Obituaries
• Clifford W. “Cliff” Bouchard, 74, of West Dover. Died at his home May 12, 2026. He was born March 12, 1952, in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of the late Jean Donald and Marion Bouchard. He was a graduate of East Greenwich (R.I.) High School. A longtime resident of West Dover, he was affectionately known as “Bub.” Cliff was a friend to all in the community and always there to help. Cliff worked at Mount Snow for 25 years covering all aspects of the industry, including six years as the director of the Alpine Ski Learning Center, where he dedicated himself to the youth development of the valley. He spent 50 years as a senior golf instructor at the Original Golf School, assistant to PGA Professional Jay Morelli. Cliff was also a master carpenter, known to be able to build you a bird house or your own home. Deemed the unofficial “Mayor of West Dover,” Cliff is survived by brothers David and Thomas Bouchard, and sisters Donna Bouchard and Bethany Hill. He was preceded in death by his brother Steven.Memorial information: A funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, May 20, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington. Interment will take place Thursday, May 21, at 11 a.m. in West Dover Cemetery, to be with his good friend Ray Pelletier.
• Helen Chapman, 93, formerly of Wilmington. Died peacefully May 11, 2026, at Hadley Point Nursing Home in Hadley, Massachusetts. Born Aug. 11, 1932, in Wilmington, Helen was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Doris Bernard. She attended Wilmington Elementary and High School. She went on to Smith Business School in Northampton, Massachusetts. She worked in two banks and at the Wilmington Post Office. She married Richard Chapman in 1951 and remained married until his death in 1999. Helen remained in New Hampshire, where she was an avid golfer. She leaves behind a daughter and son-in-law in Massachusetts, as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.Memorial information: There will not be any calling hours, but there will be a graveside service at a later date. Donations may be made to Granite VNA, 30 Pillsbury St., Concord, NH 03301, or Visiting Angels Senior Home Care, 14 Hooksett Rd., Auburn, NH 03032.
• Raphael Ulric (Mike) Corbeil, 97, of Brattleboro. Died May 9, 2026. Born Feb. 27, 1929, to Ulric Joseph and Anna Mary (Smith) Corbeil, Mike was raised with his seven siblings in the Fort Dummer neighborhood where his parents worked alternating 12-hour shifts in the cotton mill and where they instilled in him the ethics of hard work, love of family, and service to the community. He graduated from St. Michael’s High School in 1947 and, the following year, married June LaFountain, also of Brattleboro. During his senior year in high school, Mike began working at the Vermont Bank & Trust Company, where he rose through the ranks from teller to vice president. He served as treasurer of Hogback Mountain Ski Area, as a Brattleboro Selectboard member, and as an active member of VT/NH BCBS, the St. Michael’s Alumni Association, the Kiwanis Club, the Knights of Columbus, and the Elks Club, where he coordinated the annual Polish Night and made hundreds of pierogis with Ed Witalis. Mike was a Little League coach and he pitched for the adult men’s softball team (where he famously got tagged out while sliding into first base). He was an avid outdoorsman who hunted birds and deer and fished his trout limit in the Green River. He was instrumental in transforming Brattleboro County Club from a 9-hole to an 18-hole golf course. He and June were known for their smooth dancing, and his grandchildren still mimic his yodeling call. He and June loved to travel, and they drove across country and to Florida many times. Survivors include his son, J. Randall Corbeil and his wife Eileen (Boyle) Corbeil of Easthampton, Massachusetts; and his daughter Carolyn Jean Corbeil of Apache Junction, Arizona; plus four devoted grandchildren: Jennifer Corbeil (Don Carberry), Joshua Corbeil (Sheri), Charles Corbeil, and Maura Beaudreault (Jim); great-grandchildren Joseph, Samantha, Chase, and Carter Corbeil; and great-great-grandchildren Jackson, Owen, and Griffin Corbeil. In 2021, Mike was predeceased by June, his wife of 72 years. Six of his seven siblings also predeceased him: Frances (Corbeil) O’Leary, Bernard Corbeil, Marlene (Corbeil) Slate, J. Wayne Corbeil, Jean Corbeil, and Mary Margaret (Corbeil) (Dearborn) Rivers. He is survived by his youngest brother, Thomas Corbeil of Seaford, Delaware.Memorial information: The family will hold a Remembrance of Life service at a future date. Donations to St. Michael’s School, 48 Walnut St., Brattleboro, VT 05301. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com .
