TUNBRIDGE, VT — Eloise Helen (Reynolds) McPhetres, age 89, died November 15, 2018, in the Garden Room at Gifford Hospital, with family.
She was born December 25, 1928, a Christmas gift for her family, in Websterville VT, the daughter of Howard G. Reynolds and Margaret (Mercier) Reynolds. She attended elementary schools in Websterville and South Randolph’s one room schoolhouse. She graduated from South Royalton High School in 1946. She was employed at New England Telephone and Telegraph Company office in White River Jct. for three years and at Van Raalte in Randolph for one year. Eloise had many friends and was well-known for her beauty, style, and charm.
On August 22, 1950, she married Floyd O. McPhetres in East Randolph. Early in their marriage Floyd and Eloise decided that she would stay home and take care of their house and children. They first lived in Wells River, VT for four years where Floyd was employed as a Mathematics teacher. Their first two children were born while there. They moved to Wilder, VT, and for a brief time to Champagne, IL where Floyd studied for his Master’s degree. Eloise cared for the two children, one by that time in school, in a big city setting. Through her caring devotion for the children at home, and learning how to navigate in a city, Eloise helped Floyd further his career. They moved back to Wilder, VT where they bought a house. Floyd became the Math Co-coordinator, and Eloise was in charge of the home front. They had two more children, four altogether, a daughter and three sons. They lived a cumulative thirty-five years in Wilder, mostly on Passumpsic Avenue. They had purchased property in Tunbridge, VT very early in their marriage, living there in the summers with the four children, near both sets of grandparents. When Floyd became employed as a professor at Vermont Technical College, Eloise and Floyd built a dream home in Tunbridge, where they lived 30 years.
Eloise enjoyed knitting and crocheting, collecting cow memorabilia, an occasional art class, and most importantly, her grandchildren. Eloise enjoyed her family, cooking wonderful meals and baking for them all. She was well-known for her white rolls, inspiring grandchildren to compose a song about them! Her desserts, baked beans, date cream pie, rolls, will all be missed. Also missed is her great sense of humor, and outgoing personality. Thanksgiving and Christmas usually meant twenty-five people in a house built for such gatherings.
Eloise collected friends wherever she lived. Eloise and her interest in fashion continued into her later years wearing purple whenever she could, right down to her shoes and purses. Her phone calls cheered many a friend and relative. She and her husband were a mainstay of the Tunbridge Fair, being there every day, especially enjoying the oxen pulls, and talking with friends, neighbors, and family. Eloise also went on many tractor rides and events with the Central Vermont Tractor Club.
Eloise spent the past seven months at Mayo Residential Care, making her home there. She enjoyed her dinner cruise on the Lake Champlain ship the “Spirit of Ethan Allen”, the trips out to Morse’s Sugar House, and the trip to the Tunbridge World’s Fair. She enjoyed many activities, and dominoes, with friends.
There was nothing Eloise enjoyed more than her six grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, always giving them her undivided attention.
Eloise leaves her daughter, Cynthia L. McPhetres of Rochester, VT; two sons, Michael J. McPhetres of Tunbridge, VT, and Christopher J. McPhetres of Royalton, VT.
Eloise was pre-deceased by her beloved husband Floyd O. McPhetres of Tunbridge, VT earlier in 2018; by her son, Jay A. McPhetres of Sharon, VT; by her two brothers, Howard S. Reynolds of Lyndonville, VT, and Russell Reynolds of South Barre, VT.
There will be no calling hours.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 24, 11.00 a.m. at Tunbridge Church, with a reception immediately following at the Tunbridge Town Hall, next door to the church.
Burial will be at the Kelsey Mountain Cemetery in the Spring, to be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, National Headquarters, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601(act.alz.org.)
A private message of sympathy for the family may be shared at www.boardwayandcilley.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Boardway and Cilley Funeral Home in Chelsea, Vermont.