Albert Victor Dufresne, 75, of Northfield Falls, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his family at the Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Born in Waterbury on June 3, 1936, he was the son of the late J. Victor and Marie Ann (Forest) Dufresne. On July 10, 1971, Albert married the former Deanna J. Bettis in Montpelier.
Albert attended schools in Waterbury and Stowe and then served with the Vermont Army National Guard in Waterbury from 1953 to 1956 when he then joined the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1956 to 1961. Albert continued his military service with the Vermont Air National Guard in Burlington until September 12, 1985.
Albert began his working career at Willis Ford in Waterbury as a mechanic. He went on to work for the Syracuse Supply Co. in Burlington as a liquid propane gas fuel inspector and troubleshooter as well as working for Sugarbush Resort where he was a mechanic and shop foreman doing major repairs on lift equipment as well as maintaining their fleet of snow-grooming vehicles. In 1975, Albert began employment with General Electric in Burlington (and subsequently Lockheed Martin) where he was a product assembler and an assembly inspector, retiring in 1996. Albert later enjoyed his time as a driver for Green Mountain Transit Agency and Project Independence.
A longtime and devoted Free Mason, Albert was a member and past master of Winooski Lodge #49 of Waterbury, past high priest of the Royal Arch – Waterbury Chapter #24, member of the Barre Council #22 R&SM, past commander of the Mt. Zion Commandery #9, and the Vermont Association of Knights Templar Commanders. His other memberships included a life sponsor of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Order of the High Priesthood of the State of Vermont, Grand Imperial Council Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine St. Helena Conclave # 3, Sword of Bunker Hill, Ethan Allen Order #88, was a charter member of Champlain Order #115, was past patron of Queen Esther Chapter #7, OES of Waterbury, the Air Force Sergeants Association, Mad River Valley American Legion Post #75 and the AFL-CIO. In his leisure time he enjoyed woodworking.
Albert is survived by his wife of 40 years, Deanna J. Dufresne of Northfield Falls; his children, Valerie Clark of Nashua, NH, Jeffrey S. Dufresne and his wife Kim of Royce, TX, Richard A. Dufresne and his wife Cherlyn of Barre, and Christopher A. Dufresne and his fiancée Nicole Maxham of Northfield; six grandchildren; his brother, John L. Dufresne and his wife Beverly of Myrtle Beach, SC; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. A brother, Joseph D. Dufresne, predeceased him.
Memorial services will be held from the Wesley United Methodist Church in Waterbury on Friday, April 20, 2012, at 10 a.m. with a reception to follow at the Waterbury American Legion. Inurnment with military honors will take place at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641 (www.cvhhh.org). 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.
