Category: Uncategorized

Jessie G. “Thug” Roberts

From the December 3, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

Lebanon, NH–Jessie “Bing” Roberts, 77, died suddenly early Sunday morning at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. He was born in Canaan, NH on June 9, 1924 a son of Cyrus and Annabelle (Beaton) Roberts.

He grew up in Canaan, where he later enlisted in the US Army during WWII. He served in the European Theatre and following discharge returned to Lebanon where he was married to Eleanor Jardine on September 14, 1946. They made their home in Lebanon for 43 years. Mrs. Roberts died in 1991. He had been employed by W.C. Eaton, Inc. and Evans Motor Fuels for 28 years retiring in 1983. On May 25, 2000 he was married to Florence King. They enjoyed traveling to Arizona together during the winter. He was a member of the Lebanon Lodge of Elks, American Legion, the Eagles Club and the VFW in White River Jct, VT. He loved his family, working around his home, and spending time at his cabin in Strafford, VT.

He is survived by his wife Florence of Lebanon, 2 sons; James Roberts of W. Lebanon and Donald Roberts of Grantham, 4 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, 6 step-children; David King of Arizona, Bruce King of Lyme, Douglas King of Grantham, Debra Thurston of Lyme, Daniel King of Lancaster and Steven King of Lebanon. Many step-grandchildren and great step-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by 3 brothers; John, Leonard and Walter Roberts.

There were no calling hours. Funeral services were held on Wednesday at 2 pm at the First Baptist Church in Lebanon with the Rev. Dale Edwards officiating. Burial followed in the W. Lebanon Cemetery. The family suggested in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made in his name to the Alopecia Foundation.

Ricker Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Leon E. Armstrong

From the January 14, 2002 issue of The Country Chronicle

Enfield, NH–Leon E. Armstrong, 81, of Enfield, died on Friday morning, January 4, 2002, at his home. He was born in Stark, NH on August 29, 1920 a son of George and Hattie (Abbott) Armstrong. He grew up in Percy, NH and attended schools in Conway. He enlisted in the US Army during WWII serving in the European African Middle Eastern Theatre. Following discharge he moved to the Upper Valley in 1946. He was a life member of the American Legion in Lebanon and Newport, NH. He served as a Grafton County Deputy Sheriff and was a part-time police officer for the town of Enfield. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading Westerns and was known for his kindness and the help he often gave to many elderly people.

He is survived by his fiancee Pat Boucher of Enfield and was predeceased by a brother, James Armstrong. At his request there will be no services. Burial will be in the Conway Village Cemetery at a later date. Ricker Funeral Home of Lebanon is in charge of arrangements.

Elizabeth Ellen Cattabriga

From the September 10, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

Enfield, NH–Elizabeth Ellen Cattabriga, 85, died Tuesday morning September 4, 2001 at the Grafton County Nursing Home in North Haverhill. She was born in White River Jct., VT October 26, 1915, a daughter of the late Fred & Agnes (Woodward) Cobb. She was married August 21, 1935 to Carl Cattabriga and they made their home in Bellows Falls, VT until 1946 when they came to Enfield, NH where she helped to run the C.P. Cattabriga Inc. Oil Company with her husband for many years. Mr. Cattabriga died in 1987. Elizabeth was an active member of St. Helena’s Parish of Enfield and the Catholic Daughters. She also was active with the Girls Scouts and served on the Enfield Budget Committee. She enjoyed quilting and knitting and was a member of the Cardigan Mountain Knitters.

She was predeceased by her husband Carl Cattabriga in 1987; and 2 brothers: William & Charles Cobb.

She is survived by 1 son: Jon Cattabriga of Enfield, NH; 2 daughters: Carol Ann Keating of Enfield, NH and Nancy Holland of Yonkers, NY; 15 grandchildren; 12 great-granchildren; 1 great-great-granchild; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Ricker Funeral Home, Rte 4, Enfield, NH Friday evening from 7-8:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday morning at 10 a.m. in St. Helena’s Church of Enfield with the Rev. Paul Rainville M.S. officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Enfield.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Elizabeth be made to: The Enfield Public Library or to: The Enfield F.A.S.T. Squad.

