HIGHGATE CENTER - H. Bruce Stanley, age 76, passed away with his family at his side on Monday June 1, 2009 at the Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans.
He was born September 13, 1932 in Franklin, VT the son of Howard B. & Gratia (Hammond) Stanley.
Bruce was a 1951 graduate of Franklin High School. Following high school Bruce entered the U.S. Marines serving stateside during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge, Bruce took over the operation of the family dairy farm which he eventually ran with his family until he retired in 1996. He also ran a sugaring operation on the farm. He enjoyed traveling, spending winters in Florida, watching & feeding his birds, playing cards, spending time with friends and attending family gatherings. He especially loved to attend his grandchildrens sporting events and various activities.
He was a member of the East Franklin Union Church, American Legion Sheldon Post # 88, St. Albans Co-Op and the Franklin County Sugarmakers Association. He was also a representative the former Northern Farmers Group.
He is survived by his wife Rosemary (Jette) Stanley of Highgate Center. They were married November 12, 1955. He is also survived by his children and their spouses, Monica & David Kelley of Franklin, Thomas & Karen Stanley of Montgomery, Deborah & Michael Choquette of Swanton, Anthony & Lynn Stanley of Fairfax, VT/Grantham, NH, Lynne Airoldi of Fairfax, Howard & Laurie Mae Stanley of Sheldon, and Roderick & Laurie Ann Stanley of Sheldon; his grandchildren, Amy, Jill, Avery, JoAnna, Bridgett, Michaella, Bradley, Leah, Ashley, Alex, Allyson, Jenna, Corey, Tyler, Ryan, Bryan, Matthew & Brandon; his great grandchildren, Madysen, Austin & Maverick; his sisters and their spouses, Betty & Stanton Montague of Albany, NY, Shirley & George Kron of Ellicot City, MD and Virginia Crossett of Waterbury; sisters-in-law, Pauline Boudreau and her husband Philip of Fairfield and Madeline McDermott-Miller of Enosburg Falls; a brother-in-law and his wife, Edmund & Beverly Jette of Jacksonville, AR; many nieces, nephews & cousins. Besides his parents, Bruce was predeceased by a son-in-law, Allen Airoldi; brothers, Oscar, Robert & John Stanley; and a sister, Esther Justus.
Bruces family would like to thank the ICU Staff at the Northwestern Medical Center for their compassionate and thoughtful support as well as Doctors Grunberg & Weiss and the staff at St. Albans Primary Care.
Funeral services will be held Friday June 5, 2009 at 11:00 AM at the East Franklin Union Church with Rev. Jason McConnell officiating. Interment will follow in St. Marys Cemetery in Franklin.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 5-8 PM at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls.
For those who wish, contributions in Bruces memory may be made to the Northwestern Medical Center Palliative Care Program, ATT: Olivia Weed-LaPorte, P.O. Box 1370, St. Albans, VT 05478 or to the Hope Lodge, 237 East Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401