COURTESY
ASCUTNEY, Vt. — Helen G. Hodgdon, 81, died peacefully Thursday evening, Sept. 13, 2018 at the Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont.. She was born Jan. 3, 1937 in Norwich, Vermont the daughter of Ralph H. and Beatrice (Goodrich) Durkee.
Helen grew up in the Union Village area and attended school in Thetford, Vermont. At a young age she married Darcy Hodgdon on May 15, 1954 and they later divorced. Helen was a very hard worker and skilled cook. She worked at several restaurants over the years including Max Restaurant and the Kettle Restaurant.
Even though she had an apartment in Claremont, Helen mostly lived with her son and daughter-in-law, Dusty and Diane Hodgdon on Route 5 in Ascutney.
Helen had a wonderful spirit and a quick wit. Even in her later years, she was truly the life of the party. She had two main loves in her life: first, her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and second, her country music. She was member of a small group of friends that traveled around listening to their favorite local country music bands, which included The String Alongs and All Country. Helen enjoyed auto racing, especially when her son-in-law Dwight Jarvis and grandson Colby Hodgdon were racing.
She also liked to play bingo and it especially made her happy when her grandchildren would join in.
Helen was predeceased by her brothers Heman, Gene, and James and by two sisters Irene and Doris. She is survived by her daughter Bonnie Jarvis and her husband Dwight of Ascutney, Vermont; two sons, William “Dickie” Hodgdon and his wife, Pam, of Windsor, Vermont and Darcy “Dusty” Hodgdon and his wife Diane of Ascutney, Vermont; grandchildren, Colby Hodgdon, Jodi Moote, Jennifer Jarvis, Amanda Jasinski and Greg Harris, as well as great grandchildren, Chase Hodgdon, Madelynn Hodgdon, Parker Moote, Brady Moote, Cooper Moote, Chloe Zullo, Ryinn Martin, Hunter Jasinski, and Colt Jasinski; her brothers, Leonard Durkee of Dorchester, William Durkee of Lebanon, Roy Durkee of North Thetford, Vermont, Howard Durkee of East Thetford, Vermont, Kenneth Durkee of Post Mills, Vermont; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 19, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Knight Funeral Home in Windsor, Vermont. A reception will follow at the Martin Memorial Hall on Route 5 in Ascutney, Vermont.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 91, Ascutney, VT 05030
Condolences may be expressed to her family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.
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