Rita "Dee Dee" Minckler

SHELDON– Rita “Dee Dee” Minckler, age 79 passed away on Friday, August 4, 2023 at the UVM Medical Center in Burlington.

She was born in Sheldon on March 28, 1944 to the late Nelson and Antoinette (Piette) Dragon.
Dee Dee grew up in Enosburg Falls on her family’s farm, attended the one room schoolhouse in West Enosburg, and graduated from Enosburg Falls High School in 1962 where she excelled academically. She married Richard W. Hoburn on July 14, 1962 and together they raised two children. After graduation she worked for Eveready (formally Union Carbide) where she retired after 32 years. Dee Dee credited her incredible work ethic to growing up on a farm where her and her siblings did chores side by side. She was passionate about horses, horseback riding, competing in barrel races, and traveling to rodeos. Dee Dee loved spending time outside and her family would spend their entire summers camping, where they spent countless nights with friends and family around the campfire, singing and telling stories.

On February 18, 1994, she married Wilfred “Sonny” Minckler. Dee Dee and Sonny enjoyed taking fishing trips and going out to eat. Dee Dee also looked forward to hunting, riding her motorcycle, and watching westerns. Although Dee Dee retired, she never stopped working, she kept busy by helping her sister at Chester’s Bakery and was affectionately known as the “Sugar House Grandma” because of her dedication and immeasurable hours spent helping at her son’s sugaring house.

She is survived by her children, Richard Hoburn and his wife Debbie, Ann “Snooky” Mason and her husband Rick; grandchildren, Danielle Dragon & the father of her children Davy Dragon of Sheldon, Autumn Hoburn of Sheldon, Richard Hoburn Jr. & Monette of Bakersfield, CA, Jamie Hoburn & Laura of Richford, Ashley Lieske & Jonathan of Highgate, Rick Mason Jr. of Richford, Brooke Mason of Richford, James Mason of Richford; great grandchildren, Sheila, Tyler, Brayden, Erin, Mason, Hudson, Madison, Jackson, Macey, Skylar, Jasmine, Kevin, and Blair; great great grandchildren, Kinsely, Kaydence, and Karlee; siblings, Teresa Stanley of St. Albans, Rose Longe & Ronnie of Sheldon, and Raymond Dragon & Laurie of Bakersfield; Sonny’s children, Randy Minckler and his wife Jenni, Anne Paradee and her husband Mark, Brenda Godin and her husband Pierre, Steven Minckler and his wife Joanne, and Brian Minckler and his wife Sandy; many many nieces and nephews; and her four legged companion, Brutus. In addition to her parents, Rita was predeceased by her husband Wilfred “Sonny” Minckler; the father to her children, Richard W. Hoburn; great granddaughter, Jenessa; brother, Roger Dragon & sister-in-law Toni Dragon; and brother-in-law, Allison.

Family and friends are invited to Dee Dee’s Life Celebration on Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM to include a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 117 Shawville Rd, Sheldon Springs, VT 05485. Interment will follow in the St. Anthony’s Catholic Cemetery, 40-448 Mill St, Sheldon, VT.

Dee Dee’s family would like to thank the UVM Dialysis Unit, Home Health nurses— Lena, Sophia, Christiana, and Lynn, GMTA and Buddy’s Taxi, and the Fairfax Notch for the excellent care she received, and for making her final years comfortable and possible.

For those who wish contributions in Dee Dee’s memory may be made to the Vermont Cancer Support Network, c/o Roseworks Bookkeeping, 7 Kilburn Street, Suite 309 Burlington, VT 05401 and/or the Diabetes Foundation, 45 Whitney Rd., 2M, Mahwah, NJ 07430.

Condolences, photos and favorite memories may be shared through www.gossfs.com