Raymond J. Howrigan
(June 16, 1946 - October 4, 2009) Fairfield- Raymond John Howrigan, 63, passed away suddenly on Sunday morning October 4, 2009, with his loving family at his side. He was born June 16, 1946, in St. Albans, VT. He was the second son of D. Francis and Neva Howrigan. Raymond married Mary Whiting at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church on December 10, 1977.
Raymond is survived by his loving wife, Mary and their five children. He leaves his daughters, Liza and her husband, Stephen Smith of Fairfield, and Nicole and her husband, Kevin Gentile of Avon, CT; and sons, Ryan and his fiancée, Jennifer Cioffi of Fairfield, Sam and Ben, both of Fairfield. He will be especially missed by his granddaughter, Jillian Ray, who captured his heart. He also leaves a special mother-in-law, Libby Whiting of St. Albans. His proudest moments were spent with his family at home on Johnny Bull Hill.
Raymond graduated from Saint Mary’s High School in 1964. He grew up on the Home Farm, working the land with his father and brothers and was later the manager of a large dairy herd on the Stone House Farm in Fairfield. His farm received the statewide milk quality award in 1994. Over the years, he always cherished sugaring season up on Fox Hill, working with his brothers and sister, Joan, his father in law, Red Whiting and eventually his sons, many nephews and family friends.
He was also an accomplished equipment operator, working on a variety of projects both on the farm as well as for the town of Fairfield. Many of his days were spent working alongside his father, brothers, and sons on various road jobs, replacing culverts and repairing bridges on the many miles of roads in his beloved town. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Church as well as the Vermont Maple Sugarmakers Association.
Raymond would love to be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather, who inherited a wonderful sense of humor and lived his life selflessly. He had the “Howrigan gift” of storytelling, and had a keen memory for all those passed onto him by his father, and uncles Robert and Harold.
He is also survived by his brothers; Michael and his wife, Judy, Tom and his wife, Sue, and John; his sisters, Margaret and her husband, John Pelletier, Jeanne Howrigan, Patricia and her husband, Marc Reynolds, Rita Magnan, Ellen Howrigan, Kate and her husband, Scott Baldwin, and Joan and her husband, Jack Hungerford. In addition, he leaves many aunts and uncles; his Godfather, Thomas Howrigan M.D., Godmother Kathleen Connor, Loretta and Henry Magnan, Teresa and John Manahan, Virginia and Anne Howrigan, Bernard Connor and Lexina Nolan, as well as many nieces, nephews, Godchildren and cousins.
He was predeceased by his loving mother, Neva and father, D. Francis Howrigan, his father-in-law, “Red” Whiting, his brother, F. William Howrigan and his namesake, Sgt. Raymond J. Howrigan, USMC, as well as his grandparents and many aunts and uncles.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, October 8, 2009, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick’s Church in Fairfield. Calling hours will be held at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main Street, St. Albans on Wednesday, October 7, from 3:00 to 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Raymond J. Howrigan Softball/Baseball Scholarship Fund in care of BFA Athletic Department, attention: Shirley Raymond, 71 South Main St., St. Albans, VT 05478 or the Billy Howrigan Scholarship Fund in care of Joan Hungerford, 167 High St., St. Albans, VT 05478. Private messages of condolence are welcome at
www.healdfuneralhome.com .
