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Obituaries » FRANCES E. GRASSADONIA
GRASSADONIA, FRANCES ETHEL BAILEY, 80, a former Montpelier resident, died January 18 at the Grafton County Nursing Home, North Haverhill, N.H. She was born in Haverhill, N.H., April 2, 1933, a daughter of Livermore Tucker and Corrie Eliza (Ramsdell) Bailey, and was raised in South Ryegate, Vt. Frances graduated from Wells River High School in 1951 and attended Lyndon State College. She married Clarence Joseph Farris in April of 1953, and they had five children together. They lived in El Monte, Calif. just under 20 years. Frances had many interests related to children and family that included president of the Cherry Lee PTA, El Monte, Calif., a leader of the Campfire Girls, and for nearly 25 years, was a childcare services specialist of Health and Human Services for the state of Vermont, in Barre. The Frances Grassadonia Award for excellence in day care was created in her name. She was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Montpelier, and was a member and past secretary of the Vermont State Employees Association. She married Peter Grassadonia in November 1977, and he predeceased her in 2008. She was also predeceased by a stepdaughter, Helen Leneau. Survivors include two daughters, Deborah Marsh and husband, Scott of Orfordville, N.H., and Jannette Minard and husband, Randy of Rome, Ga.; three sons, James Farris and wife, Christine of Mont Vernon, N.H., Michael Farris and wife, Marilyn of South Ryegate, and Glenn Farris and wife, Jeanine of Weare, N.H.; a stepdaughter, Sarah Davis and husband, Terry of Leland, Fla.; 25 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; a sister, Ellen Edwards and husband, Lyle of Groton; along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
