Merrill "Billy" Cabana

MONTGOMERY - Merrill A. Billy Cabana, age 87, passed away Sunday morning July 24, 2011 at Our Lady of the Meadows Community Care Home in Richford with loving support from his family and friends following a brief illness..

He was born December 7, 1923 in Sheldon on the former Henry Kittell farm the son of the late Andrew & Laura (Prive) Cabana.

Billy grew up in Sheldon and Fairfield attending the Gould School and graduated from Brigham Academy in Bakersfield. For nearly 50 years Billy has lived in Montgomery where he owned and operated a dairy farm and was involved in many civic and fraternal organizations. He drove school bus for 16 years, served as auditor for the Town of Montgomery for 7 years and also was selectman for 30 years. He was a member of the Budget Committee for many years and served as a Community Committee person representing the Town of Montgomery on the former Agricultural Conservation Program and then represented the Towns of Richford, Berkshire and Montgomery on the Agricultural Stabilization & Conservation Service for 31 years and served on the Extension Service Advisory Board and Franklin County Farm Bureau.

He was a member of St. Isidores Catholic Church, serving as Lector and was a member of the Pastoral Council and the Church Choir. He was the financial Secretary of the Catholic Order of Foresters Court # 1607 for 34 years and had held other offices during that time.

He joined the Grange in July of 1944 which was the former Sheldon Grange # 510. When he moved to Montgomery in 1946 he joined the former Montgomery Grange # 548 and held the offices of Overseer for many years, and one year as Lecturer and 7 years as Master. When Montgomery Grange surrendered its Chapter he joined the former Tyler Branch Grange # 498 serving on the Executive Committee and served as Auditor. He joined the Franklin County Pomona Grange # 28 in 1951 serving as Assistant Steward, Master Gatekeeper and Secretary. He joined the State Grange and National Grange in 1953, the year that the National Grange Session was held at the Flynn Theatre in Burlington.

He is survived by his sister, Irene Lamarche residing at Our Lady of the Meadows in Richford; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Billy was predeceased by his sisters, Constance Emch, Florence Emch and Edith Nolan. Billys family wishes to acknowledge the special care he received from the staff at Our Lady of the Meadows and from the Franklin County Home Health - Hospice Program and especially those who spent time caring for him.

Funeral services will be held Friday July 29, 2011 at 11:00 AM at St. Isidores Catholic Church, 169 Mountain Road, Montgomery Center with Rev. Karl Hahr celebrating the Mass of Christian burial. Interment will follow in St. Isidores Cemetery.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday from 5-8 PM at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls.

For those who wish, contributions in Billys memory may be made to the Montgomery Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 356, Montgomery Center, VT 05471 or to the Vermont Cancer Center, 89 Beaumont Ave. Given E213, Burlington, VT 05405.