Obituaries
• Helen (Lewis) Capen, 75, of Londonderry. Died April 23, 2022, surrounded by her children. Helen spent the last 20 years working at the Landgrove Inn. She is remembered through her love for her family and her love of nature. She was predeceased by her mother and father, Madeline and James, of Hancock; her brother, George, of Brookfield; her husband, Myron “Mike” of Londonderry; and her grandson, Mike. She is survived by her six children, Dorothy, Ed (Monica), Donna (Jerry), Robert, Nancy (Jason), and Jason (Jenn); as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Jeff (Liz), Caleb (Haley), Lizzie (Doc), Josh (Kristie), Theresa (Scott), Zachary (Leanne), Cody, Matt (Heidi), Missy, Zach, Greg, Allison, Nizza, Isabel, Spencer, Annicka, Chloe, Aiden, Elliott, Harmony, Jaxson, Paisley, Gabe, Grayson, Ethan, Charlotte, and Annabelle. Helen enjoyed celebrating and hosting holidays and birthdays with her family. She was loved and will be missed dearly. Memorial information: Services were held April 29 at Brewster-Shea Funeral Home in Manchester Center. Interment will be held Thursday, May 12, at 1 p.m. in Riverside Cemetery in Londonderry.
• Max E. Carr, 71, died after a long illness on April 11, 2022. He was born in 1950 to Eunice (Dueso) and Max I. Carr in Jeffersonville, VT. He graduated from Lamoille Union High School in Hyde Park. Max went to work for a local funeral home where he discovered his gift of assisting families in grief. With his quiet presence, he was admired by many for his strength and compassion. He attended Johnson State College and graduated from New England Institute of Mortuary Science. He was also part of the first graduating class of EMT's in Vermont. After 40 years as a funeral director, he retired from the profession and began work for Sam's Outdoor Outfitters. Max was an active member of the Brattleboro community where he was an Elk, Shriner and Freemason. He was a talented drummer in many bands including the Shrine marching band. Max is survived by a sister, Joyce Westman of Maine; his beloved wife of 49 years, Bonnie (Gallop) Carr; a daughter, Susan Adams; stepchildren Beth LeBlanc, Becky Beaulieu, and Brad Beaulieu; and six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Memorial information: A celebration of life will be held at the Brattleboro Elks Home on May 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. Donations to the Silver Towers Camp, Vermont Elks Charities Inc., 241 Lincoln Ave., Rutland, VT 05702.
• Monika Chardain, 73, of Brattleboro. Died March 18, 2022. Born on May 13, 1948 in Berlin, Germany, to Wilhelm and Erika Prakelt, she emigrated to the West River Valley with her family in 1952. Moni was a curator of joy, dedicating her life to the love and care of her family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. There to greet you with a smile, she was thoughtful, engaged, and attentive to the needs of others. Her energy was contagious, forever the life of the party. It's no surprise that sunflowers were her favorite, as she was always optimistic, turning towards the light, radiating with beauty, and finding a way to bring peace and happiness to the world around her, just as they do. She was predeceased by her brother, Hans Prakelt and is survived by her sister, Christel Gallinaro, and her three children, Christian, Patrik, and Andrew Chardain. Memorial information: There will be a celebration of Monika's life on Saturday, May 14, from 1 to 5 p.m., at the Four Columns Inn in Newfane. All are welcome to attend and pay their respects, visit with family and friends, and raise a toast in honor of her life. In lieu of gifts, consider cultivating a sunflower in her memory.
