BETHEL GILEAD, VT — Barbara Fuller Pinello, 95 of Bethel Gilead died Monday afternoon, June 10, 2019 at Menig Extended Care in Randolph Center.
She was born August 25, 1923 in Alton, NH to Hazel (Henderson) and Ralph Fuller. She graduated from High School in Northboro, MA and Children’s Hospital School of Nursing where she became Head Nurse in the Surgical Outpatient and Emergency Wards.
She came to Vermont as a Public Health Nurse for the Vermont Department of Health. She married Thomas Pinello in Bethel March 31, 1951 and made their home in Bethel-Gilead for their entire marriage. They have 6 children; Dr. Christine Pinello of Norwich, Thomas, Jr (died in 1972), Martha Pinello (Peter Beblowski) of Antrim, NH, Frank Pinello of Randolph Center, Dorothy (David) Maruska of Hopkinton, MA and David (Christine) Pinello of Randolph Center. She was proud of her 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
After the children were in school she helped in starting Orange County Mental Health Service where she worked as a child advocate and later as a counselor to families and children. She had special training and expertise in child abuse. She was one of the initiators and founding members of the Child Protection Team for the state of Vermont. She retired in 1989.
She was an active member of Bethany Church and the United Church of Christ on the state and national level. She was Moderator of Bethany Church, President of the Vermont Conference of the United Church of Christ and on the Board of Homeland Ministries. She received an award in 1990 by the national church as an outstanding lay woman. She had served on the Board of the Bethel Library, Bangor Seminary and Hospice as well as being a volunteer chaplain at Gifford Hospital and the Randolph Food Bank. She was a trustee of the Annie T Smith Fund helping those in need as she did in so many parts of her life.
Barbara’s main interest has always been home and family but she was also interested in school and community affairs, cooking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird watching and traveling.
Services will be on Saturday June 15th at Bethany Church in Randolph at 2PM with a private burial in Bethel-Gilead Cemetery. Calling hours will be from 4-6PM Friday June 14 at Day Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Bethel Public Library or Randolph Food Shelf. Online condolences may be left at www.dayfunerals.com.