Helen Irene LaBombard

From the September 17, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

Lebanon, NH–Helen Irene Labombard, 81, died Saturday morning September 8, 2001 at the Lebanon Center of Genesis ElderCare. She was born November 21, 1919, a daughter of the late James and Beatrice (Gee) Conroy. A lifelong resident of the Upper Valley, she attended schools in Enfield, NH and was a former longtime resident of Greensboro Rd in Hanover, NH. She was married in February 1938 to Richard N. LaBombard who died Dec. 26, 1977. Helen was a member of St. Denis Parish in Hanover, NH and had been the owner/operator of the former Midget Diner in Hanover, NH. Helen loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking, nature, birds and flowers. She was an avid storyteller, and also enjoyed spending winters in Southern California.

Mrs. LaBombard was pre-deceased by her husband: Richard N. LaBombard in 1977; a son: Richard James LaBombard in 1968; a daughter: Patricia Judd in 1975; and a sister: Beatrice Daniels in 1980. She is survived by 2 daughters: Marcia West of Keene, NH and Deborah Marten of Downey, CA; 3 sons: William H. LaBombard of Lyme, NH, John S. LaBombard of Enfield, NH, and David K. LaBombard of Lebanon, NH; 2 sisters: Mary Brooks of W. Lebanon, NH and Dorothy Patnode of Canaan, NH; 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Friends may call at the Ricker Funeral Home, 56 School St., Lebanon, NH Tuesday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. in St. Denis Church in Hanover, NH with the Rev. Stephen Marcoux officiating. Burial will follow in the Pine Knoll Cemetery in Hanover, NH. Memorial contributions in memory of Helen may be made to: The Norris Cotton Cancer Center, One Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, NH 03756 or to: The American Diabetes Assoc., PO Box 2680, N. Canton, OH 44120.

George W. Morse

From the September 17, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

Canaan, NH–George W. Morse, 81, died Tuesday September 11, 2001 at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in White River Jct., VT following a long illness. He was born in Andover, MA October 12, 1919, a son of the late Harry L. & Ruby (Colbuni) Morse. A lifelong resident of Canaan, NH he was a graduate of Canaan High School – Class of 1937. He served 26 years in the United States Air Force. During WWII he served as a B-17 bomber pilot in the European Theatre where he was shot down and became a Prisoner of War in Germany until being liberated at the end of the war. He later was employed as an EPO Mail Carrier in Canaan for 15 years. Following his retirement in 1988 he delivered Meals on Wheels for several years. George was a longtime member of the Canaan Lions Club where he received the Melvin Jones Humanitarian Award. He was also a member of the American Legion Post of Canaan; had served for 2 terms on the Canaan Board of Selectmen; and enjoyed gardening.

He leaves his wife Irene J. (Roullier) Morse of Canaan whom he married in 1963; and several nieces and nephews.

He was pre-deceased by a brother Richard Morse and a sister Katherine Follansbee.

There will be no calling hours. Graveside Committal Services will be held Saturday Sept. 22nd at 11 a.m. at the Canaan Street Cemetery in Canaan, NH. The Rev. Gail Dimick will officiate along with members of the American Legion Post of Canaan.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Mascoma Senior Center, Church St., Canaan, NH 03741 or to: The Norris Cotton Cancer Center, 1 Medical Center Dr., Lebanon, NH 03756.

The Ricker Funeral Home of Lebanon is in charge of arrangements.