• Sierra Avryn Cutts, 15, of Brookline, died May 5, 2026. She arrived in this world Dec. 27, 2010, number seven of eight siblings. While naturally reserved, Sierra had a heart for people and a natural ability to make those around her feel appreciated and loved. She treasured and served her savior, Jesus Christ, with unwavering trust. She attended Valley Bible Church in Windham and enjoyed every moment with her church family. Her favorite Bible verse was Romans 8:28; she believed that “God worked all things together for good.” She brought laughter to all those around and her smile was contagious. Another of her greatest joys was found in the company of animals. One of her jobs was cleaning the local vet clinic a few hours a week and she often shared stories about the animals she met there. Her love ran deep for the family animals; especially her dog, Roxy, and her cat, Toby Keith. Some of her most fond hobbies included reading, swimming, gardening, and baking (she made the best éclairs) and she had recently taught herself to crochet. She fell instantly in love with it, finding any excuse to spend countless hours creating gifts for those she loved. Sierra is survived by her parents, Brad and Alisia; her seven siblings: Bradford, Makaylee, Weston (wife Julia), Kyrah, Garret, Jackson, and Alivia; and her cherished niece, Greenly. She also leaves her grandparents, Fred and Sharon Laughman; great-grandparents, Bill and Ruth Rebert; grandmother, Sally Cutts; great-aunt, Carol Nilges; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was predeceased by her grandfather Bruce Cutts; her aunt, Liz; and great-grandmothers Marion Harris and Jean Laughman.Memorial information: A memorial service was held May 16 at Valley Bible Church. In honor of Sierra, the family asks to find a moment to show extra appreciation for the animals in your life. Enjoy the faithful companionship they provide and show them the kind of love Sierra would.
• Nancy H. Durborow, 86, of Vernon. Died peacefully May 7, 2026, with her daughter, Kimberly, and her grand dog, Grumman, by her side. Nancy was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, June 1, 1939, the daughter of Elizabeth (Hubbard) and William R. Howes. She graduated from the Alfred University Nursing Program in 1961. She was married to Joseph Green in September 1961 and when Joe was stationed in Asmara, Ethiopia, for two and a half years Nancy’s love of traveling was born. During her time in Africa, Nancy traveled extensively around the region and the Middle East. She particularly enjoyed her journeys through Beirut and Jerusalem and fondly reminisced on her expeditions over the years. Joe and Nancy eventually parted ways, and on March 12, 1970 Nancy married the love of her life, Jeffrey W. Durborow, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brattleboro. In 1975, they adopted their daughter, Kimberly. Jeffrey and Nancy built their home in Vernon and lived out their days delighting in the company of their friends, family, and many dogs over the 50 years they shared together. She began her nursing career as a public health nurse but, after some time, Nancy decided the heartache that can, sometimes, be associated with nursing was not for her. When she left nursing, she poured her devotion and care for others into alternative professional roles that were often still that of a caretaker, but the role she cherished most was that of wife, mother, and homemaker. She was an avid reader who gobbled up both fiction and nonfiction, but she especially enjoyed a good Danielle Steel novel. Nancy was an avid card player who loved a game of bridge. She tried (on a number of occasions) to teach her daughter how to play bridge, but unfortunately the lessons did not stick. They instead bonded over novels and their collective love of chocolate. Nancy and Jeff were a dynamic duo who delighted in their travel adventures, hosting parties and spending time with family. They were dedicated members of the Brattleboro Winter Carnival Committee and looked forward to collaborating on the annual event. Nancy served as the Winter Carnival historian for a period of time. Nancy loved planning for and hosting a party. She took on the role of hostess with a passion for the details and the fervor of a drill sergeant. The food and drink were always delicious and the conversation lively. When the time came to decorate for Christmas, Nancy turned the Durborow home into a holiday wonderland with no surface left unadorned. Nancy would say she was not a cook, but to her family she was famous for her French toast, crazy cake, lemon bars, and buttered onions. Beginning as a small child, Nancy spent time at Geneva Point Center (GPC) in Moultonborough, New Hampshire, on Lake Winnipesaukee. “Winnie” held a special place in her heart and she shared her love of GPC with her husband and daughter every July. She and her daughter would wake early and head to the beach where Nancy would read while her daughter swam until her fingers pruned. At the end of the day, the whole family would enjoy ice cream in their PJs (or maybe that was just Kimberly) from the GPC General Store. Later in life, she served on the GPC board and always felt she needed time at “Winnie” to have her spiritual needs completely fulfilled. Nancy was active in the Vernon Seniors and served as their treasurer. Traveling with the seniors was a highlight of her later years. Nancy was exceptionally dedicated in all that she did in her life and she will be profoundly missed by her daughter and son in-law Kimberly and Damian DePino of Dummerston; her siblings-in-law Pamela (Durborow) and her husband Paul Gallagher of Madison, Connecticut, and Munson Hicks and his wife Deb of Vernon; and her beloved nieces and their families. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her dear cousin Betsy and her husband, David Duke.Memorial information: A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held Friday, June 19, at 11 a.m., at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Brattleboro, with a reception to follow. Donations to Geneva Point Center, 108 Geneva Point Road, Moultonborough, NH 03254; or the Brattleboro Winter Carnival, P.O. Box 66, Brattleboro, VT 05302. To offer condolences,visit atamaniuk.com.
