Barbara Ryan Branon
April 20, 1928
January 16, 2012Barbara Ryan Branon passed away on Monday, January, 16, 2012, at age 83. A lifelong resident of Fairfield, Vermont, she lived a full life of good health, family time, and a career in education. After a short battle with cancer, she left this world to reconnect with her husband Charles, and many other family members who preceded her death. Barbara spent her final weeks with her family and many friends, at her side. She left us in peace and dignity, much the way she lived her life.
Barbara was born in Montgomery, Vermont, on April 20, 1928. She, her sister Margaret, and her parents, Philip G. Ryan and Gladys M. Ryan lived in Fairfield on the farm originally purchased by her grandfather and grandmother, J. D. Ryan and Margaret Sloan Ryan, in 1917. It was adjacent to the original homestead settled by her great grandfather and great grandmother, James Ryan and Bridget Brennan Ryan, in the mid 1850’s shortly after emigrating from Ireland in approximately 1848. Her sister, Margaret Ryan, owns and lives on these farms today, ensuring they have remained in the family for four generations.
Barbara graduated from the University of Vermont in 1950 with double major in English and French. She also studied Spanish and Latin. She rekindled her love of education in 1981, when at age 53 she went back to college.She continued to attend classes at UVM, until she earned her librarian certification. Her continuing education enabled her to help start the first Fairfield elementary school library. She later moved and expanded this library to accommodate the growing needs of the community, before also helping start the Town of Fairfield public library. Today’s Consuela Northrup Bailey library is the culmination of the groundwork laid by Barbara and others over the last 30 years.
Another educational legacy that Barbara co-founded, in August 1983,along with Joy Kane and Jackie Tetreault, is the Fairfield Scholarship Fund. This fund was created to provide $1,000 or $2,000annual scholarships to 3 or 4 deserving Fairfield residents, upon their graduation from high school. It has helped launch many college careers over the years and directly supports Barbara’s belief that education is a most critical and important foundation for life.
Yet another important non-profit that Barbara helped co-found in the late 1960s, along with Bertha Trombley and Charlene Moss, was the Franklin County Association for Retarded Children. The organization’s name later changed to the ARC of Northwestern Vermont. The ARC has been a leading advocate for the rights of all citizens, regardless of their disability. Barbara wanted to assure all individuals had an equal opportunity to participate in all community activities, including a free and appropriate public education, which, at the time, was denied to children with disabilities. The ARC of Northwestern Vermont still thrives today, thanks to the work of those like Anita Honsinger and others, who continue to give their time and effort to this great cause.
Barbara also was a 50+ year member of the Fairfield Card Club. Its members were neighbors and friends looking to carve out a small amount of time, once a month, to socialize with each other.
Barbara enjoyed the time she was able to travel with her husband Charles, to Las Vegas, the Bahamas, and numerous trips to California to visit her family. She especially enjoyed to her two trips abroad. First, her trip to Paris, which provided her the opportunity to speak French and enjoy champagne of the River Seine, and later when she visited Ireland, the magical and mystical land of her ancestors.
Barbara was a lifelong member of St. Patrick’s Parish. She participated in all the church’s activities, fund-raisers, and events. She worked on the cemetery renovation committee was also a member of the “Ladies of St. Patrick’s” and at one time served as its president.
Barbara married Charles R. Branon on November 11, 1952 at St. Patrick’s Church. Shortly thereafter they purchased the farm where they raised their eleven children and lived their lives.
Barbara is survived by nine of her children. Phil and his wife Melanie, Steve and his wife Debby, Cathy and her husband Mo, Maureen, Joan Ploof and her husband Dan, Damian and his wife Stephanie, Claire Thompson and her husband Turk, Jamie, and Raymond. Also, by her grandchildren Trevor, Morgan, Shawnna Bolpe, Crystal Pohlman, Dylan Magoon, Carly Magoon, Robbie Ploof, Shawn Ploof, Patrick, Ryan, Damian Peter, Mariah, Nick, Billy Thompson, Eddie Thompson, Chelsey Thompson, and Abby Thompson. And her great grandchildren Alysa Esposito, Ben Bolpe, Gianni Bolpe, Lilly Lewis, Brynn Thompson, and Evan Thompson. She is also survived by her sister Margaret Ryan.
Barbara was predeceased by her husband Charles, who died March 13, 1991, her daughter Barbie, who died September 7, 1996, and her son Ricky, who died March 29, 2011.
A wake will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2012, at Brady & Levesque, 86 South Main St., St. Albans, Vermont, 05478. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, January 20, 2012, at St. Patrick’s in Fairfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made, in Barbara’s memory, to the Fairfield Scholarship Fund, Attn: Joy Kane, 3254 Lapland Road, East Fairfield, Vermont, 05448. Online condolences may be sent to her family at the funeral home website:
www.bradyandlevesque.comShe was a very strong and unselfish woman. May God welcome her into heaven with open arms. Arrangements are entrusted to the Brady & Levesque Funeral Home and Commemorative Services.
