My name is Barbara Elaine Hodgson. Many years ago I was a Gervais and then a Drew, which provided me with two of the greatest joys of my life, Jeff and Kathi. I came into the world on January 9th 1929 and departed on October 4th 2018 (my oldest grandson's birthday ironically). Eighty Nine years that flew by. Along the way there was joy, heartache, successes, and failures, but always there was laughter. Everything said and done, seen and imagined could be twisted just so as to bring on the laughter. I even laughed when I told my fourth grade class that my mother had arrived here on The Mayflower. She had forgotten to tell me she was kidding. I couldn't laugh much those last two days, but what's two days out of eighty nine wonderful years. I was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont and was a hilltopper for good. Graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy and plunged headlong into life. I worked at various places over the years and even tried my hand at selling real estate later in life. But my main job was as a mother and wife, sister and friend. Maybe to please my first husband I tried my hand at bird hunting. Mostly driving the gravel roads in the hills of Vermont watching for a partridge to cross the road. That all ended when I accidentally discharged my shotgun between our feet and ruined our engine. There was no laughing for quite a while. I did go on to master wild game cuisine, which was safer than trying to harvest it. My greatest accomplishment was finding and marrying Charles Hodgson. Together we found happiness beyond my wildest dreams for forty six wonderful years. We lived in Vermont, New Hampshire, Florida, and North Carolina. No matter where we went we made great friends and shared the love and laughter. One final thing. From where I sit I see more tears than I would like. I was blessed with a joyous happy life. I'm no longer with you, but please get past the mourning and let the joy come back into your life. I'll be with you always in the ways that count the most.