Obituaries
• Janice Pope Deyo, 96, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully at Vernon Green Nursing Home, following a period of declining health, on Oct. 8, 2025. Janice was born in Brattleboro on March 3, 1929, the daughter of Edward and Florence (Spaulding) Pope. She attended school in Jefferson and later graduated from Brattleboro High School with the Class of 1947. She was employed for many years as a physician's office assistant for the late Dr. Ivan Carrasquillo's family practice, Windham OB/GYN Associates. Previously, she assisted with the daily operation of her family's business, Deyo's Cleaning Service. In her earlier years, she worked for the Dunham Shoe Co. on Cotton Mill Hill. With her husband, Tom, she moved to Tarpon Springs, Florida, where the couple resided for 16 years, later moving back to Brattleboro. Janice enjoyed baking, going dancing with her husband - especially to the music of Big Bands - trips to Nubble Lighthouse and the beaches of Maine, and time shared with her family. For many years, she attended First United Methodist Church in Brattleboro. On May 23, 1948, at First United Methodist Church on Elliot Street, she married Thomas E. Deyo, who predeceased her Jan. 21, 2014. Survivors include three sons, Gary, and his wife Cathy, of Summerville, South Carolina, Ronald of Dunedin, Florida, and Peter and his wife, Cheryl, of Vernon; a daughter, Delle, and her husband Max, of Nampa, Idaho; one sister, Carol Walker of Charlotte, North Carolina; grandchildren Seth, John, Ian, Adam, Evan, Alexandra, Maxwell, Justin and Janelle Deyo, Ian Beane and Connors Longe-Deyo; and great-grandchildren Livia, Cooper, Hadley, Ayden, Zhane, Darian, Penelope, Kent Joseph, Xander, Evelyn, Johnathan, Madeleine, Sean, Ariel, Nicholas, Julius, Kimberly, and Gwendolynne. Additionally, she leaves many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Mark Deyo, and two sisters, Donna Marshall and Lorraine Coulombe. Memorial information: Services will be held at a later date, to be announced by the funeral home. Burial will be in the Deyo family lot in Tyler Cemetery in Vernon. Donations to Vernon Green Nursing Home, 61 Greenway Drive, Vernon, VT 05354. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Maureen Ann Holden, 66, of Newfane. Died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, New Hampshire, on Oct. 13, 2025, after a long period of declining health. Maureen was born February 27, 1959, at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend, the daughter of Earle and Margaret "Peg" (Harrington) Morse. She enjoyed a brief period of being the youngest and most spoiled of the Morse children until her twin brother Mark arrived 17 minutes later to steal the show. Maureen graduated from Leland & Gray in 1977 and worked in a variety of culinary positions in and around the valley. Whether it was behind the deli counter at her father's store in Newfane, at the Skyline Restaurant on Hogback Mountain, her bake shop Simply Delicious in Newfane, Rick's Tavern, or even the food booth at the Newfane Flea Market, if you didn't have a meal prepared by Maureen at least once, then you probably didn't get out much. She spent her final working years as a beloved lunch lady at Townshend Elementary School, her favorite and most fulfilling position of her entire career. She was as stubborn as she was outspoken, as selfless as she was genuine, and she lived and loved with a fierce passion and a smile never far from her face. She cared greatly for all children, be they her own or not, and welcomed them all into her home and her heart with open arms. Remaining to cherish Maureen's memory are her husband of 46 years, Norman Holden; her children, Hilary and Jesse; her granddaughter, Mariah, who she raised as her daughter; brothers, Stephan and Bill Morse; sister, Susan Morse; and their various partners and spouses, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends. Memorial information: As per Maureen's wishes, there will be no funeral services. Donations to Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 216, Townshend, VT 05353. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Donald E. Long, 92, formerly of Brattleboro. Died Sept. 27, 2025, at Alpine Place in Keene, New Hampshire. Don was born in Whitingham March 28, 1933, to Charles and Ruth Long. He grew up in Jacksonville and Whitingham, graduating from high school in 1952 before being drafted into the Army and serving in the Korean War. Don served in the Military Police throughout his tour of duty in Korea and had the honor of being the driver for Marilyn Monroe when she flew in to entertain the troops. On July 21, 1956, Don married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Lou Allen. Don and Nancy enjoyed 69 years of marriage and raised three children in Brattleboro. After the Korean War, Don worked at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in East Hartford, Connecticut, before returning to Vermont in 1960. Don was a dedicated member of the local Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. He embraced their core values of reverence to God, devotion to country, integrity, justice, tolerance, and service to humanity. Don was a founding member and president of Rescue Inc., president of the Brattleboro Winter Carnival, Deacon of Trinity Lutheran Church, and president of the Southeastern Vermont Board of Realtors. He also was a Boy Scout leader and a coach, together with Wayne Corbeil, of the Pirates in the Brattleboro Little League. Don was active in local politics as a mover and shaker in the local Democratic Party since the early 1960s. He was also a lifetime member and former commander of American Legion Post 5, during which time he, together with Bruce Corwin, started the American Legion Band. He marshalled the Legion Band in various parades for many years. Don was civic minded and a true "people person" throughout his life. He became a Realtor and joined the real estate firm of R. J. Fisher & Co. in the early 1960s. His upbeat personality, strong work ethic, and sincere love of people enabled him to rise quickly to become the top salesperson at R.J. Fisher & Co. He went on to open his own real estate company, Don Long Realtors, in the early 1970s. Following his retirement, he worked for many years as an associate for Atamaniuk Funeral Home. Many remember Don walking down Main Street daily with a big smile on his face waving to and greeting people he met along the way. He even waved at people from his car resulting in incessant