, passed away peacefully the morning of Sunday, March 14, 2004, at the Maple Lane Nursing Home, where she received the best of care. She was born March 2, 1922, in West Glover, Vt., the second child of David and Carrie (Marcou) Jerome. She received her education, and was an excellent student, from a one-room school. Shortly after graduating she moved to Barton, Vt. During World War II she moved to Newport, Vt., and went to work in the factory at the Union Twist Drill Co.-Butterfield Div., Derby Line, Vt. Later, when women no longer were needed in the factory, she spent 25 years working at Paul's Cleaners. She also found great enjoyment being a Kirby saleslady starting in 1965. She was extra proud of being the top salesperson several times for the New England-New York District winning many prizes. On Dec. 18, 1948, she married Raymond Joseph Plante. They had no children, but Pearle was like a mother to her sister, Nellie, as well as many nieces and nephews. She will also be remembered as a very kind and gentle person, one who always found good in everyone she met. She enjoyed people and loved having a house full of friends. For many years she graciously took friends for their doctors' appointments and other necessary errands. Pearle had a heart of gold. Pearle took great pleasure in getting dressed up with matching shoes and jewelry. She loved flowers and filled her home both inside and outside with them. She really enjoyed music and going to fiddling contests. Pearle, also known as Polly, was not afraid of work and even as a child milked cows before walking a mile for school each day. She loved animals, especially her horse, Lucky, and was known to take in stray dogs and cats. Survivors include her brother, Clarence Jerome of Vermont; her sister, Nellie Boulet of St. Johnsbury, Vt.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins, as well as her extended family at the Maple Lane Nursing Home, and close friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Raymond, Nov. 15, 1997; her sister, Florence Kellogg, Dec. 3, 1998; and also by her brothers-in-law, Paul \"Pat\" Boulet and Edmond Plante. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 27, at 11 a.m., in the Church of God, Crawford Road, Derby, Vt., that Pearle had attended for years. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Activity Fund, Maple Lane Nursing Home, 2258 Maple Hill Road, Barton, VT 08522; or to the Frontier Animal Society, 4473 Barton-Orleans Road, Orleans, VT 05860.

, 79, of Bath, N.H., died peacefully in her sleep Sunday, March 14, 2004. She was born in Jamestown, N.Y., Feb. 13, 1925, the daughter of Gilbert Anderson and Cecelia (Lynd) Anderson. She moved to New Hampshire in 1978, working for Grafton County Seeds Office for many years. She was a dedicated wildlife enthusiast, with a love for all animals, especially her dog, Phoebe. She is survived by her son, Stephen Tate of Middle Island, N.Y.; daughters, Jan Tate and her husband Rob Benton of Lyndonville, Vt., Valerie Tate and her husband Rich Dickenson of Bath, N.H., and Ellen Tunny and her husband Jim of Kirby, Vt. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her granddaughter, Kaley Tate, July 6, 1989; and her husband, Bill, May 28, 2000. A private memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions can be made to the Nature Conservancy or World Wild Life Fund.

, 90, of Island Pond, died Tuesday, March 16, 2004, in Newport. She was born July 17, 1913 in Derby, a daughter of Irving and Carrie (Moulton) Welch. She graduated from Derby Academy in Derby, Vt. For 73 years, Jessie lived with the Claude Maxwell family, taking care of their children whom she adored, working on their farm, helping during sugaring season and haying in the summer. Jessie enjoyed crossword puzzles, puzzle books, reading the newspaper and spending time with the children. She is survived by several nieces and nephews and by many cousins. She was predeceased by two brothers and three sisters. Spring graveside services will be held at the Derby Center Cemetery with the Rev. Richard Whitehill officiating. Should friends desire, contributions in Jessie's memory may be made to the Island Pond Meals On Wheels, Island Pond, VT 05846; Orleans-Essex VNA and Hospice Inc., 46 Lakemont Road, Newport, VT 05855; or to Brighton Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 456, Island Pond, VT 05846.

, 85, of Colchester, Conn., born Sept. 24, 1918, in Monson, Maine, passed on peacefully March 18, 2004, at home with her family. She resided in Monson, Willimantic and Dexter, Maine; Glastonbury and Colchester Conn.; and St. Johnsbury and Lyndonville. She was a graduate of Monson Academy. She attended the First Baptist Church in Dexter, Maine, the First Congregational Church of Lebanon, Conn., and was a member of the Buckingham Congregational Church in Glastonbury, Conn. Lillian was predeceased by her husband, Roger Kempton Mitchell of Greenville, Maine; a son, Kent Strout Mitchell of Willimantic, Maine; a daughter, Karen Lorraine Hudson of Lyndonville; and a grandson, Kent Stephen Mitchell of Holyoke, Mass. She is survived by her children, Larry Kempton Mitchell of Springfield, Mass., Karlene Celia Mitchell of Pickens, S.C., Frederick Kempton Mitchell of Concord, and Nina Christine McGuire of Colchester, Conn.; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Services will be held Saturday, March 20, at 2 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Lebanon, Conn. Interment services will be held this coming July in Willimantic, Maine. Notice of date and time will be published in advance of the service.

