Marion Ethel (Holbrook) Handy , longtime Pearl Street resident of St. Johnsbury, Vt., passed away Nov. 3, 2009, in Cedar Park, Texas. She had been making her home with her youngest daughter, Andrea, in Texas since September 2005. She was born Aug. 10, 1922 in Johnson, Vt.; the oldest of five children born to Robert and Etta (Foster) Holbrook. As a young child, her family moved to St. Johnsbury. Her father, having a fondness for remodeling homes, moved the family between St. J and Lyndon Corner. She settled in St. Johnsbury during her junior year at the Academy and made her home there until retirement. It was as a junior at the Academy, that she met her future husband, Sam Handy, who was the older brother of one of her best friends, Hilda Handy Grenier. On a bet, Sam asked her to the movies, she surprised all by saying yes and as they say, "the rest is history." Marion and Sam were married on Nov. 15, 1940 in Hartford, Conn. Marion was the ultimate homemaker - a great cook, seamstress, knitter, hostess and most importantly, a fantastic mother. Throughout the years, Marion baked pies and worked in the kitchen for the family restaurants (The Spanish Villa and the luncheonette counter at Parkers Drug Store), did mending for Scott's Dry Cleaners and cleaned the Armory Hall. Her kids always had large wardrobes from her sewing and she made thousands of hats and mittens over the years for her children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, family friends and the church Christmas Bazaar. Holidays at the Handy's included incredible meals which she cooked with little or no help. After her children had grown, she continued to knit and sew and added reading (she often read 6-10 books a week) and walking. Almost daily she would walk from her home on Pearl Street, to the library, across Main Street, down Sand Hill to Concord Avenue to Portland Street and back home to Pearl Street. In 1986, Sam and Marion moved to New Port Richey, Fla., where she thoroughly enjoyed retirement, continuing her hobbies of reading and knitting and frequent picnics at the beach with Sam and their friends. Every Sunday after attending Mass, they met their friends for breakfast at the same restaurant for years. In 2001, Marion and Sam returned to New England, making their home near their daughter, Linda, in Manchester, N.H. They moved to Texas permanently in 2005. She was an officer of the Vermont Lebanese/American Club (although she wasn't Lebanese), a volunteer for the Vermont Diocese Bishop's Fund, a former member of the St. Johnsbury Mother's club and of St. John the Evangelist Church, St. Johnsbury and a current member of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Cedar Park, Texas. She is survived by her children, Michael Handy of Medway, Mass., (11 Lee Lane, 02053), Linda and Michael Sparks of Manchester, N.H. (373 Whitford St, 03104), Netcy and Barb Handy of Novi, Mich. (47047 Manhattan Circle, 48374), Jeff and Terri Handy of Gainesville, Fla. (6102 N.W. 24th Lane, 32606) and Andrea Handy of Cedar Park, Texas (1207 Magnolia Court, 78613); grandchildren, Mark and Cathy Handy of St. Johnsbury, Richard and Ann Handy of Medway, Mass., Samantha (Sparks ) and Bob Ekstrand of Durham, N.C., Michael and Susie Handy of Clarksburg, W.Va., Shaughnessy Sparks of Waterville Valley, N.H., Jay and Grace Handy of Philadelphia, Pa., Sarajane Sparks of Washington, DC, Malinda Handy of Columbus, O.H., Stefanie Sparks of Washington, DC, Brittany, Krysten, Kayla and Brianna Handy of Gainesville, Fla.; great-grandchildren Christopher Handy, Emmaline, William, Eliza and Samuel Ekstrand, and Mattingly Handy; sisters Beverley Hopkins of Lyndon, Lois Holbrook of Shelburne, and Sandy Holbrook of Milton; brother-in-law Tony (Dianne) Handy of St. Johnsbury; sisters-in-law Ruth Holbrook of Barre and Pauline Handy of Shelburne; as well as many, many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; her husband Sam Handy; daughter Gayla Marie Handy; daughter-in-law Betty Hanley Handy; great-grandson Alex Handy; brother Kenneth; parents-in-law Gabriel and Anna Handy; sisters-in-law Hilda (Roland) Grenier, Mary and Rose Handy, and Nellie (Tom) Azur; and brothers-in-law George Hopkins, Netcy, Dick (Mary), and Sully Handy. A funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Johnsbury on Nov. 7 at noon at St. John the Evangelist Church. Burial will follow immediately at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery in St. Johnsbury. The Handy family and friends will gather at the Sayles Funeral Home on Nov. 6, 2009, from 4 to 8 p.m. with the Holy Rosary starting at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions could be directed to The Good Shepherd Foundation, PO Box 146, St. Johnsbury VT 05819.