return waves and horn blowing by people in their cars. He became a Justice of the Peace early on and became known as "Marrying Sam the Real Estate Man." What many people in the community do not know is that Don absolutely loved nature and the great outdoors and made sure his son, Chris, learned about the wonders of the Vermont woodlands at an early age. Don cherished his time at "camp" in Bradford with his friends and his son. Exploring and hunting the lush forests of Bradford and Fairlee were his favorite pastimes. This area was his escape from the business world and an extremely important part of his life. Don leaves his wife, Nancy, and beloved Maltipoo "Chloe"; daughter Pamela Long, and her husband, Rick Foley; and son Chris Long, and his partner, Tracie Crawford. Don was predeceased by his son, Timothy Long, in 2012. Memorial information: There will be calling hours at Atamaniuk Funeral Home, 40 Terrace St., Friday, Oct. 24, from 4 to 6 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on Western Avenue Saturday, Oct. 25, at 10 a.m., followed by a reception for friends and family at American Legion Post 5 on Linden Street. Don will be buried with full military honors at Meeting House Hill Cemetery in Brattleboro at a later date. Donations may be made to American Legion Post 5 or Rescue Inc. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Lois Casey Phoenix, 97, of Townshend. Died peacefully Sept. 16, 2025, at home with family. She was born in 1927 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Clifford Casey and Bernice Hyslop. The Caseys lived in Bridgeport during her grade school years, then moved to Stratford, Connecticut, where she lived until she married. Lois was a direct descendant of judge and politician William Perry and his wife, Nancy Wilcoxson, who came from the prominent Wilcoxson family that helped settle Stratford. Lois majored in art at Stratford High School, and attended the Whitney School of Art in New Haven, Connecticut, to learn to draw advertisements. Her future husband, Edwin Phoenix, gave her a Valentine's Day card every year since she was 13. He joined the Navy for the duration of World War II while Lois, at age 16, joined the Women's Land Army, and as a Victory Farm Volunteer picked vegetables on farms in Connecticut and New York. Lois and Ed were married in 1947 and traveled the U.S. for eight years. They almost moved to Alaska, but chose Townshend, where they brought up their four boys. All four sons became musicians, largely because every day their mother said, "Time to practice." Her encouragement during practice sessions was typically hollered from the kitchen: "That sounds like garbage cans rolling down the street! Play it again!" Lois and Ed were dedicated to their children's education, faithfully driving them to music lessons and events, which often was an all-day round trip. When the boys were young, she created imaginative Halloween costumes for them and her. For many consecutive years, she made floats for the Wardsboro Fourth of July parade, advertising Ed's piano business, and featuring the boys playing musical instruments. During the early 1960s, Lois was a den mother for cub scouts, and served on the Townshend Elementary School board. The Phoenixes rented beds during deer hunting seasons to the game warden and those Lois called "the great white hunters." About 1962, Lois and Charlotte Abel started the Fish Pond booth at Grace Cottage's annual Hospital Day. Lois made the floating fish and with Charlotte (and Lois's boys) operated the booth for years. Later, Lois organized many Hospital Day art shows in the Townshend Church. Art was Lois's passion. She produced a large body of work - mostly landscapes and old buildings, in this area and abroad - in watercolor, pastel, and oil. She let the subject matter determine which medium she used. Covered bridges in Vermont and New Hampshire were her specialty; her unique concept was to simultaneously show the setting, the outside, and the inside of each bridge. She enjoyed experimenting with media and techniques, and attended workshops with Arlo Munroe, Robert O'Brien, Howard Hill, Robert Carston, Carolyn Walton, and Frank Webb. As a member of the Saxtons River Art Guild, Vermont Watercolor Society, Vermont Pastel Society, and Monadnock Area Artists Association, she exhibited extensively in Vermont and New Hampshire. She framed her paintings herself, mostly with frames made by her husband. Sadly, her painting career ended a few years ago when she could no longer raise her arm to the easel. A member of SRAG said that Lois always painted a complete painting at every session, and when asked for advice, she offered constructive critiques. Lois was a mentor to artists who sought her guidance. Her paintings are in the collections of Grace Cottage Hospital, local art collectors, and others - including many who purchased them at Hospital Day auctions and art shows. Lois was a principal in Greater Falls Travel Agency in Bellows Falls when it opened in 1979. She and Ed traveled widely, visiting some countries multiple times, and they did it in style. Through the School for Internatonal Training, the Phoenixes hosted home stays for visitors from Belgium, Canada, France, Guadeloupe FWI, and India. Lois loved Scrabble, and was an avid player online with family and friends until days before she passed. She was positive to the end. Lois is survived by her sons Whitney (Marianne), Ned, and Seth; grandchildren Eli (Kaylina), Abryn, Jessica (Joshua), and Clinton (Lindsey); 14 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law Janet Phoenix; sister Barbara Dwyer (Jack); nieces and nephews Libby Shirra, Fred Shirra, Cheryl Macisco, and Shawn Dwyer; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and extended family. She was blessed with long-term friendships in Connecticut and Vermont. Lois was predeceased by her husband of 65 years; their son Perry; her foster daughter, Anne (neé) Osgood; siblings Clifford Casey Jr., and Virginia Miller; and nephews Paul and John Miller. Memorial information: No services are planned.
• Joseph Albert "Al" Pichette, Jr., 98, a former resident of Brattleboro and a resident of Melbourne, Florida, died Oct. 16, 2025, at Vitas Hospice Center in Rockledge, Florida. Funeral services are currently pending and a full obituary with service information will be published in a future edition of The Commons. Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro is in charge of arrangements.
This Milestones item was submitted to The Commons.