• Richard “Dickie” Coleman, 78, of Vernon. Died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on April 4, 2022. Dickie was born on April 3, 1944, to Fred and Ellen Coleman of Jacksonville. Dickie was the only boy born into a family of six children. He had a wonderful childhood. He grew up loving his five sisters, spending summers in North Adams with his cousins, and enjoying the lake at his sister Ruth's camp. Drinking Budweiser and crashing cars were his pastimes in his early adult life. One unforgettable day, Dickie was driving up Jacksonville Hill when a beautiful blond girl, Beverly “Beaver” Bly of Vernon, caught his eye. It was love at first sight, and the beginning of 53 years of Dick and Beaver. They went on to have two children, Derek and Stephanie. Dickie was a hard worker and spent 40-plus years working at “The Mill” in all its incarnations - Boise Cascade, FiberMark and, finally, Specialty Paper. He was a “rain man” of sorts when it came to sports. He could remember the dates and times games were played, and scores and stats as if he was an encyclopedia. He had a particular adoration of Ted Williams, Bobby Orr, Larry Bird, and Terry Bradshaw. When it came to race car drivers, Jeff Gordon was always his favorite. He was loved by many and ran in many circles of friends. He formed friendships that lasted a lifetime with co-workers, hunting buddies, brothers and sisters of the Elks Club, and even stayed in touch with friends he made in school. He loved camping, especially with family. One of his family's fondest memories was two weeks of camping every summer with extended family and friends. Camping with the Colemans was always just a “lil' cooler.” Stephanie instilled the same love of camping into her two children, and they were lucky enough to share camping adventures with Dick and Beaver. Dickie is survived by his loving wife; his son, Derek Coleman of Vernon; his daughter, Stephanie Coleman Givens of Brattleboro; sisters Bonnie Johnson of Readsboro and Linda Reynolds and her husband, George, of Whitingham; and his beloved grandchildren Keegan and Chloe Givens, and Forrest, Kip, and Gracie Coleman. He was predeceased by his parents, Fred and Ellen Coleman, sisters, Ruth Cancro, Velma Sprauge, and Margaret “Peg” Burke, and his grandson, Tyler Coleman. Memorial information: Dickie didn't want a big funeral, just a gathering with drinks and some stories shared by friends and family. The family wishes to invite friends and family who wish to raise a glass to Dickie's life to join them on Friday, May 6, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., at the Elks Club in Brattleboro.
• Jeffrey W. Durborow, 78, of Vernon. Died unexpectedly, with his wife and daughter by his side, on April 19, 2022 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Jeff was born on July 13, 1943 in Orange, N.J., the son of Nancy (Leonard) Hicks and James W. Durborow. He graduated from Windham College in 1978 with a degree in political science. He was employed at Westinghouse Electric, formerly ROV Technologies, as an engineering and manufacturing field technician. Prior to his time with ROV, he was a longtime employee of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation working his way from a laborer/pipefitter/welder to operations engineer. He was also a real estate broker who delighted in traveling the backroads helping many find their home or home away from home in Vermont. A member of the Brattleboro Winter Carnival committee for more than 30 years, Jeff immensely enjoyed visiting with community members at the Country-Western Jamboree and at various events during carnival week. He was a member of the BPOE 1499 Elks, a past president of the Brattleboro Civic Club, and a board member and president of the Summit at Four Seasons Homeowners Association in Laconia, N.H. He was an avid golfer and appreciated the physical and mental challenges presented by each new round. He attempted to instill his love of golf in his daughter, but they agreed to disagree on the merits of the game and, instead, shared many wonderful days on the slopes together. He held a great esteem for the outdoors and loved a day in the woods with his chainsaw as much as tending to his roses. He was a lifelong learner and avid reader who loved a good-hearted debate about any topic. He had a wicked sense of humor and loved to laugh. He adored traveling with his wife of 52 years. Many of their trips were to visit old friends from the Poitier and Rochefort American High Schools in La Rochelle, France. He particularly treasured their trip to Alaska and trips to Nova Scotia and Lake Winnipesaukee. Jeff had a love of folk music and played the guitar to the delight of everyone who had the good fortune to hear him sing and play. Jeff will be profoundly missed by his wife, Nancy (Howes) Durborow, whom he married in 1970; his daughter and son in-law Kimberly and Damian DePino of Dummerston; his sister Pamela (Paul) Gallagher of Madison, Conn.; his brother Steven Durborow of Merritt Island, Fla.; his stepmother Versie Durborow of Sebastian, Fla.; his stepbrother Munson (Deb) Hicks of Vernon; his beloved nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends. He was preceded in death by his mother Nancy L. Hicks, his stepfather Halsey M. Hicks, his father James W. Durborow and his dear cousin Missy Mack of Boonton, New Jersey. Memorial information: A celebration of Jeff's life will be held on Friday, May 27, at 11 a.m., at St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Brattleboro, with a reception to follow. Donations to the Brattleboro Winter Carnival, P.O. Box 66, Brattleboro, VT 05301, or to the Vernon Fire Association, 2842 Fort Bridgman Rd, Vernon, VT 05354. To send condolences, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Nathan A. “Nate” Head, 40, of Keene, N.H., formerly of Brattleboro. Died peacefully at home on April 22, 2022. He was born in Brattleboro on March 21, 1982 to Lisa A. Clayton and Carl L. Head III. He was educated at Northfield Mount Hermon as a member of the Class of 2000. He excelled in football, track and field, and wrestling at NMH. Nate also attended Springfield (Mass.) College. Nate worked for Auto Mall in Brattleboro as a beloved and well-respected sales manager for several years. Nathan enjoyed watching the Red Sox and Celtics, barbecues, and going on bike rides. He also loved to spend some of his time making wooden pens, deep sea fishing, snowmobiling, boating, and watching NASCAR. Nate was a part of the Cheshire County Shooting Sports EDU Foundation at the Ferry Brook Range. Nate leaves behind his mother, Lisa Clayton and her husband, Terry, of Florida; his father, Carl Lewis Head III and his wife, Grace, of Vernon; his longtime partner Emily Hammer of Keene, her sons Landon and Colton, his brother Brian McCormick and his wife, Cynara, of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; and his sister Kimberly McCormick of Oak Island, N.C.; grandparents Lynn and Calvin C. Lowe of Hinsdale, N.H., and Audrey Craig of Knoxville, Tenn.; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, extended family and friends. Memorial information: Donations in his memory to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org.
