Martha Haggerty

ESSEX JCT. / RICHFORD - Martha Haggerty, age 68, passed away on Wednesday March 29, 2017 at the Elliot Hospital in Manchester, NH with her loving family by her side.

She was born March 22, 1949 in St. Albans, VT, the daughter of the late Milton Mit & Laura (Towne) Parsons.

Martha was a 1967 graduate of Richford High School. She continued her education at the University of Vermont School of Nursing, graduating in 1971. While there, she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. Her nursing career started at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, MA. She then came back to Vermont to work for the Franklin County Home Health Agency, during this time she was part of the first class of Nurse Practitioners to graduate from UVM. She returned to this passion later in life, by recertifying in 2009, at the age of 60. In that same year she found true love when she reconnected with fellow Richford native Allen Haggerty. Martha was a devoted wife who cherished family and embraced her expanded family.

The greatest joy of Marthas life was being a Mother. Her children were her everything. While raising her family, she blessed everyone with her cooking through the family business. Marthas famous baked beans, apple pies and carrot cake are among the many dishes that will be greatly missed.

Throughout her life she was always a caregiver. She spent countless hours helping others. She was known for having an open door for anyone in need. It didnt matter if you were family, a friend or a friend of a friend; you were always welcome in her home. Her dinner table was ever expanding but always had room for one more.

Martha was a longtime member of Grace United Methodist Church in Essex Jct., where she sang in the choir and belonged to the UMW. She also recently joined the Vermont 251 club and was excited to see all of Vermonts beauty. Martha loved being outside, working in her flowers, tending to her vegetable garden or relaxing by the babbling brook at their camp on the Stevens Mills Slide Road. Martha loved all types of music and was always ready to sing and dance. She loved getting her family together and having fun with good food, laughter and love. The size of her heart is evident by the lives that she touched.

She is survived by her husband Allen Haggerty. Her children and grandchildren; Michael Wetherbee and his fianc, Kara Andrek of Howell, MI, Katharine Katie Wetherbee and her husband Josh Houghton of Manchester, NH, Justin Haggerty and his wife Treah and their children, Jude & Jett, and Ryan Haggerty and his wife Maggie and their children, Jackson, Brooklyn & Dylan. Her siblings and their spouses, Chester & Kathleen Parsons of Richford, Susan Mazer and her partner Craig Helfrich of Westford, Daniel & Pamela Parsons of Richford and Nora Parsons and her husband Tim Foley of Bennington, many loved nieces and nephews who were all very important to her as well as cherished extended family. Martha was predeceased by her parents Mit and Laura Parsons, her step-father, Leland Stanley; and her adored nephews, Milton Mit Parsons and Trevor Parsons.

Visiting hours will be held Friday, April 7, 2017 from 4-7 PM at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls

Memorial services will be held Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the Grace United Methodist Church, 130 Maple Street, Essex Jct. Interment will be held later this spring at the Hillside Cemetery in Richford.

In lieu of flowers we ask that you reach out to someone in need and make the world a more beautiful place, as Martha did throughout her life.