David Chaffee

David A. Chaffee, of Franklin, passed away at his home on November 8, 2009 with his loving family at his side, after fighting a courageous year-long battle with Medullary Thyroid Cancer. David taught us how to live and he taught us how to die - with strength, courage, and dignity.
David was born in West Berkshire on July 29, 1941, he was the son of the late Irving and Genevieve (Roberts) Chaffee. David was a caring, gentle, and kind person who put everyone before himself. He was an outstanding friend to all.
David graduated from Enosburg Falls High School in 1959. He worked at Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, CT from November 1963 to April 1967. David came back to his home town and worked at Union Carbide/Eveready from January of 1968 until his retirement in August of 2004. He had a wonderful work ethic with twelve years of perfect attendance.
David married his beloved wife and best friend, Diane (Longe) Chaffee, on September 21, 1974. They made their home in Franklin, where they just celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary.
David belonged to the West Berkshire Cemetery Association and was an avid bowler for many years, retiring in March of 2009 due to his illness. He bowled his highest series of his bowling career, a 736, in February of 2009 and was quite proud of his accomplishment. David also loved baseball and his San Francisco Giants team.
What David was most proud of was his family. He remarked many times on how fortunate he was to have such a wonderful wife, children, son-in-law, and granddaughter. Besides his wife Diane, David leaves a son, Darren Chaffee of Franklin, a daughter, Susan, and her husband Douglas Allbee, and their precious daughter, Isabella Genevieve Allbee, of Grantham, NH. He loved spending time with Isabella and was a wonderful grandfather.
David leaves his special sister, Pam, and her husband, John Colburn, who David considered a great friend and brother. David leaves two other brothers Bruce Chaffee of Newport, NH, and Robert Chaffee and his partner, Maureen Edwards, of Woburn, MA. David also leaves his second family and best friends, Billy and Beatrice Longe of Berkshire, Ronald and Caroline of Bridport, Patrick and Marjolaine, Steven and Janet, all of West Berkshire, as well as Timmy and Cindy Longe of Enosburg Falls, Linda Hurd of Gainesville, FL, and two godchildren, Holly Tessier of West Berkshire and Maria Rosenthal of CA. David also leaves many nieces, nephews, and friends. Besides his parents, David was also predeceased by a special nephew, Scott Colburn.
Davids wish to be cremated will be honored. Memorial services will be held at Spears Funeral Home in Enosburg Falls on Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. Family friend and Pastor, Patrick Hoadley, will officiate. Calling hours will begin at 1:00 p.m. A private graveside service will follow on Sunday, at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in Davids memory. Gifts may be made to the West Berkshire Cemetery Association, in care of Pamela Colburn, 144 Elm Street, Enosburg Falls, VT 05450 or Franklin County Home Health Hospice, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, VT 05478.
Over these past months, David and Diane have been blessed by the love of their family and friends, through many acts of kindness, visits, cards, gifts, food, and phone calls. David spent many days with his special friends throughout this past year. One very special friend of Davids was Walter Kinney. Walter and his wife, Martha, came up from FL this past summer for three weeks. They walked together almost daily and reminisced about the old days and their friendship. What a wonderful gift they gave to David. David also had many visits from Bob Lucier, Bob Duhamel, Roger Stimpson, Wayne Jewett, Sterling and Betty Kinney, Stuart and Hazel Kinney, Yves and Diane Beauregard, as well as many other friends and family members, who all made his days much brighter. David wanted to thank Pastor Pat Hoadley for his guidance and spiritual help during his illness and for conducting his service. Pat has always been a good friend to David, having been friends since childhood. David and Diane also owe a special thank you to Tom Cook for helping them through this difficult time. His help and kind words meant more than he will ever know.
As well as thanking their wonderful family for their love and support each and every day, many thanks must go to people in the Sheldon community, friends at the Sheldon Elementary and Franklin Elementary schools, and the FNWSU staff for their many acts of kindness and support throughout Davids illness. David and his family would like to give a heartfelt thanks to Dr. Dennis Sanders and his staff, as well as three caring people from the Vermont Cancer Center at Fletcher Allen Health Care: Cindy Wolkin, Robin Sweeney, and Laurie Shassereau. They would also like to thank Franklin County Home Health Hospice nurses, Kimberly Volk, Terry Poirier, and Douglass Kane for their kindness and wonderful care, which enabled David to live out his final months with grace and dignity.