Joyce B. Brassard

RANDOLPH—Joyce Ann Bove Brassard, 65, of Brookfield, died Monday night, April 30, 2007, at Gifford Medical Center, surrounded by her family.

Born on May 28, 1941 in Burlington, she was the daughter of Louis and Mildred (Basiliere) Bove. She attended local schools, graduating from Burlington High School in 1959. Her first employment was as a payroll supervisor with the New England Telephone Company.

She married Lawrence Henry Brassard September 2, 1961 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Burlington. They lived briefly in West Lebanon, N.H., before moving back in 1964 to the farm in Brookfield on which her husband was born. They spent the remainder of their married life there, raising their nine children and running a dairy farm. She also reported the weather conditions in Brookfield for the National Weather Service for 35 years.

She was a devoted wife and mother. Through the years, more than 50 international exchange students became part of the Brassard family, many of whom remain in close contact.

She was an accomplished pianist and vocalist. She was a church organist, a member of the Randolph Singers, and the keyboard lead for 30 years with The Bear Mountain Jammers.

She was a Justice of the Peace in Brookfield for 20 years. She enjoyed her work as a JP, especially the many weddings at which she officiated. She worked as an election official for the Town of Brookfield. For 17 years, she was a substitute teacher at Randolph Union High School and the Brookfield Elementary School and is the only substitute teacher at RUHS honored with a yearbook dedication.

She was a board member of Interfaith Caregivers, and a parishioner of Saints Donatian and Rogatian Catholic Church in Randolph for many years.

She enjoyed spending time with her 23 grandchildren, ranging in age from 2-18. She and her husband spent the past four years traveling across the country in their RV to visit family and friends. She loved her flower garden, bird watching, and communicating with her large circle of friends and relatives by email. Her motto was, "God never gives you more than you can handle."

Survivors include her husband of 45 years, Larry; four daughters: Jan Smith, Denise Sanborn, Suzanne Field and Tammy Claussen; five sons, Mark, Jeffrey, John, Stephen and Matthew; and two brothers, John and Stephen Bove, both of the Burlington area.

She was predeceased by her parents, Louis and Mildred Bove.

Calling hours will be held Friday, May 4 from 6-8 p.m. at Randolph Union High School’s Murray Auditorium. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, May 5 at 11 a.m., also at Murray Auditorium. Burial will follow the Mass at Fairview Catholic Cemetery in Randolph.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Sts. Donatian and Rogatian Catholic Church Building Fund, 26 South Pleasant St., Randolph, Vt. 05060.

Arrangements are by the Day Funeral Home in Randolph. Online condolences may be sent to www.dayfunerals.com.

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