, 59, of Berlin, died Dec. 4. Born in Arizona, he was the son of Jose and Abedonia (Espinoza) Hernandez. He attended Phoenix area schools. He worked for Arizona Sand & Rock Co. and moved to Vermont, where he worked at Cooley & Son Paving. For the past several years he operated Salsa by Joe and operated a vending truck that provided Mexican foods. He was also an accomplished artist. Survivors include his wife; his mother; two sons, Fernando and Benny; four daughters, Carla Nieto, Linda Hernandez, Cathy Agular and Donna Sholtz; two brothers; one sister; two stepsons, Thomas Farnsworth and Sky Phillips; two daughters, Yolanda Slothower and Molly Farr; 26 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

, 70, of Warren, died Dec. 7. Born in 1927 in Rutland, she was the daughter of Francis and Ruth (Bean) LaPine. She graduated from Pittsford High School and Castleton State College with a degree in education. In 1950, she married Robert Jones, who died in 1989. She was a teacher at Warren and Fayston elementary schools. Later she worked for the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles and the Vermont Department of Taxes. Survivors include two sons, James and John; a sister; three brothers; nieces and nephews.

, 85, formerly of Barre, died Nov. 28. Born in 1912 in New Brunswick, Canada, she was the daughter of Charles and Carrie (Wetherby) Vandergrift. She attended elementary school in Dover, N.H. and graduated from Berwick Academy in Berwick, Maine. She also graduated from the Henrietta D. Goodall Hospital School of Nursing. In 1935, she married Marshaman Edgecomb, who died in 1996. She was a registered nurse and supervisor at Barre City Hospital and also in Sanford, Maine and Dover, N.H. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Barre. Survivors include a son, Terrance; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother; a sister; a niece and a nephew.

, 85, of Graniteville, died Dec. 5. Born in 1912 in Barre, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank DeForge. He attended schools in Barre. He served with the Army during WWII and was employed at LaCross Memorials and later at Comolli Granite Co., retiring in 1978. He was a member of St. Sylvester Church. Survivors include a close friend, Rachel Pelkey; nieces and nephews.

, 26, of Middlesex, died Dec. 5. Born in 1971 in Berlin, he was the son of Richard and Ruth (Sinclair) Friot. He received his early education in Montpelier and attended Montpelier High School. He enjoyed listening and talking on citizens band radio.

, 81, of Warren, died Dec. 6. Born in 1916 in Fayston, he was the son of Frederick and Cynthia (Adams) Cota. He attended schools in Fayston and Waitsfield. In 1944, he married Elaine Larrow. He worked with the Civil Conservation Corps and later served with the National Guard and the Army. He was employed at Tucker Hill Lodge in Fayston. He owned and operated Cota Construction and also worked for the US Postal Service. He was a member of Warren United Church. Survivors include his wife; and nieces and nephews.

, 82, of Barre, died Dec. 6. Born in 1915 in Graylin, CO, she was the daughter of Theodore and Marie (Nielsen) Thygesen. She attended schools in Graylin and South Barre. She worked at Vermont Plastics Co. and later at the Maple Museum. Her first husband, George Stortz, predeceased her. In 1942, she married Wilfred Sole, who died in 1989. Survivors include a daughter, Mae Marie Paloadore; a granddaughter; two brothers; nieces and nephews.

, 76, formerly of Brookfield, died Dec. 9. Born in 1921 in Wareham, Mass., she was the daughter of Ralph and Alva (Keyes) Washburn. She attended schools in Carver, Mass. She married John E. Johnson, who died in 1988. Survivors include six sons, Ronald, Richard, Glenn, Darrell, Gerald and Marshall; 14 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother.

, 71, formerly of Barre, died Dec. 5. He served in the Army during WWII and was retired from employment as a sheet metal worker in Grafton, Mass. Survivors include his wife, Jean (Middleton) Priest.

