O. Elizabeth “Libby” Towne, 55, of Middlesex, passed away on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Born in Troy, NY, on May 18, 1956, she was the daughter of Margaret (Darnley) Towne and the late Morris Towne. On June 22, 1997, Libby married Douglas A. Lombard in Stowe.
Libby was a graduate of the Hoosac School in Hoosick, NY, and continued her education at the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH, and was a graduate of Champlain College. Libby went on to work for the city of Burlington in the planning office, the mayor’s office and for the Burlington Electric Department, from which she retired.
A “job” that Libby truly loved was serving as the friend, driver and personal assistant to the late Rena Chernick of Warren and Montpelier.
In 2000, Libby and her husband Doug purchased an existing B&B in Middlesex, Vermont, renaming it the 1850 River House B&B. Libby poured her soul into the business along with all of her special touches and humor that will be remembered by the hundreds of guests who have stayed there over the years. Many guests have returned year after year to partake of Libby’s hospitality.
Libby was well known for her exquisite all wool hand-braided rugs that grace the floors of the bed and breakfast and would occasionally sell one if she knew it was going to a good home.
She loved her two children and new granddaughter, rug braiding, crafts, nature, and singing with the Mad River Chorale and had a legendary love for bears and rocks. Libby was a generous and good person who cared deeply for the less fortunate and would not let go of a cause she truly believed in.
Libby is survived by her husband, Douglas A. Lombard of Middlesex; her mother, Margaret Towne of Pittstown, NY; her children, Margaret Bojanowski and her husband Andrew and their daughter Nova Rose Bojanowski of Middlebury and Gregory Allard of Waterbury; three sisters, Abigail Vietz of Warren, Sandra Towne of Bracey, VA, and Susan Schaefer of New Haven; a brother, Makey Towne of Golden, CO; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family.
Memorial services were held from the Middlesex United Methodist Church on Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at 1 p.m. A reception followed in the church dining room. Interment services were private. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Mater Ecclesiae College, Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, 60 Austin Avenue, Greenville, RI 02828. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com. Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury.
