March 25 at Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home in Bellows Falls from 5 to 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held March 26, at 11 a.m., at St. Charles Church, with burial following at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Donations to the Frederick Waryas Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, in care of Paula Steele, 23 Ira Allen Ct., Colchester, VT 05446.