, 71, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., and formerly of Endicott, N.Y., and Hollywood, Fla., died Thursday, March 18, 2004, at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury. He was born Dec. 16, 1932, in Endicott, N.Y., son of the late Orazio and Theresa (LaScala) Recchia. He was schooled in his hometown and later joined the U.S. Air Force. He then worked as a life insurance salesman in New York. While in Florida he worked as a bookkeeper for the Davie, Fla., Police Department. A passionate and gifted musician, Frank played keyboards and stringed instruments, playing bass for many other musicians such as, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, Anita Bryant, Count Basie and his Orchestra as well as many others. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman. Survivors include his wife, Diane Recchia of Hollywood, Fla.; one son, David Recchia and his special friend Judi Laird of East Burke; three daughters, Donna Hackett and her husband Clark of East Burke, Deborah DeLisle of St. Johnsbury, and Dominique \"Nicki\" Whitcomb and her husband Darryl of St. Johnsbury; five grandchildren, Tessa, Sara, Matthew, Faye and Carli; three great-grandchildren, Aaron, Faith and Emma; five stepchildren, Gene, David, John, James and Christopher Casterlin; his brother, Victor Recchia and his wife of Cortland, N.Y.; two sisters, Antonette Pisani of Endicott, N.Y., and Frances Seats of Belleville, Ill.; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Mary Heater. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, March 23, at 6 p.m. at the new Lyndon Bible Church located on Brown Farm Road just off the Red Village Road in Lyndon with the Rev. Joel Battaglia and the Rev. Rick Menard officiating. Following the service there will be a time for food and fellowship. In lieu of flowers, donations made in Frank's memory may be directed to Lyndon Bible Church Music Ministry, P.O. Box 627, Lyndonville, VT 05851.

, 81, of Lisbon, N.H., passed away at the Littleton Regional Hospital on Friday, March 19, 2004. Pauline was born a daughter to Harlie and Eva (Shatney) Lockwood on March 8, 1923 in Lowell, Vt. Pauline was employed by the New England Wire Company for 44 years. She loved to cook, with her favorite dessert being her famous, delicious apple pies. Pauline enjoyed embroidering and reading. She was a member of the Senior Citizens and greatly enjoyed their mystery rides. Pauline was an avid fan of professional wrestling. Surviving family members include her daughter, Edna and Richard Grayson of Lisbon, N.H.; five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Two brothers and two sisters predeceased her, as well as her husband, Lester Wright. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 27, at the Lisbon Shared Ministry Brick Church, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Lyn O. McIntosh officiating. Burial will be in the Grove Hill Cemetery.

, 81, of St. Johnsbury, passed away at home Thursday evening, March 19, 2004. He was born in Sloatsburg, N.Y., Oct. 16, 1922, the son of Arthur and Marie (Pinkert) Taylor. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, having served on the USS Langley in the Pacific. After his discharge from the Navy, he went to work for AT & T. On Oct. 11, 1947, he married Marion Cullen and they traveled around the country working for AT & T, settling in Mahwah, N.J. He went to work for NYNEX in Rockland Co., N.Y. He retired from NYNEX in 1976 as a supervisor and moved to Del Norte, Colo. There he opened the Navaho Trail Liquor Store. In 1996, he moved to St. Johnsbury to be near his family. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers and a past commander/50-year member of the American Legion Post 859. He is survived by his wife, Marion of St. Johnsbury (44 Cross Ave. 05819); two sons, Paul \"Butch\" Taylor and his wife Suzanne of St. Johnsbury (P.O. Box 75, St. J. Center 05863), and Benjamin Taylor and his wife Michelle of Waldwick, N.J.; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He has two brothers, Arthur Taylor of Houston, Texas, and William Taylor of Port Orange, Fla., and their families. He had many nieces and nephews who thought of him as a second father. He was predeceased by a sister, Jane Conklin of Sloatsburg, N.Y. A memorial service will be held at the Sayles Funeral Home, Tuesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. Friends are invited to gather at the funeral home at 6 p.m. to the start of the service. Memorial contributions, marked for \"Hospice\" may be directed to Caledonia Home Health, P.O. Box 383, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819. The family is very grateful for their compassionate and fine care.

