Joan M. Carlisle

Joan Marie (Gilson) Carlisle, 82, of Cavendish, died suddenly September 12 after a short illness.

Joan was born April 22, 1934, in Cavendish, Vermont, daughter of Jesse and Clarinda (Briggs) Gilson. She attended school in Cavendish, and graduated from Chester High School, Class of 1952. She married Leonard Carlisle February 7, 1953, in Proctorsville, Vermont. They resided in Cavendish.

She was employed in banking and health care, working many years at the Black River Health Center as a bookkeeper for Dr. Eugene Bont, and at Springfield Pediatrics for Drs. Clattenberg and Owen, until she retired.

She enjoyed knitting puppet mittens and baby sweaters, word puzzles, crosswords, cryptoquotes and playing cards. She and Leonard traveled to California, Tennessee, Florida and Maine. She loved all her family and the time spent with them. Everyone was family if she loved you, whether you really were or not. She loved to giggle with her daughters and her girlfriends. She was a great listener and had great compassion for others. She and Leonard thoroughly enjoyed lunch every day at daughter Sheryl’s, and Sharon Godfrey’s, restaurant, the Café at deLight, Ludlow, where they visited with everyone and made many friends. She attended Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church and was a member of the Altar Society.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Leonard; they have four daughters Roxanne and Michael Mackey of Nashville, TN; Theresa and Peter Southworth of Ludlow, VT; Sheryl Guica and Howard Paul of Ludlow, VT; and Lisa and Scott Spooner of N. Chittenden, VT; 5 grandchildren Desiree Guica, Adrienne Guica, Bradley and Kim Southworth, Aaron Southworth and fiancé Ashley Adamcik, and Cole Spooner; 3 great-grandchildren Alessia Guica, Cadence Paul and Connor Southworth; one sister Patte and Vern Mossey, Rutland, VT; many treasured nieces and nephews, and other relatives. She is predeceased by her parents; one brother, Ronald Gilson; sister, Janet Pikkarainen; and infant sister, Marilyn Gilson.

The wake will be held Thursday, September 15, from 5-7 p.m. at the Adams Funeral Home, 12 Meadow St. Ludlow. The funeral will be Friday, September 16, at 1:00 p.m. at the Annunciation (Catholic) Church, in Ludlow. Private Burial will follow at the Cavendish Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Annunciation Church, where family will greet everyone following the burial. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Vermont Division, 77 Hegeman Avenue, Colchester, VT 05446.

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