Donna Rae Moore

From the August 13, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

N. Providence, RI–She leaves her husband: John F. Moore of Canaan, NH; her mother: Alice (Castro) Bociek of Central Falls, RI; a daughter: Roberta “Misti” Rose of N. Providence, RI; a son: Donti Rosciti of Cranston, RI; a sister: Roberta Corsi of Pawtucket, RI; two brothers: Alfred Benoit Jr. of N. Providence, RI and Allen Benoit of Riverside, RI; two grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

There were no calling hours. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday morning at 10 a.m. in the St. Mary’s Church in Canaan. The Rev. Paul Rainville M.S. officiated. Burial followed in the Canaan Street Cemetery.

The family requested that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions in her memory be made to: The Canaan F.A.S.T. Squad, Canaan, NH 03741; or to The Visiting Nurse Alliance of VT & NH (VNA/VNH), or Hospice of the Upper Valley, both at 325 Mt. Support Rd., Lebanon, NH 03766.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Ricker Funeral Home in Enfield, NH.

Thomas O. Ireton

From the September 10, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

Canaan, NH–Thomas G. Ireton, 72, of Canaan died on Wednesday evening at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. He was born in New York, NY on April 21, 1929 a son of John and Caroline (Brinkmann) Ireton. He came to Canaan at the age of 2 where he grew up and attended schools. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1947 during WWII and remained with the Air Force until his discharge in 1961 as a Staff Sergeant. Following discharge he moved to Fairfield, CA where he owned and operated automobile service stations and repair shops. In 1972 he moved back to Canaan and was married to Judy Arnold on Nov. 11, 1972. He has been self employed in this area operating Ireton Construction and Tom’s Used Cars in Canaan. He served as road agent and several terms as a selectman for the town of Canaan. He was a member of the Canaan arid Fairfield, CA Lions Clubs and held his private pilots license. While in California he flew with the Solano County Sheriff’s Department search and rescue air squadron. He enjoyed traveling, camping, town and national politics, and wintering in Inverness, FL.

He is survived by his wife Judy Ireton of Canaan, 2 sons Lanny Thomas Ireton of Benicia, CA, Terry Lynn Ireton of Vacaville, CA, a brother John Ireton of Canaan, a sister Louise Poell of Concord, NH, 3 grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the Ricker Funeral Home in Enfield on Sunday evening from 7-9 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Monday at 10:00 a.m. at the Canaan Methodist Church in Canaan. Burial will be at a later date in the Sawyer Hill Cemetery in Canaan. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Canaan Senior Center, Church St., Canaan, NH 03741.

Deneal Albert Amos

From the June 18, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

Roxbury, MA–Deneal Albert Amos, 73, died Tuesday, June 14, 2001 at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in West Roxbury, MA.

He was born January 22, 1928, in San Francisco, CA, the son of Albert and Audrey Amos.

Deneal Amos was originally from San Francisco, CA. He worked his way through school; graduating from Lowell High School in 1945. He spent a year at Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR, a semester at the all-male University of San Francisco, a Jesuit school, and then graduated from the University of California at Berekely in 1949, majoring at Marketing and Analysis. He dropped out of Hastings Law School during the post-war depression and spent a couple of years scrambling to stay alive before finally going into the Army. (His draft letter came in the same mail with three serious job offers.)

He got his commission as a training officer on the day the Korean War ended, taking an early discharge on condition that he return to school. This he did, determined to continue the attempt to realize his father’s ideal of the Renaissance man.

Scholar, Athlete, Philosopher, Warrior, Poet, Musician and Artist. He had enough GI benefits for five years of study in the Social Sciences and the Humanities. In the end, he opted out of going for an advanced degree on the grounds that he was going to school for wisdom – not a better job opportunity.

Along the way Deneal worked as a teacher, administrator, clerk, farmhand, warehouseman, playground director, painter, house and fine cook, waiter, janitor and postal clerk, driver and carrier. When he returned to graduate school he majored in Education, the Social Sciences and Eastern thought. A life-changing spiritual experience confirmed him in his belief that the key to realizing the democratic ideal lay in an educated and informed citizenry, and the determination of everyone in any community to work for the benefit of others. He took the vow of Boddhisattva in 1956 – “I shall not rest until all sentient beings are liberated” – before he knew anything of meditation or Boddhisattvas. Mr. Amos’ educational ventures included:

Starting SameCon – the School of the Art of Moral and Ethical Conduct – a school for the art of living in 1957.