• Robin M. Key, 72, of Londonderry. Died April 30, 2026, after a brief illness. Born in Evanston, Illinois, she was a respected landscape architect and the founder of RKLA Studio in Manhattan. After graduating from the University of Vermont in plant and soil science in 1977, she continued her academic training in landscape architecture at Cornell University. In 1982, she and her husband moved to Jane Street in Manhattan, where they lived for 42 years. Robin practiced as a landscape architect in Greenwich Village while raising three children and subsequently founded RKLA Studio in 2003. As her business grew, so did her interest in public works and larger city projects including St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, Tavern on the Green in Central Park, and Serviam Gardens, an affordable housing project in the Bronx. In 2010, Robin joined the Board of Trustees of The Olana Partnership, a New York State historic site on 250 acres in Hudson, New York, that preserves the work and landscape of the American painter Frederic Church, foremost of the Hudson River School in the late 19th century. In April, as co-chair of Olana, Robin helped to host a gala event for 400 people at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to begin the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Church’s birth. Robin was elected a fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2018. She served on the Stewardship Council of the Cultural Landscape Foundation of Washington, D.C., and was on the Advisory Board for the Noguchi Museum in Queens. The latter continues an intriguing relationship her family had with Osamu Noguchi when he came to rural Indiana from Japan as an adolescent with no particular ties to family or country. Robin and her family own a 300-acre farm in Londonderry. Here, Robin built her own gardens focused on perennials for cold climates, native trees, and shrubs. With her husband, much of the property was established as a working tree farm producing timber and maple syrup. Robin guided the construction of miles of hiking and ski trails, large fields, and ponds, and stone work in collaboration with Dan Snow, a well-known dry stone sculptor. Robin was an exceptionally generous person in both her personal and her professional life. All her friends loved working with her because of her curiosity of the natural world and her knowledge of what grows underfoot and nearby. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, David M. Key; and their children, Mckendree, Lindsay and Ely Key; and four grandchildren. Robin’s love infused and sustained her family. She is missed by all for her warm spirit but also for her iron commitment to making the world a more beautiful place.Memorial information: A service will be held Saturday, May 30, at 2 p.m. at Peru Church.
• Debra Ann Pierson, 73, of Newfane. Died at Grace Cottage Hospital in Townshend May 12, 2026, following an extended illness and courageous battle with cancer. Debra was born in Athol, Massachusetts, August 29, 1952, the daughter of Albert E.and Barbara S. (Pratt) Litchfield. She attended Newfane schools and graduated from Leland & Gray Seminary with the Class of 1970. For many years, Debra owned and operated her own home cleaning business with her client base being in the West River Valley and Dover area. Previously, she worked at Lawrence’s Smoke Shop, where she served as manager for several years. Active in her community, for many years she was a volunteer with NewBrook Fire & Rescue’s Women’s Auxiliary, serving as president of the group for several terms. Debra held membership in the Grange, Windham County Historical Society, the Red Hat Society, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. For many years, she was an active volunteer with the annual Grace Cottage Hospital Fair Day. She enjoyed line dancing, boating at Harriman Reservoir, traveling, and vacations in Maine and Florida. Most importantly, she cherished time spent with her family, especially with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. On June 26, 1970, in Newfane, she was married to Richard E. Pierson, who survives. Besides her faithful and devoted husband of 55 years, she leaves a son, Albert Charles Pierson and his wife Beth of Rawsonville; a daughter, Serena Pierson of Grafton; a brother, Robert Litchfield of Newfane; two sisters, Diane Smith (Edward) of Cambridgeport and Alesia Fletcher (Michael) of Saxtons River; a sister-in-law, Deborah Litchfield of West Townshend; a brother-in-law, Bruce Parker of Westminster; grandchildren Kristian Pierson (Mya) and Derek Pierson (Sierra); and a great-granddaughter, Everly Izabella Chris-Pierson. Additionally, she is survived by many nieces, nephews, and several cousins. Debra was predeceased by a brother, Albert Litchfield Jr.; a sister, Roberta Parker; a niece, Jennifer Joyce; a nephew, Freddie Parker; and sister-in-law, Janice Litchfield.Memorial information: A funeral service will be conducted Friday, May 22, at 11 a.m. at Newfane Congregational Church. Burial will follow in the family lot in Woodlawn Cemetery in Newfane. A reception will follow, hosted by NewBrook Fire & Rescue, at the fire station on Route 30. Donations to NewBrook Fire & Rescue, 698 Route 30, Newfane, VT 05345; or Grace Cottage Hospital, P.O. Box 1, Townshend, VT 