With the final
lyrics of “King of the Road” wafting in the springtime air, our
beloved Delores B. Howe crossed into the loving hands of our savior
to reside in that spiritual mansion, that house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens.
Delores “Dee”
was born to Ollie (Brown) and Jesse Corliss on June 23, 1937. She was
raised in Bristol, Vt., with her four siblings and graduated from
Bristol High School in 1955. Dee married her first husband, Rodney B.
Churchill in 1955.
As anyone who met
her knows, Dee’s proudest achievement in her life was raising her
six boys. (“All boys? No girls? She must be a saint!”) A saintly
achievement, indeed.
Dee pursued many
interests and passions throughout her life. In her forties, Dee
enrolled at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vt., and earned a
bachelor’s degree. Dee was devoted to her community as a Cub Scout
leader, member of the Eastern Stars, and — especially important to
her later in her life — a foster grandparent in the Richmond and
Hinesburg Elementary Schools. She was affectionately known to her
beloved students as Grammy Dee. Dee had many jobs throughout her
life: She was a hot-lunch lady at Richmond Elementary, a school bus
driver, a bank teller, a licensed nursing assistant and a case worker
at Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity.
While she was proud
of her work, Dee found her true joy in sharing simple moments and
life experiences with those she loved. She loved long visits, sharing
a cup of hot chocolate and her stories. She loved animals (especially
her beloved dog, Blanco), volunteering, traveling and everything
Vermont — from back-road drives to swimming holes, creemees, the
Tunbridge Fair and hiking Camel’s Hump (Her last summit attempt was
on her 70th birthday with her entire family!)
Dee married her
second husband, Bill Howe, in April 1994. They lived together first
in Tunbridge then Hinesburg, Vt. They completed a mission in Texas
with their church and road-tripped through the U.S. on their way.
Dee was a prolific
knitter and seamstress. She lovingly created cherished Christmas
stockings, afghan blankets and “Ski Vermont” hats for her friends
and family. Dee loved sweets and baked many specialties, including
chocolate delight, whoopie pies and cherry-cheese dessert. She also
cooked family favorites, including chicken gravy and biscuits and
shepherd’s pie.
Dee loved music. She
had a beautiful voice, sang in the church choir, and loved listening
to her children’s and grandchildren’s concerts and attending
concerts of all kinds at the Flynn Theater.
Dee passed away
peacefully and surrounded by family on April 17, 2024, two months shy
of her 87th birthday. Her wide community of friends and family will
dearly miss her beautiful smile, sense of humor and boundless
generosity. She is survived by her children: Rodney and Madine
Churchill, Oscar Churchill and Audrey Arpin, David Churchill, Nigel
and Barbara Churchill, Herb and Laurie Churchill, and Francis
Churchill and Molly Dugan;15 grandchildren; eight
great-grandchildren; her brother Ed “Sonny” and Kit Corliss of
Woodstock, Vt.; and many cherished sisters- and brothers-in-law and
nieces and nephews.
Dee was a devout
Mormon and found faith in the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). The love, support and joy she found
within her church family meant the world to her.
In lieu of flowers,
donations can be made to causes dear to Dee’s heart: the Foster
Grandparent Program through the United Way of Northwest Vermont or the Chittenden County Humane Society.
A memorial service
will be held at 11a.m., on Monday, May 13, at the LDS church at 73
Essex Way, Essex Junction, VT. Visiting hours will be on Saturday,
May 11 from 4-7 p.m. at Gifford Funeral Home in Richmond, Vt.
This article appears in Apr 17-23, 2024.