OBITUARY: Clement C. “Jack” Hamelle
DATELINE:
Swanton/Burlington
Clement
C. “Jack” Hamelle, 79, a resident of Swanton for the past 23 years and prior to
that of Burlington and Westford, died Monday evening, March 24, 2008 at the
Northwest Medical Center in St. Albans following a long illness.
Born
in Burlington January 27, 1929 the son of Clement Gregory and Helen (Turner)
Hamelle, Jack was a graduate of Cathedral High School and attended St. Michael’s
College. On August 7, 1950, he married
the former Barbara Irene Bruce who survives him.
Jack
will be remembered for his vision and entrepreneurial spirit in business. After attending St. Michael’s he began his
long career in retail when he joined the staff of his father’s store, Shepard
and Hamelle on Church Street in Burlington.
He later assumed ownership of the well known men’s shop and ran it for
many years until he sold it in 1978.
Among his many other business ventures, Jack owned the Children’s Shop,
also on Church St., and was the creator and co-owner of Jeans North, one of the
country’s first jean boutiques with several locations in Vermont and New
York. He served on the board of
directors of the National Assn. of Menswear Buyers, was President of the
Champlain Valley Assn. of Retarded Citizens in 1968 and was a member of the
Elks Club and the Ethan Allen Club, both of Burlington. During his years in
Swanton, Jack was a communicant of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
An
outdoor enthusiast, Jack was an excellent skier, enjoyed hunting and fishing
and spending time on Lake Champlain. He
enjoyed preparing gourmet meals for his friends and family.
Over the past twenty years having
developed a passion for antiques, Jack had become an avid collector and dealer
of antique postcards.
In
addition to his devoted wife, Barbara, Jack leaves four daughters and three
sons-in-law; Kathleen Suzanne and Stephen Ferland of N. Andover, MA, Debra Anne
and Karl Zielinski of Manchester, CT, Linda Jane and Walter J. Rayta III of S.
Burlington and Susan Joan Hamelle of Milton and three grandchildren; Lauren
Ferland of Malden, MA, Christopher Ferland of Derry, NH, and Krista Zielinski
of Swanzey, NH. In addition to his
parents, Jack was predeceased by his grandson, Adam Zielinski in 2002.
The
Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 28, 2008 at
11AM from the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in
Swanton. The celebrant and homilist will
be Fr. Charles H. Ranges, SSE. Interment
will follow in the family lot in Resurrection Park Cemetery in S.
Burlington. Friends may call at the
Kidder Memorial Home, 89 Grand Ave., Swanton on Friday morning, prior to the
funeral from 9:30-10:30 AM.
Gifts
in Jack’ memory may be made to Howard Center for Human Services, 208 Flynn
Ave., Burlington, VT 05401.
To
offer online condolences please visit: www.kiddermemorialhome.com
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