, 64, of East Montpelier, died Dec. 9. Born in 1933 in Milwaukee, WI, he was the son of Eldon and Isabel (Roberts) Hanson. He attended elementary school in Wisconsin and graduated from St. John's Military Academy in Wisconsin. He later received a degree in paralegal studies from Woodbury College in Montpelier, graduated from the Adult Degree Program at Vermont College of Norwich University with a bachelor's degree and was pursuing a master's degree at Vermont College. He served with the Army during the Korean War. In 1956, he married Nancy Wilson. They moved to East Montpelier in 1992. He was an industrial engineer and later was employed as a machine tools salesman for Barcorp Inc. of Plattsburgh. He was a former member of Trinity Church (Episcopal) in Plattsburgh and a member of the Church of Good Shepherd (Episcopal) in Barre. Survivors include his wife; a son, Carl; a daughter, Karen Hanson; an aunt and cousins.

, 84, formerly of Barre, died Dec. 11. Born in 1913 in Shenendoah, Iowa, she was the daughter of Antonio and Anita (Gaballoni) Frontini. She received her early education in Barre, graduated from Spaulding High School and attended Goddard Seminary. She was a teller and bookkeeper at the Barre Opera House and for Central Vermont Railroad in New York City. She returned to Barre in 1946 and worked at Rock of Ages Capacitor Plant. In 1939 she married Vincent Lentini, who died in 1996. She was a member of St. Monica Church. Survivors include a son, Gary; two grandchildren.

, 46, of Waterbury, died Dec. 10. Born in 1951 in Montpelier, he was the son of Clyde and Eleanor (Jangraw) Whittemore Sr. He graduated from Harwood Union High and received a degree in physical education from Johnson State College. He was an interior/exterior house painter, founding Village Decorating in Waterbury. He was recently employed in hazardous waste removal by Environmental Hazards Management Inc. in Williston. Survivors include his wife; a son, Ian; four sisters; a brother; nieces and nephews.

, 93, of Berlin, died Dec. 11. Born in 1904 in Enosburg Falls, she was the daughter of Bernard and Mary (Roddy) Lavery. She graduated from Burlington High School and later from Burlington Business College. She had been employed as a secretary. She married Raymond Montgomery, who died in 1976. She was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Church in East Barre. Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Solomon Pittsley and Jo Ann Stockbridge; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.

, 86, formerly of Randolph, died Dec. 12. Born in 1911, she was the daughter of Joan and Florence (Gisborne) DuBois. She was educated in Randolph schools and graduated from Randolph High School and La Salle College. She worked as a secretary for the State of Vermont Highway Department and later for the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Department at Norwich University. In 1965, she married Clifton J. Alexander. Survivors include her husband and a nephew.

, 82, of Barre, died Dec. 15. Born in 1915 in Worcester, he was the son of Bert and Eva (Ormsbee) Witham. He received his early education in Worcester schools and graduated from Montpelier High School. In 1937, he married Eloise McCullough. In 1950, he married Catherine Ridley, she died in 1986. He worked for the Civil Conservation Corps in the central Vermont area and later for Jenison Tree Service. He later was a bookkeeper for Churchill Trucking Co., retiring in 1980. He served with the Army during WWII. Survivors include three daughters, Eva Morse, Elaine Sue Mason and Patricia Witham; a son, Michale Sr.; two sisters; three brothers; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

, 73, of Montpelier, died Dec. 13. Born in 1924 in St. Johnsbury, she was the daughter of Merton and Ruth Ann (Snelling) Russell. She graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy. In 1943, she married Philip Quentin Heath, who died in 1990. She was a member of the First Congregational Church in St. Johnsbury and later the First Baptist Church in Montpelier. Survivors include two daughters, Ruth Ann Bean and Charlene Giguere; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a niece.

, 68, of Northfield, died Dec. 17. Born in 1929 in Northfield, he was the son of Henry and Marion (Duprey) Partlow. He attended schools in Northfield. He served in the Navy during the Korean War also in the Army in Germany from 1953-57. He worked in the granite industry, retiring in the early 1970s from Colombo Granite Co. in Barre. Survivors include his wife; his mother, Marion Koering; three sons, Charles, Thomas and Henry; three daughters, Donna Wilson, Nancy Messier and Barbara Davis; 14 grandchildren; a brother; a sister; many nieces and nephews.