, 83, of 2400 East Baseline Ave, No. 22, Apache Junction, Ariz., died Thursday, March 18, 2004, at Apache Junction Healthcare Center following a lengthy illness. She was born in North Haverhill, N.H., Feb. 15, 1921, a daughter of Fred Lester and Rosa Ella (Hubbard) Luce. She lived in Haverhill, Piermont and Pike, N.H., and also Bradford, Vt. She attended the Pike School at the foot of Cutting Hill, where oftentimes in winter she and other children road a Traverse Sled to school and the family dog would pull the sled back up the hill. During World War II, she was a welder in the Boston Navy Yard, and also worked for the Mystic Rug Company in Wakefield, Mass. She also worked in hospitals and prep schools as a cook. Mrs. Oliver married Chester Holden Oliver Jr., Dec. 9, 1944 in Rapid City, S.D. Kay and Chet raised their five children in Rowley, Mass., and retired to Frostproof, Fla., until moving to Apache Junction, Ariz., in September 2001. She was predeceased by two sisters, Alice May Montgomery and Bernice Mable Gilbert; and seven brothers, Frank Allen Luce, Clayton Edward Luce, Fred Leslie Luce, Perley Guy Luce, Theadore Lester Luce, Bernard Edwin Luce and Charley Jabin Luce. Survivors include her husband, Chester H. Oliver Jr. of Apache Junction, Ariz.; one son, Chester H. Oliver III of Bullhead City, Ariz.; four daughters, Shirley A. Rutherford and Dorothy E. Oliver, both of Apache Junction, Donna E. of Florida, and Bernice R. Bernard of Endicott, N.Y.; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; also several nieces, nephews and cousins, and extended family and friends. There will be no services at this time. Memorial services in Woodsville, N.H., and burial in Bradford, Vt., will be at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Apache Junction Healthcare Center, 2012 W. Southern Ave., Apache Junction, AZ 85219.

, 81, long-time resident of St. Johnsbury, died Sunday, March 14, 2004 at the Mayo Healthcare in Northfield. She was born March 16, 1922 in St. Johnsbury, the daughter of Floyd and Agnes (Ling) Holmes. She graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy, Class of 1940, and later graduated from Lyndon Normal School and Lyndon College. She taught school in Littleton, N.H.; Readsboro, Vt.; St. Johnsbury and Barre. Ms. Holmes was a teaching principal at the Brook School in Barre. She is survived by her sister, Esther H. Renfrew of Northfield; two nephews, Roger Renfrew and his wife Marilyn, and Bruce Renfrew and his wife Sharon; two nieces, Elizabeth Clarkson and her husband Wayne, and Virginia Renfrew; three grandnephews, Christopher Clarkson and his wife Angel, Ira Renfrew, and Gregory Renfrew; three grandnieces, Rebecca Clarkson, Megan Renfrew, and Julia Renfrew; and two great-grandnephews. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Church in St. Johnsbury, the Daughters of Isabella and Washington County Retired Teacher's Association. She loved her church, camping on Miles Pond, travel, her Irish heritage and spending time with her family. There are no calling hours. A memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday, March 27, at 9:30 a.m., at St. John the Evangelist Church in St. Johnsbury. A committal service will be conducted in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Northfield this spring. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Mayo Activity Fund, 71 Richardson Ave., Northfield, VT 05663; or St. John the Evangelist, 49 Winter St., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.

, 80, of Island Pond, passed away in Barton Saturday, March 20, 2004. She was born in Sherbrooke, P.Q., July 17, 1923, the daughter of Daniel J. and Ruth (Steady) O'Dowd. In 1941, Carmel married Reginald Henry, who predeceased her in 1982. Carmel was active in the Island Pond Senior Center. She was a past secretary of the Island Pond Historical Society and a member of the St. James Parish and Church choir. She and Reg were long-time residents of Island Pond. They enjoyed traveling to see family members and family gatherings gave them great joy. Carmel was an avid bingo player and enjoyed sharing her winnings with family members. She is survived by her children, Leonard Henry and his wife Martha of Lewes, Del., Timothy Henry and his wife Dawn of Charlotte, N.C., Regina Foy and her husband Frederick of Morrisville, and Christopher Henry and his wife Susan of Hinesburg; her sister, Aileen Segale of Rutland; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one niece and two nephews. She was predeceased by an infant son, Michael. A memorial Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, March 24, at St. James Catholic Church in Island Pond at 11 a.m. with the Rev. William Morgan officiating. A continuing celebration of the life of Carmel will be held at the St. James Parish Hall from noon until 2 p.m. after the memorial Mass at St. James Church. Spring interment will take place at the Lakeside Cemetery in Island Pond. Should friends desire, contributions in Carmel's memory may be made to Maple Lane Nursing Home, Activities Fund, Maple Hill Road, Barton, VT 05822.

