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GILBERT, BERYL ELIZABETH SIMONS, 88
(by Week of Sept. 24, 2008 - September 24, 2008)
GILBERT, BERYL ELIZABETH SIMONS, 88, of Graniteville, died September 17, surrounded by her family, at the Woodridge Nursing Home in Berlin. Born on Aug. 21, 1920, in Williamstown, she was the daughter of George and Grace (Bruce) Simons. She grew up in Mill Village and attended Williamstown schools, graduating from Williamstown High School in 1938. On Aug. 2, 1939, she married Orance Charles Gilbert in St. Sylvester Catholic Church in Graniteville. They first made their home on the Gilbert Farm in Williamstown until 1942, when they moved to Orance's childhood home in Graniteville. It was there that they raised their family and where she has since resided. He died Sept. 11, 1974. She was a full-time homemaker until she went to work at the Rock of Ages Capacitor Plant in the early 1950s. For a few years, she cooked hot lunches at the Quarry School and later became a dietary aide at Central Vermont Hospital where she worked until her retirement. Beryl was lovingly known as "Nana" by her 27 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. A devoted mother and a model of serenity, she never ceased to take delight in the company of children. She leaves her family a legacy of love. What little time she had to pursue personal interests was spent reading, gardening, cooking, and researching and preserving family history records. A devout Catholic, she was active in the St. Sylvester Parish in Graniteville and was a long-time member of the Ladies of St. Sylvester, a church society for women. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court of St. Monica. She is survived by her seven sons, John and wife, Pierrette, George and wife, Mary, Edward and wife, Lisa, Steven and wife, Mae, James who still lives in the family home in Graniteville, Peter and wife, Linda (all of the central Vermont area) and Daniel and wife, Janet (of Burlington); her six daughters, Sylvia Palmisano and husband, Joseph (of Arizona), Lorraine Violette and husband, Dan, Charlene Patno, Denise Plante, Claire Goodell and husband, Wendell (all of the central Vermont area), Lucie who was the tireless and primary caregiver for her mother for the last several years and who continues to live in the family home; 27 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by a stillborn baby Lucille; three grandsons, Jeffrey Violette, Aaron Gilbert, and Eric Gilbert; one great-grandson, Taylor Allen Gilbert; and her only sister, Lois Rebecca Simons.
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