Elsie Heiser

Elsie Heiser ASCUTNEY, VT — Elsie Heiser, 80, died peacefully with her family present at Cedar Hill Health Care Center in Windsor, VT on December 2, 2022. Elsie moved from New Jersey to Ascutney, Vermont with her husband Tom and two children in 1973. Her early years in Ascutney were spent learning how to feed her family from a very large garden and how to heat a very old farmhouse with a woodstove. Elsie began working for Gernand Associates as a real estate appraiser in 1976 . She eventually took over the business and Tom joined her as an appraiser. They worked together for 20 years until they both retired in 2009. Elsie was very active in her community. She and Tom quickly became involved in the Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department with Tom as a firefighter and Elsie becoming president of the Women’s Auxiliary. It wasn’t long before she and several other members of the Auxiliary noticed that the town lacked volunteer firefighters, in town, during the day. She and four others from Ascutney were the first women to earn Firefighter I Certification in the state of Vermont in 1975. She was active in the department for many years, even after she stopped responding to fire calls. Elsie and Tom earned lifetime membership in AVFD in 2000. Elsie was always positive and cheerful, sharing a sharp wit and sense of humor even until her last days with us. She brightened the life of everyone she met and will be sorely missed by her family and friends. She is survived by daughter Patricia of Helena MT, son Thomas and his wife Jane of Nantucket MA, brothers and sisters in law in New Jersey and Maine, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations can made to the Ascutney Volunteer Fire Association, P.O. Box 91, Ascutney, VT 05030. An informal celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are with Stringer Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 146 Broad Street, Claremont, NH 03743. To view an online memorial or send a private message of condolence, visit www.stringerfh.com.