, 56, of Lisbon, N.H., passed away at the Littleton Regional Hospital Friday, March 19, 2004. A native of Littleton, N.H., Patricia was born a daughter to Walter Paul McDowell and Marjorie Mae (Moore) McDowell Brooks on March 19, 1948. Patricia attended area schools. She was a homemaker and enjoyed sewing, especially quilt-making, and was very devoted to her family. Surviving family members include her husband, Donald Haverstick of Lisbon, N.H.; three sons, Christopher Michael Haverstick of Lenora, N.C., Davian Lee Haverstick and Preston Wayne Haverstick, both of Littleton; one daughter, Christina Marie (Haverstick) Long of Broad Brook, Conn.; her mother, Marjorie Brooks of Littleton; and seven grandchildren. At the request of the family, funeral services were held privately.

, 77, of Charles Street, Lyndonville, Vt., passed away peacefully Friday, March 19, 2004, at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury, Vt., surrounded by her loving family. Jean was born Oct. 3, 1926 in St. Johnsbury, the daughter of Alexander D. and Alice C. McLane. After growing up in Lyndonville and graduating from Lyndon Institute in 1944, she attended nurse's training at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, graduating in the Class of 1947. Jean worked as an RN at Brightlook and St. Johnsbury hospitals before becoming the school nurse for the town of Lyndon from 1968 until her retirement in 1992. Jean was a member of the Lyndonville United Methodist Church and various nursing organizations. Jean was involved in many volunteer activities including the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Lyndon Institute Alumni Association, as well as others. She was an advocate for all children at home and at school, and will be remembered by friends and family for her sense of humor, honesty, selfless acts of kindness and her zest for life. She was predeceased by her husband, Howard Garfield; her sister, Betsey Maher; her son-in-law, James Sheehan; and her beloved dog, Emily. She is survived by her three daughters, Melinda Garfield of Waterbury Center, Vt., Elizabeth Laplant and her husband Glenn of Lyndonville, Vt., and Jane Alexander of Waterbury Center; two special grandchildren, Lucas and Alicia Laplant of Lyndonville, Vt.; her sisters-in-law, Phyllis Bennett and her husband Reginald of Lyndonville, Vt., and Dorothy Ellsworth and her husband George of Lutz, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Corner Medical, especially Drs. John Elliott, Susan Gresser and Susan Ensiman, for their support and kindness, as well as the ICU staff, especially Judy Spencer. At Jean's request, there will be no visiting hours. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, March 23, at 1 p.m., at the Lyndonville United Methodist Church with the Rev. Barbara Dwyer officiating. Interment will be in Lyndon Center Cemetery later in the spring at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Lyndon Rescue Inc., P.O. Box 401, Lyndonville, VT 05851; or to the Elizabeth Brown Humane Society, 180 Emerson Falls Road, St. Johnsbury, Vt 05819.

, of Waterford, died Monday, March 22, 2004, at The Pines Rehabilitation and Health Center in Lyndon, at the age of 88. She was born Sept. 22, 1915, in Waterford, the daughter of the late Edgar and Abbie (Guyer) Cushman. She attended Waterford schools and was a graduate of St. Johnsbury Academy. On Nov. 25, 1936, she married George B. Fissette. Mrs. Fissette worked in St. Johnsbury many years. Her employers were Randall and Whitcomb on Main Street, the St. Johnsbury Post Office, and later as a bookkeeper for Goldberg's Auto Parts. Living with and watching her two grandsons grow brought her great pleasure. She was proud that she grew up and lived in the same neighborhood all her life. She also enjoyed feeding and watching wild birds. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Bertram \"Bert\" and Fran Fissette of Waterford; two grandsons, Michael Fissette of Portland, Ore., and Ryan Fissette and his wife Amber and their son Cameron of Lyndonville; her sister, Mary Spencer of Lyndonville; two nieces and a nephew. She was predeceased by her husband, George in 1967; her sister, Nellie Gadapee this past January; and her brother, Paul Cushman. Graveside services will be held later in the spring at Grove Cemetery in East St. Johnsbury. (Details will be announced in this paper prior to the service.) There will be no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, donations made in her memory may be directed to: The Pines Activities Fund, 601 Red Village Road, Lyndonville, VT 05851.