Father Of Melissa Fisher & Mary Pigeon & Molly Lyon Dies At Age 78

[Henry]

Mitchell L. Sturgeon, Jr., 78

Georgia - Mitchell L. Sturgeon, Jr., 78, a lifelong Georgia resident, died Friday, Nov. 12, 2010, at the Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans with his loving family at his side.

Born in Georgia, May 3, 1932, he was the only child of the late Mitchell & Irene (Duquette) Sturgeon. On Oct. 6, 1962, he married Alice Chase in St. Mary’s Church in St. Albans.

Mitchell attended school in Georgia, graduated from BFA-St. Albans in 1950, and then served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Shelton during the Korean Conflict. Upon his discharge, he worked on the family farm and for 35 years, was employed at Fonda Container, retiring in 1995.

Mitchell was an active member of Ascension Parish in Georgia assisting his wife Alice in the preparation of meals and doing behind the scene projects. He was also a member of Banner Grange and enjoyed shopping for groceries, gardening, working in his yard and cleaning the pool.

He leaves his wife, Alice of Georgia, their 9 surviving children, Michelle Bergstrom and husband, Douglas of Georgia, Molly Lyon and husband Chris, Melissa Fisher and husband Roger, Mary Pigeon and husband Todd all of Fairfax, Matthew Sturgeon and wife Jennifer of Milton, Margaret St. Pierre and husband Jason of Fletcher, Mark Sturgeon of Montpelier, Mead Sturgeon and wife Danielle of St. Albans, and Miles Sturgeon of Georgia. 9 surviving grandchildren, Nicholas, Hilary, Samantha & Joshua Bergstrom, Aidan Fisher, Tyler & Ava Pigeon, Mollie & Kyle St. Pierre, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by a loving son, Michael John Sturgeon, Jan. 23, 1985 and grandson, Philip Bergstrom, October 29, 1992.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Christian Thomas M.D., Christine Suratt ANP and Shelley Bonnett, RN for their loving care of our beloved father.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be con-celebrated Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, at 11AM in Ascension Parish Church, Route 7, in Georgia by Father Maurice Roy and Father Daniel Lokanga. Interment will then follow in the Sturgeon lot in the Georgia Plains Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, from 1-3PM and 7-9 PM in the Heald Funeral Home, 87 So. Main St., St. Albans.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Sturgeon Scholarship Fund, c/o Beth Cole, Guidance Department, BFA-Fairfax, 75 Hunt St., Fairfax, VT 05454 or to the Georgia Food Shelf , c/o Jolly Bates, 3878 Ethan Allen Highway, St. Albans, VT 05478. Assisting the family is Lucien Hayes and the Heald Funeral Home Staff. Private condolences may be sent to www.healdfuneralhome.com

[Henry]

Georgia: A largely attended Mass of Christian Burial for Mitchell L. Sturgeon, Jr. who passed away Friday, November 12, 2010 was con-celebrated Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 11:00 AM in the Ascension Parish Church in Georgia by Father Maurice Roy, Pastor and Father Daniel Lokanga, Parochial Vicar, assisted by Rev. Mr. Deacon Dennis Moore, who proclaimed the Holy Gospel and delivered the Homily. The Eucharistic Minister was Marie Moore.

Special honors were accorded the U.S. Navy Veteran of the Korean Conflict by the Veterans Services Funeral Honor Guard consisting of members from Green Mountain Post 1, American Legion and Robert E. Glidden Post 758, Veterans of Foreign Wars. As Mitch’s casket was processed into church by his sons-in-law Douglas Bergstrom, Chris Lyon, Roger Fisher, Todd Pigeon and Jason St. Pierre and grandson Nicholas Bergstrom, Edgar Royer did the honors of leading the Honor Guard while carrying the American Flag. Immediately following the Mass, Past Commander James Brouillette presented the American Flag to Mitch’s wife, Alice (Chase) Sturgeon.

The funeral Pall was draped over Mitch’s casket by his daughters Michelle Bergstrom, Molly Lyon, Melissa Fisher, Mary Pigeon and Margaret St. Pierre, with his wife Alice placing the crucifix. Readings from the Old and New Testaments were read by Mitch’s sons Mead Sturgeon and Matthew Sturgeon. The offertory gifts were presented by daughters-in-law Jennifer Sturgeon and Danielle Sturgeon and granddaughters, Hilary Bergstrom and Samantha Bergstrom. The family statement and eulogy was given by son, Mark Sturgeon.

Special music was provided by the Ascension Parish Folk Group, Natalie Duffy, Carol Begley, Nancy Delude, Kaye Boyle, Michael Grundhouser, Rod Gravelin Jim and Diane LaRocque and William Considine. The hymns selected were “Servant Song”, “For Us To Live”, “Behold The Lamb Of God”, “All I Ask Of You”, “You Are Mine”, and “How Great Thou Art”.

Attending was a large delegation of the Ascension Parish Family, also members from St. Luke Parish in Fairfax, St. Anne Parish in Milton, Holy Angles Parish, St. Albans and Georgia United Methodist Church. Also attending were former coworkers from Fonda Group, Sodom Road neighbors, Georgia Schools, Georgia Lions Club, Georgia Fire Department, Georgia First Response, Georgia Historical Society, Georgia School Board, Town of Georgia, Georgia Center ABC Market, Pigeon Brothers Excavating, Champlain Drywall, Xtreme Grafix LLC, Colchester Police, Norwich University, University of Vermont, Bellows Free Academy – St. Albans, Bellows Free Academy –Fairfax, Havreluk Construction, Collins-Perley, Montcalm Realty, Lang McLaughry and Spera, Kittell Branagan and Sargent, Peoples Trust Company, David Juaire Photography, Dr. David Groening, Titan Construction, JRS Drywall, J & L Hardware, Twilight Construction, Two River Farm, Bushey Paving, Quick Response Sprinkler Systems, Green Mountain Tours, Betty’s Beef & Seafood Restaurant and Lambesis Insurance.

Interment followed in the Georgia Plains Cemetery next to his son Michael John Sturgeon who passed January 23, 1985. Committal prayers were offered by Father Roy, Father Lokanga and Deacon Moore. Immediately following, a luncheon was hosted at the Ascension Parish Hall by friends of the Parish and Georgia Community. Assisting with the funeral parking was David Juaire.

During the visiting hours Tuesday at the Heald Funeral Home, Father Roy and Father Lokanga offered a funeral vigil prayer service, followed by a Grange Memorial Service with the members of the Banner Grange 156 now affiliated with Fletcher Grange 473. The Master was Edmund Wilcox and the Chaplain was Ruth Sweeney. Assisting the Sturgeon Family was the staff of the Heald Funeral Home, St. Albans

[Dick Brown]

Good Morning , Henry       Thanks for posting the funeral review as well as the obituary. A great man who helped raise a terrific family.  Clearly both he and his wife have passed on the feeling to their children of the benefit gained from community involvement on their parts. He not only talked the talk but walked the walk.....and I'm sure he will be missed by all who knew him .