Louise Kate (Saurin) Welch, age 79, a lifelong resident of Waterbury Center, passed peacefully from this world on Saturday, January 28, 2017, surrounded by family and friends while in the care of UVM Medical Center in Burlington, Vermont. She was born April 29, 1937, to Harold Henry Saurin and his wife, Maude (McMullen) Saurin, at Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington.
When she was 3 months old, her mother died and Louise, like her mother before her, became a foster child. She was one of the many lucky children to be taken in by Lizzie (Hart) Minott and her husband, Francis, of Waterbury Center. Louise was raised on their farm with love, a strong work ethic and a sense of gratitude that she paid forward the remainder of her life by her commitment of service to others.
Louise graduated from Waterbury High School in 1955, having enjoyed playing basketball and being a majorette. Through friends, she met the love of her life, David Ferd Welch, and they married October 15, 1960, and had two children. He predeceased her on December 29, 1980.
Upon graduation, Louise worked at National Life in Montpelier in the secretarial pool. She later did administrative work at the Visiting Nurses Association and then located in Waterbury. Following her husband’s death, she had a long career as an insurance agent with Breen Agency in Waterbury. She ran the office with friend Rena Izor and then later ran it by herself before retiring so she could get out and cross-country ski more in the winter months and devote more time to her volunteer activities.
Louise belonged to and actively participated in many civic organizations up until the time of her death. For over 60 years she was a member of Emerald Rebekah Lodge #33 and upon its closure transferred to Lodge Beatrice #60. She lived by the watch-words of their order of “Friendship, Love and Truth.” The friendship and purpose she found with those remarkable women sustained her. Louise had an equally long duration as a member of Waterbury Center Grange #237 until its closure last year. She enjoyed the camaraderie and fellowship that their meetings, dinners and various bazaars and tag sales provided. A lifelong member of the congregation at Waterbury Center Community Church, Louise was, at the time of her death, the secretary of the board of trustees, co-treasurer for the church and she worked doing whatever was needed on any supper, tag or food sale and happily provided many an after church snack. She had, in her younger years, been a Sunday school teacher and a choir member.
Louise had a long and active life of community service, including having a “red phone” in her home to respond to emergency calls made before there was a 911 system. She did paperwork for the Vermont Lupus Foundation and participated on their many fundraising walks as well as walks for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and various recent Walks for Hunger.
She for years volunteered at and was an active member of the Waterbury Area Senior Center. Louise proudly received their Volunteer of the Year award in 2012. She so enjoyed helping prepare the meals, doing whatever was asked of her and being a part of the active hustle and bustle of life there.
Louise was a proud member of the Waterbury Historical Society and was a charter member of the Duxbury Historical Society. She valued the work done at both and was especially proud of Duxbury’s because her brother-in-law, Donald Welch, was the driving force to start it and for his continuing role as president. In her leisure time she enjoyed traveling, most especially going to the beach in Maine or on Lake Michigan, once-in-a-lifetime trips to Germany, Austria and Hawaii and an unforgettable road trip across country; vegetable and flower gardening; spending time with her grandson, Elliott; walking her dog; hiking; reading; and watching westerns. She will be remembered for her sweetness, ever present willingness to help others, her calm demeanor and unconditional love, especially of her family.
She is survived by her two children, Jonathan David “Josh” Welch and husband Roger Monette of Portland, Oregon, and April Elizabeth Schwendler-Freeland and husband John “Jack” Freeland of Waterbury Center and their son, her beloved grandson, Elliott Jackson Ferdinand Collins Welch Freeland; her sister, Beverly Farnham of Williamstown, Vermont; and sister of her heart, Jane (Moulton) Rondeau and husband Ron of Burlington, Vermont, and Jane’s daughter, Andrea (King) Andrus and husband Bill of Waterbury Center and their two children, Will and Evelyn Jane; her dear cousin, Robert G. Shortridge of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Stowe, Vermont; and her cousins, Brian “Tom” Sweet and his wife Grace of Waterbury Center, Carol (Sweet) Moulton and her husband Bill of Morrisville, Vermont, and Gayle (Sweet) Waite and her husband Bill of Elizabethton, Tennessee, Paul Beane and his wife Sherry of Colchester; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended family, including her sisters- and brothers-in-law who always remained close despite David’s early passing; dear friends from Rebekahs, Grange, church, especially Bea McAdam Chase and Phyllis Grout; and her faithful canine companion, Singer.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, David Welch; sisters, Myrtie Beane and her husband Leo, Alice Sweet and her husband Lynwood “Jack”, and Marion Moulton and her husband Ancel “Mike”; nephews, Michael Moulton King and James Moulton.
Her family extends a special thank you to Ramona Godfrey for her friendship and service from early days of baby-sitting Josh and April to caring for Louise’s dog(s) and home while she was away on her many adventures.
Calling hours for Louise Welch will be held at Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service on Friday, February 3, 2017, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Waterbury, Vermont. A celebration of Louise Welch’s life will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2017, at 11 a.m. at Waterbury Center Community Church, with a reception to follow in the church dining room. Interment of her cremated remains at Phillips Cemetery in Duxbury will be held at a future date. To send online condolences, please visit www.perkinsparker.com. The family asks that flowers be omitted – but if people can’t resist, please make them purple – and that instead donations be made in Louise Welch’s name to Waterbury Center Community Church, 3583 Waterbury Stowe Road, Waterbury Center, VT 05677; Waterbury Area Senior Center, 14 Stowe Street, Waterbury, VT 05676; or the Waterbury Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 95, Waterbury Center, VT 05677.
