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,