Lakeland, Fla. —
She was born Oct. 28, 1955, in Burlington, Vt., daughter of William A. Tessier and Frances (Taft) Tessier. She grew up in Williston, Vt. at the top of French Hill and attended Williston Elementary School. She graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School (CVU) in Hinesburg, Vt., in 1973, where she was a JV & Varsity cheerleader for four years.
She married Ronald B. Lawrance on June 15, 1973, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Williston. They lived in Connecticut, North Williston, Vt., and settled in Bethel, Vt., on Cushing Avenue in 1977. Sadly they divorced in 2011.
Cheryl had a long and varied work life. She worked at Abernathy Clothing in Burlington, the Burlington Drug Company, Rodco in Randolph, Vt., Bethel Daycare, Owner/Manager of New England Video with stores in Randolph, Northfield, Chelsea and South Royalton. She was employed by the Bethel Elementary school as a special education aide and then as a ready specialist, where she earned level 2 certification in Orto Gillingham, a level few in the state had achieved. She took great joy in helping children who struggled with reading skills. She worked part-time in Shaw’s Supermarket in Randolph then transferred to the PowerHouse Shaw’s where she worked her way up to assistant store manager. She resettled to Lakeland, Fla., in 2010 and helped take care of her parents while working at a local Target store.
She was active in the Bethel Elf program and the Whitcomb Booster Club and greatly enjoyed watching her daughters play sports and celebrate some championships.
She was a voracious reader and loved many authors, crossword puzzles, Jeopardy, cross-country skiing, walks and bike rides around the Bethel Boulevard, swimming at Vargo’s Rock, camping and enjoying the Cape Cod National Seashore beaches, the kettle ponds, beachcombing, long walks on the beach shores. She enjoyed many vacations to Jamaica, Mexico and the Dominican.
She was predeceased by her father, William, in April of 2017; brother, Tom, in March 2017, and brother, Bill, in August of 2011.
Cheryl is survived by daughters, Melissa of Tullahuma, Tenn., and Jessica Keep and her husband, Adam and their sons, Colin and Gavin; sisters, Mary Jane Johnson of Winter Haven, Fla. and Kimberly Hines of Winthrop, Mass.; mother, Fran of Williston, Vt. and Lakeland, Fla.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A service in celebration of her life will be held on July 29 at the Bethel town hall from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Bring a story, or share a memory. All are welcome.