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COLCHESTER Lucia “Tootie“ Adelia Pelkey, 85, died Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007, in Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington with her loving family by her side. Lucia was born on Feb. 3, 1922, in Troy, N.H., the daughter of Daniel Rocco and Albia (Marrotte) Pafundi. Tootie graduated from BFA Fairfax in 1940. She was married to Frank Pelkey Jr. on July 29, 1941, in Bellows Falls. In 1958, she and Frank began Franks Motorcycle Sales and Service in Essex Center. In addition to raising her family, she held many jobs in the family business, ranging from saleswoman to bookkeeping to ordering parts. She worked for a short time at IBM and in 1985 opened “Crafts by Tootie“. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Frank E. Pelkey, Jr. of Colchester; her children, Joanne Packard and husband Lawrence of Essex, Anthony Pelkey and wife Aline of Sparta, T.N., Denis Pelkey and Debi Wickman of Cookeville, T.N., Lester Pelkey and wife Jeannette of Essex, Philip Pelkey and wife Dawn of Fletcher, Dolores Pelkey of Williston, Colleen Rathburn and husband Brian of Essex, Melissa LaFrance and husband Randy of Williston, Timothy Pelkey and wife Debra of Milton, Theodore Pelkey and wife Michelle of Westford; daughterin-law Maureen Pelkey of Fla.; 23 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sistersin-law Beulah Pafundi and Arlene Gordon; and by several nieces and nephews. Lucia was predeceased by two sons, Frank E. III, and Nicholas; her grand daughter, JoAnn “Sissy“ Simmons; her stepfather Edgar Ellsworth; sister Anna Demarais; and brothers Anthony and Louis Pafundi. She was a great wife, mother, grandmother, cook and crafter. She will be deeply missed by all those she touched. Love you Mom, Tootsie Girl, Meme
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007, at 11 a.m. in Holy Cross Catholic Church in Colchester. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of ones choice. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. in the Minor Funeral Home in Milton.