Alphonso Argenio

AI Argenio was born in Hackensack, New Jersey on April 11, 1928. He was the sixth of eight children born
to Pasquale and Christina Argenio, and the first boy! He and his brother and sisters grew up amidst the
huge vegetable gardens that his family and many others grew in New Jersey in those days. His first
paying job was cutting celery on his Uncle's truck farm.

AI attended Hackensack public Schools. He always enjoyed a good game of baseball, football, or
kick-the-can with his friends.

At age seventeen, he started working for New Jersey Bell. Two months shy of graduating from high
school, AI joined the U.S. Coast Guard. We enjoyed his photo album from those days as he showed us
his boat tending buoys on the Mississippi River. After his discharge in April of 1949, AI went back to the
phone company.

Dad met his bride, Agnes Scharr, of Westwood in the spring of 1950, at the roller skating rink. They
were married on April 20, 1952 at Grace Episcopal Church in Westwood.

Mom had a lengthy illness early in their marriage. Dad came to see her each weekend when she
was hospitalized, sent a letter or a funny card every day, and even patched a call through to her from
the top of a telephone pole.

In July of 1962, they welcomed home their daughter, Judy, and in December of 1964, their son
Eddie.

In September of 1969, Dad moved the family home to St. Johnsbury when he received a transfer
here to New England Bell.

From our childhood we remember Dad playing "airplane" with us, and swimming with us on his
back. He taught us how to row a boat and put our own worm on the hook. On weekends in the winter
we played in the snow together making trails for the sleds with the yellow Ski-doo. In the nice weather
he somehow convinced us that weeding the garden was fun, Firewood stacking had to be finished
before we could go swim. Somehow, he always seemed to know what people needed before they even
had to ask. Of course we needed a pony, puppies, and kittens and major renovations to the beautiful old
farm house!

If it needed cuddled, loved, moved, mowed, dug, planted, painted or polished, Dad got it done
with a smile.

We will all remember his quiet physical strength, patience and good humor.

AI worked for the phone company for forty years before retirement in 1985. He worked on the
Green Team at EHV for several years. Dad and Mom were able to travel all over the United States and to
Hawaii visiting family and friends by car and plane. They always supplied the grandchildren with a big
map to follow while postcards arrived from along the entire route.

Dad planted a huge garden each year. The grandchildren loved the buckets of green peppers,
which they ate like apples. We have fond memories of planting together, and grilling hamburgers and
Italian sausages on the big porch.

Just as he had with his children, Dad played with his Grandchildren, almost every weekend in the
winter they would "ride the loop" with Grandpa. 'Round and 'round the field they'd go taking turns
driving the "Bravo" snow machine, or jumping from the stacks of pallets into the deep snow with a
shout of "Geronimoooo" He gave them truckloads of good junk to build with and used bikes to ride.

Each child planted in his garden, learned to cook on the grill, and helped him build things while learning
that, with Grandpa, love is spelled T-I-M-E. Though he lost his memory late in life, we were glad he
remembered all of us. He was lovingly cared for at home by his devoted wife Agnes.

AI died peacefully in his sleep at home on December 19, 2017 visiting hours were private.

He is survived by his wife Agnes of 65 years (224 Hillside Ave, St. Johnsbury, Vermont, 05819) His
Daughter Judy and her Husband Bruce Houghton of Lyndonville (2937 Red Village Rd. Lyndonville, VT
05851) His Grandchildren Ellie, great granddaughter Shelbie, Rebecca, Sarah, David, Joshua, Mary and
Anna. Daughter in law Jill Paul (PO box 287 Oakville, WA 98568) Grandsons Zachary (21649 Weedenfield
Rd SW Rochester WA 98579) Jared (c/o Jill Paull) Sister in law Dorothy Argenio of NJ and brother in law
Rob Scharr of Mass. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Dad was predeceased by all of his siblings, his parents, and by his son Ed.

Cards and notes would be welcomed and appreciated. Guibord Funeral Home is entrusted with
arrangements.

Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery on May 9, 2018, at 10AM.

Memories and condolences can be shared. www.guibordfh.com