• Marcel H.S. Leclaire Sr., 88, of Brattleboro. Died April 25, 2022, after a period of declining health. Marcel was born Sept. 2, 1933, in Burlington, the son of Antonio and Diana (Dionne) Leclaire. He moved to Brattleboro with his parents and siblings in the 1940s, and attended St. Michael's School. In 1951, Marcel enlisted in the Marine Corps, and was stationed in Morocco as a French interpreter, and later at Quantico, Va. In 1955, he married Dorothy Fuller of Winchester, Va., and was blessed with five children. In 1960, he joined the Brattleboro Police Department, and served for 25 years, rising through ranks to become Chief of Police. During his years as a policeman, he resumed his education, receiving a degree in criminal justice from Champlain College. He also attended the FBI Academy, Babson Management School, and numerous law enforcement courses. Following his retirement from the police, he was employed by Green Mountain Security and Wackenhut Security as a trainer at Vermont Yankee for 10 years, retiring in 1994. Although he was an expert marksman, he was proud that he never had to use his firearm in the line of duty. He recognized that most people just needed to be heard, and was able to defuse many tense situations with conversation. He was recognized on several occasions for his investigative skills and outstanding service, including commendations for two deeds in particular: helping deliver a baby, and plunging into the icy waters of the Connecticut River in a vain attempt to save the life of a drowning woman. In 1996, Marcel and Dorothy moved to Zephyrhills, Fla., and in July 2021, they returned to Vermont, residing at Vernon Hall in Vernon. Marcel was predeceased by his siblings Annette Marchant, Yvette Brouillard, Gertrude Raymond, Jeanine Smith, Angeline Rabideau, Anita Doucette Stacy, Mary Martha Castine, Irene Pollica Kirkwood, Joseph Henry, Normand, Richard Andrew, Rene, and Leo Paul, and one son, Marcel II. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; a sister, Jeanne Lyons; four children, Deborah Tillinghast (Ken), Edward (Sheri), Brian (Roxann), and Monica Davison (Scott), nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He loved to sing and dance, and his kind and compassionate demeanor will be greatly missed. Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, May 14, at 11 a.m., at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro, with committal rites and burial with military honors in St. Michael's Parish Cemetery. Donations to Brigid's Kitchen, in care of St. Michael's Parish, 47 Walnut St, Brattleboro, VT 05301.To share a memory or send condolences to the family, visit www.atamaniuk.com.
• Sara Jeanne (Martin) Neddenriep, 50, of Fryeburg, Maine. Died unexpectedly on April 21, 2022 at Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H. She was born Feb. 3, 1972, in Providence, R.I., daughter of Jeanne (Mongeau) and Joseph N. Martin Jr. At the age of two, she and her family moved to Stow, Maine, where she spent most of her life. She graduated from Fryeburg Academy in 1990 as the salutatorian. She then graduated summa cum laude and as salutatorian from Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass., with her bachelor's degree in education. In 2001, she married Henry “Rip” Neddenriep at their farmhouse in Stow where they spent many happy years and started their family. Sara spent several years working in the field of education. She had a true passion for helping others, loved gardening and connecting with nature, and had a deeply spiritual soul. With every light there are shadows cast, and Sara continued working hard towards overcoming her long-term struggles with addiction. She was predeceased by her mother in 2001. She is survived by her father of Brattleboro; her husband, Henry; her children Amanda “Gracie” Neddenriep of Fryeburg, Greta Neddenriep and Virgil Neddenriep of Brattleboro; her stepdaughters LeeAnn Desbiens of Gray, Maine, and Kimberly Baxter Davis of Lake Park, Ga.; her sisters, Suzie (Martin) Wagner and her family of Brattleboro, and Becky (Martin) Lescarbeau and her family of Agawam, Mass.; and her godmother, Vivian Martin of Woonsocket, R.I. In addition, Sara is survived by many other loving relatives and friends who will miss her greatly. Memorial information: In keeping with the family's wishes, a memorial Mass will take place at a later date. Donations to Fryeburg Rescue, 89 Bridgton Rd, Fryeburg, ME 04037, in appreciation for the great support their volunteers have provided to the family over the years. To send condolences, visit www.woodfuneralhomes.org.
