Marie Ann Hartshorn, 72, of Waitsfield, a lifelong Mad River Valley resident, passed away in the comfort of her family on June 21, 2011, at the Vermont Respite House in Williston following a 15-year battle with cancer. Born in North Fayston on June 7, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Anna (James) Nelson. On October 26, 1957, she married Paul H. Hartshorn in Waitsfield.
Marie was a graduate of Waitsfield High School and as a young woman, worked as a nursing assistant at the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury. Following her marriage, she and her husband Paul owned and operated the Ox-Bow Dairy Farm on Route 100 in Waitsfield for 35 years. In addition, Marie was integral in the family operation of a large maple sugaring and logging business.
Her memberships included the Waitsfield United Church of Christ, the former Maple Rebekah Lodge #56 of Waitsfield, Emerald Rebekah Lodge #33 of Waterbury and the Vermont Farm Bureau. In her leisure time, Marie loved to dance, sing, play the piano by ear and vacation in Hawaii and Alaska.
Family was the center of Marie’s life. Whether it was spending time at their camp on Lake Champlain together, traveling to Florida to visit, the joy was the company of the people she loved. The reflection of her caring has been seen in the mutual love of her family for Marie. Her daughter Jenni has devoted the last 15 years caring for her Mom, and Jenni’s son Aiden has been the light of Marie’s life for the past three years.
Marie is survived by her husband of 53 years, Paul H. Hartshorn of Waitsfield; their children, Kathi Orr and her husband Reginald of Waitsfield, David Hartshorn and his companion Amy Todisco of Waitsfield, Cindi Jones and her husband James of Warren, and Jenni Heath and her husband Chad of Waitsfield; her grandchildren, Tyler Hartshorn and his fiancée Jennifer Dean, Caitlyn Hartshorn, Ramsey Orr and his wife Lauren, Jason Jones, Jessica Jones and Aiden Heath; a great-grandchild, Elladaye Orr; a cousin who was like a sister to her, Pauline Hodges of Dade City, FL; her beloved and faithful shih tzu, “SheShe”; a longtime family friend, Lisa Palmer of Waitsfield; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family.
A celebration of Marie’s life will be held from the Waitsfield United Church of Christ on Monday, June 27, 2011, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow in the church dining room. Inurnment will take place in the Waitsfield Common Cemetery. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Vermont Respite House, 99 Allen Brook Lane, Williston, VT 05495. To send online condolences, please visit www.perkinsparker.com and Facebook. Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury.
