In Memoriam
Armand
R. Messier
June 30, 1926 ~ August 23, 2004
Longtime Funeral Assistant associated with
Kidder Memorial Home.
Obituary: Armand Rene Messier
Dateline: Highgate Springs,
Armand Rene Messier, a life-long resident of Highgate Springs/Swanton, husband of Cheryl (Barney) Messier, passed onto the Lord at his home on Monday, August 23, 2004. Armand was born June 30, 1926, to the late George and Antoinette (Milotte) Messier.
Armand attended Ste. Anne's Academy in
Swanton and enlisted in the United States Army during his final year of school.
He proudly served in the Central European Theater's 134th
Infantry in
For 39 years he lived on his homestead, Country Essence, where he worked endlessly and tirelessly on this labor of love. From this homestead Armand and his wife Cheryl operated Country Essence Bed and Breakfast for the last ten years.
Following his
retirement from IBM in 1990 after 25 years of service, Armand became a longtime
and faithful funeral assistant with Kidder Memorial Home. In his post
retirement years Armand also worked as the Director of Information for the
Swanton Chamber of Commerce and most recently for the State of Vermont
Department of Travel and Tourism as a greeter at the
Armand was a loving and dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, and role model. Armand was a man of compassion and conviction in everything that he did. For Armand, the smallest undertaking was completed beyond perfection. His meticulously manicured lawn and garden were his passion. He loved his home, Country Essence, and his home- grown vegetables and flowers. He spent many quiet winter hours reading about UFO's. During the holidays Armand was known for being an avid baker. We will surely miss his Tourtiere Pies, Cinnamon Rolls and traditional goodies. He enjoyed creating small inventions in his workshop and building his grandchildren's playground. Visits from his grandchildren brought him great joy. Their "papa" will be greatly missed.
Armand was a life-long communicant of the Church of the Nativity. He was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus Saint Edmund of Canterbury Assembly 7669 and he was an associate of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit.
In addition to his devoted wife, Cheryl, of 36 years, he leaves his loving children, Debora Perez
and her husband Al of Rosebud, Tex., Armanda Bouchard and her husband Edward, of Franklin, Leslie Slavinsky and her husband, Joseph, of Collierville, Tenn., Armand B. Messier and his wife, Gianna, of Swanton; four grandchildren: Renee Yvonne and Paul Jacob Bouchard, Joseph Armand and Elizabeth Mary Slavinsky.
Armand also leaves one brother Charles Messier and his wife Cecile of Manchester, Conn.; his twin sister Armande (Fugie) Daniel, of Swanton; and sisters Madeline and her husband Norbert of Beverly Hills, Fla., Charlotte DeCampos of Manchester, Conn., and Constance Cramer of Dover, Del.; father-in-law George K. Barney; mother-in law Marion Barney; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law David and Daria Biondo, Vance and Margaret Barney, Randy Barney, and Marilyn Barney; and 54 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brothers Paul, Robert, Marcel, and Jean-Jacque Messier; his sister Yvette Livingston; and brother-in law Kermit Barney.
The Liturgy of Christian Burial will
be celebrated Saturday, August 28, 2004, at 11 a.m. from The Church of the
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary,