In Memoriam

Albert W. Rich

April 18, 1907 ~ May 9, 2004

Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer since 1928

Associated with Kidder Memorial Home. From 1975 until his death in 2004

Kidder Memorial Home

OBITUARY: Albert W. Rich DATELINE: Fairfax, Vermont

Albert W. Rich, 97, a lifelong Fairfax resident and the oldest Licensed Vermont Funeral Director and Embalmer died early Sunday morning, May 9, 2004, in the Northwestern Medical Center in Saint Albans City. Born in Fairfax, April 18, 1907, he was the son of the late Bert and Rhoda (Learned) Rich. He attended Bellows Free Academy-Fairfax graduating in the Class of 1925. On August 23,1928, he married the former Harriet Wilkins who predeceased him, March 9, 1992, after sixty-three years of marriage. Albert began his seventy-three year career in funeral service in 1928. Following his graduation from the Simmonds College of Embalming and Funeral Directing in Syracuse, New York, he began a long association with the Hicks Funeral Home of Fairfax and Saint Albans. In 1947 he purchased the Fairfax business, which became known as the A. W. Rich Funeral Home that he and his wife Harriet operated until their retirement in 1971. In 1975 he became associated with Kidder Memorial Home in Swanton, an important association that was still very much a part of his everyday life. He was a longtime member and Chairman of the Vermont Board of Funeral Service, member and Past President of the Vermont Funeral Director's Association and a member of the National Funeral Director's Association. He was extremely active in the Fairfax community serving local government in many capacities including, several years on the Town Select board, the Board of Civil Authority, Zoning Board,Town Service Officer, was a .Justice of the Peace and was currently still serving as a Trustee of Bellows Free Academy. He was also active in the process of the Town Sewer installation, has been President of the Fairfax Cemetery Association and a seventy-three year member of

Lamoille Lodge No.6 F. & A.M., a member of the United Church of Fairfax and the Fairfax Historical Society. Albert was one of the original members and organizers of the Fairfax Volunteer Fire Department and served as chief for fourteen Years. Albert leaves his brother, Robert Rich of Fairfax and many nieces and nephews including, Robert and Linda Howard of Fairfax, Linda and Dick McNall of Fairfax, Susan Flanders and her friend Ed Lambert of Saint Albans, Reginald and Pat Broe of Fairfax, .Jeffrey and Laurie Broe of Georgia, Gregory Broe of South Burlington, Eleanor and .John Cross of Fletcher, Gary and Ann Broe of Fletcher, Bert and Laurie Broe of .Jeffersonville, Michael and Vickie Broe of Westford, Frank Rich of .Juneau, Alaska, Bert and Kathy Rich of Nashua, New Hampshire, Beverley Rich Carter of Florida, Laura and .James Woodward, Sally and Wayne Sweet, Nancy and Brian Barrows and Robert and Sheryl Wilkins all of Fairfax as well as several great and great great nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife Harriet, Albert was predeceased by his brothers, Hiram and Carl Rich; his sisters, Nellie Broe and Helen Howard and a niece Betsy Rich.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 11 a.m. from the United Church of Fairfax with The Reverend Elizabeth Griffin officiating. Interment will follow in the Rich family lot in the Sanderson Comers Cemetery. Friends may call at the Hayes-Rich Funeral Home, Main Street, Fairfax Village on Tuesday, May 11, 2004, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers gifts in Albert's memory may be made to the United Church of Fairfax, in care of Sally Sweet Treasurer 44 Sweet-5lattery Road, East Fairfield, Vermont 05448 or to the Fairfax Volunteer Fire Department, Fairfax, Vermont 05454

89 Grand Avenue, Swanton, Vermont 05488*(802) 868-3331*Fax(802)868-7000

Return