June (Ovitt) Abell Passes Away

[Henry]

June Ovitt Abell

St. Albans - June Ovitt Abell, 75, a longtime resident of this area, passed away early Tuesday, February 5, 2008, at the Fletcher Allen Health Care with her loving family at her side following a brief courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Rutland, Vermont on June 3, 1932, the daughter of the late Walter M. and Alberta (Foster) Ovitt.  On July 5, 1952, in the United Church of Fairfax, June married Melvin V. Abell, who survives her.

June was a 1951 graduate of Bellows Free Academy in Fairfax. She started her employment career with H.P. Hood Company, the Eveready Battery Corporation, W.T. Grant and retired in 1987 from Woolworths Department Store.  She was a very active member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School. June was active at the St. Albans City School while her children were attending.  She was coach of the Raider’s Majorettes.  June was a member of the former Welden Chapter #79, O.E.S.

Survivors include her husband of over fifty-two years, Mel of St. Albans, their three daughters, Kerry Beaulieu and her husband, Robert of St. Albans, Debbie (Buswell) Titcomb and her husband, Fred of Keene, New Hampshire and Cathy LaBounty and her husband, Kevin of Fairfield; five  grandchildren, Randy Ashline and his wife, Leisa, Andrew Buswell and his wife, Lisa, Amanda Buswell and her fiancé, Matt McMahon, Eric LaBounty, and Brandi LaBounty; step grandchildren, Rob Beaulieu and his wife, Sonya, Bill Beaulieu, Angi Grasso and her husband, Mike, Tiffanie Beaulieu and her fiancé, Mike Myers and Theresa Beaulieu, great grandchildren, Drew and Cora Buswell and step great grandchildren, Ellie and Bella Beaulieu, Christopher and Syren Myers and Carver Grasso. June is also survived by her twin brother, Jack Ovitt of Utica, New York, two sisters, Harmony Ovitt Bolstridge of South Windsor, Connecticut and Eilene Ovitt Gould and her husband, Robert of Enfield, Connecticut, two sisters-in-law, Estelie McWilliams of Swanton and Mary Abell of Salem, Virginia and several nieces and nephews. June was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers-in-law, Russell Bolstridge, Elwyn Abell and Alexander McWilliams, her sister-in-law, Charlene Keseberg and her husband, Nathaniel and a step-grandson, Christopher Woods.

June’s family would like to thank the Oncology Department, Emergency Room, Shepardson 4 and the Comfort Care Nurses at the Fletcher Allen Health Care for the care she received during her brief stay. Also a special thanks to Susan Saferstein, MD for her many years of wonderful care.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, February 8, 2008, at 2:00 P.M. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church on Church Street, St. Albans with the Reverend Herman Benjamin officiating.  Interment will be this spring in the Abell family lot in Greenwood Cemetery. June’s family will receive friends on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main Street, St. Albans.  Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the American Cancer Society, 121 Connor Way, Suite 240, P.O. Box 1460, Williston, Vermont 05495-1460 or the American Diabetes Association, Burlington VT-NY Office, 1 Kennedy Drive, Suite L8, South Burlington, Vermont 05403.  Messages of condolence are welcome at http://www.healdfuneralhome.com/index.cfm

[Henry]

When some of our people pass on, I always try to place where their families lived.  June was married when I moved to Fairfax and possibly lived elsewhere.  I do remember seeing her twin brother Jack however and remember listening to him play the piano - He was quite the piano player, very tall guy and had really long fingers I remembered as he played the piano.  If anyone remembers where the family lived, for historical purposes, I would be interested in that information.