• Duane L. Scranton, 87, of Colrain, Mass. Died on April 12, 2022. Duane was born in Guilford on April 18, 1934, the son of Ivan and Mildred (Franklin) Scranton. He graduated from Brattleboro High School, class of 1953. Over the years, Duane and his classmates got together regularly and he hosted the 60th Class Reunion at his farm with a pig roast. He always used his truck to pull the class float in the annual reunion parades. He will be missed at the upcoming 70th reunion. He was married to Nancy Jane (Tyler) in 1955 in West Dummerston. Duane joined the Army in 1957 and was stationed in Korea. He was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1961. He also served two years in the Vermont Army National Guard. He moved to Colrain in 1963 and became a dairy farmer. He purchased the Windswept Valley Farm in 1964. In 1977, he purchased his first big rig and became a long-haul trucker. His wife and sons continued to operate the farm while he was away. Duane was an independent trucker before he drove for Landstar/Inway trucking. His traveling took him to all the 48 states and he was very proud of his accident free driving record. In later years, he was a trucker for JS Rae Construction and retired from trucking at the age of 80. He served as a selectman in Colrain for 13 consecutive terms, spanning 39 years from 1974 to 2013. In the 1970s, he was also a reserve police officer for emergencies. Duane loved horses, watching westerns, listening to country music, and traveling. Survivors include his wife Nancy; sons Michael Scranton and Mark Scranton and his wife, Katie, all of Colrain, grandchildren Brian Scranton, Liza (Drew) Pantermehl and their daughter Jane, Kelsey Scranton, Rebecca Scranton, Jamie Hunkler and his family, and Jillian Jacques and her family. Duane was predeceased by a son, Timothy Scranton. Memorial information: A memorial service was held April 30 at Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home in Shelburne Falls, Mass. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Donations may be made to Colrain Volunteer Ambulance or UMass Extension's 4H program.
• Karen “KT” Thalin, 62, of Saxtons River. Died peacefully in hospice care, after a valiant fight against cancer, at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend on March 31, 2022. Her friend and caregiver Carol Sevick was at her side. Karen was born on Oct. 14, 1959, the only child of Charlotte (Ernst) and Richard Thalin of Paxton, Mass. She graduated from Wachusett Regional High School in 1977 and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She moved to Westminster West in 1993 before residing in Saxtons River in 1998. She had a successful career as an independent accounting manager for local businesses, artists, and nonprofits. KT had the gift of making and keeping lifelong friends who delighted in her and relied on her. She had a beautiful singing voice and was a vivid member of the Worcester (Mass.) Concert Choir and later the River Singers and Hallowell in Vermont. She was good company and a good neighbor. She was funny, kind, independent and full of life. Most of all, she was caring. She fixed things; she helped; she stood up for and stood by her friends and was devoted to her parents. She will be best remembered for her lifelong love for animals, especially her cats, the crowd of birds at her feeders, swarms of hummingbirds arguing over nectar and the hundreds of Monarch butterflies she hand-raised and released over the milkweed and flower meadow she meticulously cared for. Memorial information: A memorial gathering was held April 30 at Chivers Center on the Vermont Academy campus in Saxtons River. Donations to the Windham County Humane Society, P.O. Box 397, Brattleboro, VT 05302.
Services
• Graveside committal services for Keith Harold Lockerby took place on Sunday, May 1, at 2 p.m., at Cambridgeport Cemetery. Mr. Lockerby, 65, of Athens, died at home on Feb. 7, 2022. Arrangements are being handled by Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home of Bellows Falls.
• Graveside committal services for Judith I. “Judy” Clement will be conducted Saturday, May 7, at 11 a.m., in Halifax Center Cemetery. For those who are unsure of the cemetery location, you may meet at the West Brattleboro Baptist Church at 10 a.m. to join the procession to Halifax. A reception will follow the services at the West Brattleboro Baptist Church. Mrs. Clement, 66, of Hinsdale, N.H., died Dec. 1, 2021 at Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center.
• Funeral services for James “Jim” McCaffrey will take place on Thursday, May 12, at 11 a.m. at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls. Mr. McCaffrey, 77, of Saxtons River, died Dec. 21, 2021 at Springfield Rivers Nursing Home. Arrangements are being handled by Fenton & Hennessey Funeral Home of Bellows Falls.