, 93, formerly of Waterbury, died Oct. 20. Born in 1904, she was the daughter of Charles and Dr. Flora (Shepherd) Jones. He graduated from the Palmer Chiropractic School in Davenport, Iowa. She had been in chiropractic practice with her mother in Waterbury and also practiced in Montpelier until 1977, when she moved to California. Two husbands, Bill Bartlett and Lesley Smith, predeceased her. Survivors include a daughter, Joy (Bartlett) Tedrow; two grandsons.

, 57, of Barre, died Dec. 18. Born in 1940 in Burlington, he was the son of Henry and Cornie (Abare) Hough. He attended Waterbury High School and later served in the Marine Corps. In 1961, he married Polly Loomis. He worked in the construction business and as a heavy equipment operator in the central Vermont area. He was recently employed by GSB Excavation of Orange, until he retired due to ill health. Survivors include his wife; his mother; three daughters, Sonya Cote, Melissa Persons and Bonnie Hough; four sons, Clifton II, David, Scott and Steven; 15 grandchildren; two sisters; two brothers; nieces and nephews.

, 90, of Barre, died Dec. 12. Born in 1907 in Fayston, she was the daughter of Harry and Mabel (Spencer) Brown. She attended schools in Fayston. In 1940, she married Loren J. Bell, who died in 1956. She attended Thompson School of Nursing in Brattleboro after her husband died and worked as a licensed practical nurse at Barre City Hospital. Survivors include a stepdaughter, Dorothy Keelan; two sisters; several nieces and nephews.

, 53, of West Brookfield, died Dec. 16. Born in 1944 in Randolph, he was the son of Francis and Axie (Norman) Blanchard. He was educated in East Briantree schools. He farmed for several years and recently raised beef cattle and operated a dairy farm. In 1969, he married Patricia Boutwell, they later divorced. Survivors include two sons, Bruce and Chris; a daughter, Tonya Blanchard; a brother; a sister; six grandchildren.

, 43, of Waterbury, died Dec. 15. Born in 1954 in Newport, he was the son of Stephen and Lena (Lahue) Doran. He attended Harwood Union High School and later served with the Navy. In 1996, he married Sonya Fee. He was employed in the maintenance department at the federal building in Burlington and later for Eagle Oil Co. in Waterbury. He was a member of the Waterbury Congregational Church, and the Waterbury Ambulance and Village Volunteer Fire Department.

, 58, formerly of Barre, died Dec. 14. Born in Barre, he was the son of Homer and Ceclia (Dumas) Willette. He graduated from Northfield High School and from Albany Business College. He was employed by the New York State Office of General Services as director of the Federal/State Surplus Personal Property and Fleet Administration. He was vice president of John D. Wendell Cadillac in Albany, N.Y. for 20 years. He was a communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Latham. Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Mary (Westphal) Willette; three daughters, Lesley Willette, Jodine MacAulay and Jacquelyn Dizon; three grandchildren; a sister; two brothers; several nieces and nephews.

, 31, formerly of Barre, died Dec. 13. Born in 1966 in Barre, he was the son of Lawrence and Marielle (Roy) Gosselin. He attended St. Monica School, graduated from Spaulding High School and Champlain College. He was a cold drink sales manager for Coca Cola Co. of Barre. In 1991, he married Michelle Moran. He was a member of St. Monica Church. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Jessica Gosselin; a son, Joshua Gosselin; his father and stepmother; his mother; three brothers; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

, 81, of Bethel, died Dec. 13. Born in 1916 in Bethel, he was the son of Cecil and Edna (Luce) Washburn. He was educated in Bethel. He farmed for many years on the Camp Brook Road. In 1937, he married Addie Luce, who died in 1984. Survivors include four sons, James, John, Lloyd and Cecil; 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

, 47, formerly of St. Johnsbury, died Dec. 18. Born in 1950 in St. Johnsbury, he was the son of Avery and Ruth (Stuart) LaPoint. He attended Cabot schools and graduated from Cabot High School. He was a veteran of the Army, having served a tour in Vietnam. He was an auto mechanic and had worked for Foster Motors in Middlebury. In 1975, he married Gloria McCarty. He was a member of the Vermont Army National Guard. Survivors include his mother; three sisters, Sandra Ducharme, Teri Lawrence and Sheila Michaud; two brothers, Gordon and Gary; nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts and cousins.