05353. To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• John F. Turner, 89, of Brattleboro. Died April 13, 2026, at Applewood Nursing Home in Winchester, New Hampshire, after a brief illness. John was born in Brattleboro Sept. 15, 1936, to Walter and Mary (Sullivan) Turner. He attended Brattleboro Union High School, where he was very involved in athletics and graduated with the Class of 1956. He was drafted into the Army and served two years. Following his honorable discharge, he attended Lyndon State College. He was active in the Brattleboro Ski Patrol, Rescue Inc., local parades, and was a high school football official in southern Vermont. He had a landscaping business and continued working thru December of 2025. John was known for his gardens and Halloween decorations at BMH. His cousin Philip Turner was like a brother, and many mornings they shared coffee and sweets. John was a very devoted and loving father to his son Keith of Vernon, and daughter Jill (Don Lennon) of Westmoreland, New Hampshire. He also leaves grandson Colby McAllister (Ashley) of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, and granddaughter Chelsea Brooks (Thomas Vose) of Hinsdale, New Hampshire; along with great-grandchildren Jack, Amelia, Everett, Carter, and Isabella; and several nieces and nephews; and his devoted friend, Ray Blow. He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Walter Jr., James, and Richard, and sister Barbara Hills.Memorial information: No services are planned at this time.
• Richard G. “Bucky” Turner Sr., 86, of Putney. Died May 11, 2026, at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, New Hampshire, following a period of declining health. A lifelong resident of Putney, he was born at home on Aug. 28, 1939, the son of Ernest and Irene (Veilleau) Turner. He was raised and educated in Putney and was a longtime employee at Putney Paper Mill, which he retired from in 2002 as foreman following 42 years of faithful and dedicated service. Previously, he worked for several years at Basketville. Of his leisure time activities, he enjoyed cutting wood, clearing properties, hunting, fishing, and time spent with his family. He was known for his easygoing personality and spirit of friendship. One of his greatest accomplishments was clearing the area on Turner Trail in Putney, where he later constructed his own home using the timber to frame the house. He leaves his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Frink, whom he married in Putney; his six children: daughters, Pamela Campbell (Ralph) of Alstead, New Hampshire, Cindy Dupuis (Joseph) of Springfield, Vermont, Laurie Clayton (Shawn) of Russellville, Arkansas, and Donna Turner of Putney; two sons from a previous marriage, Richard Turner Jr. and Bill Turner (Sherri) of Ringold, Georgia; a brother, Edward Turner of Putney; a sister, Linda Turner of Westminster; 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. Additionally, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He was predeceased by brothers David, Kenneth, and Donald; and sisters Gladys Stockwell and Janice Alcorn.Memorial information: Graveside committal services will be conducted Saturday, June 20, at 11 a.m. in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Putney. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302.To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
• Janice Lynn “Jan” Whittle, 70, of Brattleboro. Died peacefully at her home, with her family by her side, May 10, 2026, following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Winchester, Ontario, Canada, on July 4, 1955, the daughter of Franis and Betty (Canning) Serviss. She moved to the United States with her family at an early age, was raised and educated in Vernon, and attended Brattleboro Union High School. Jan worked for several years as a cook for Academy School. In her younger years, she worked at The Book Press in Brattleboro. She had a deep love for children and also spent many years providing childcare at her home. Steadfast in her walk of faith, Jan was a longtime member of Vernon Union Church, where she was active with many church functions that included hosting special events and coordinating and assisting with putting on meals. She also served as treasurer for several years. Additionally, Jan enjoyed cooking, arts and crafts, gardening, and time with her family. Christmas was her favorite holiday, and she enjoyed decorating both at her home and at the church. On July 31, 1993, in Hinsdale, she was married to David M. Whittle, who survives. Besides her husband of 32 years, she leaves two sons, Craig Majer (Amy) of Brattleboro and Timothy Majer (Nelly) of Raynham, Massachusetts; two brothers, Donald Serviss of Brattleboro and Scott Serviss (Ron) of Ft. Meyers, Florida; one sister, Debbie Savage (Gary) of Vernon; five grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, James Allen Serviss, in 2019.Memorial information: Friends may call at Atamaniuk Funeral Home in Brattleboro Saturday, May 23, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Graveside committal services will follow in North Cemetery in Vernon, where she will be laid to rest beside her mother. Donations to Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302.To offer condolences, visit atamaniuk.com.
This Milestones item was submitted to The Commons.