Helping start one of the first of the organized Experimental College at San Francisco State College in 1957.

“Grandfather” of Emerson College in Pacific Grove, CA in 1960.

Started New Canaan Academy in Putney, VT in 1975.

Teaching at Windham College in Putney, VT; Mark Hopkins College in Brattleboro, VT; Plymouth State College in Plymouth, NH; and acting as Meditation teacher/advisor at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. He was active at Kendal at Hanover, Dartmouth College and Plymouth State College, teaching tai chi chuan and meditation. He was a member of Dartmouth College Campus Ministry. He will be remembered by the people whose lives he touched, the noontime basketball group and the breakfast crew at Lou’s Restaurant.

Survivors include his partner, Anita Beloin; a sister, Betty; his children, Bodhi, Hui Neng, Aishya, and Kaivallya; and grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Calling hours were Friday from 6-8 pm and Saturday from 4-6 pm at Rand Wilson Funeral Home in Hanover, NH. A memorial service will be held Sunday at 3 pm at Rollins Chapel in Hanover.

Robert D. “Bob” Grant

From the July 2, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

W. Canaan, NH–Robert D. “Bob” Grant, 63, died Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at his home in West Canaan following a long illness. He was born in Hanover, NH, November 18, 1937. He grew up in Bridgewater, VT and graduated from Woodstock (VT) High School in 1957. He had been a resident of W. Canaan for the last 34 years. Bob had been a truck driver for Twin State Fruit for many years and had also served as a bus driver for the Mascoma School District for 10 years. He was a member of the Lebanon Lodge of Elks for 34 years; was a member of the VT National Grange; had been a State of NH Deputy Forest Fire Warden for several years; was the representative from the Canaan Fire Dept. to the Upper Valley Mutual Aid Association for several years; and had been a member of the Canaan Volunteer Fire Dept. for 22 years, retiring as a First Lieutenant in February 2001. He was an avid deer hunter and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

He leaves his wife of 36 years, Pauline (Bellavance) Grant of West Canaan, NH, whom he married June 5, 1965; his mother: Ramona Welch of Wilder, VT; his foster-mother: Pearl Townsend of Bridgewater Corners, VT; a son: Douglas P. Grant of Lebanon, NH; a daughter: Rebecca C. Jones of Canaan, NH; a foster-son: Fred Cummings of Canaan, NH; several brothers and sisters; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was pre-deceased by his foster-father: Paul Townsend.

Friends called at the Ricker Funeral Home in Lebanon on Friday evening from 6-9. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday morning at 10 am at the Sacred Heart Church of Lebanon. Burial followed in the Sacred Heart Cemetery with a reception in the church hall following the services.

The family requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to: The Visiting Nurse Alliance of VT and NH (VNA/VNH), 20 S. Main St., White River Jct., VT 05001 or to: Hospice of the Upper Valley, 325 Mt. Support Rd., Lebanon, NH 03766.

Frances B. “Frank” Moeschen

From the July 16, 2001 issue of The Country Chronicle

Enfield, NH–Frances B. “Frank” Moeschen, 97, founder of the Moeschen Club for Boys in New York City and Camp Mascoma – a private boys camp on Crystal Lake in Enfield, passed away Tuesday evening July 10, 2001 at the Integrated Health Services nursing facility in Derry, NH. He was the beloved husband of the late Helen (Carney) Moeschen, and the father of Peter Moeschen of Enfield, NH and Long Beach, NY. He is also survived by five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was pre-deceased by a son, Timothy Moeschen, two brothers-George and Ray Moeschen, and a sister-Helen Cockburn.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Ricker Funeral Home in Lebanon, NH