Bernice Goulding

Bernice Goulding, 94, passed away with family around her at her home in Lyndon, VT, July 9, 2015. Bernice Goulding was born Bernice Hazel Moore June 28, 1921 in Monroe New Hampshire to Laurence J. and Susie O. (Pratt) Moore. Her mother was a seamstress and her father was a blacksmith. She was one of 6 siblings, and graduated from McIndoe Falls Academy in Barnet Vermont. Her family grew up hearing many of the stories of her childhood, which included going to work at 16 years of age during the summer as a cook in a rooming house to help provide funds to the family when her father died at a young age. She played several instruments in high school including the french horn and trombone and loved to skate when given the chance. She met her husband, Lloyd John Goulding, through her sister's boyfriend and married Lloyd October 12, 1940. When Lloyd joined the military early in their marriage, she traveled with him when circumstances allowed while he served in both World War II and the Korean War. Together they lived in Washington DC, Virginia, San Francisco and Vermont. When Lloyd was sent to serve overseas, Bernice took over his duties as manager of the Gem Movie Theater in Lyndonville Vermont, providing the community with movies as well as raising her young daughter Mary Louise at the same time. The family enjoyed hearing these stories and the movies that she played there, as well as the tale of Bernice's devoted spaniel Oscar who escaped routinely from the apartment where she lived at the time and tracked her across town to the movie theater. Bernice had many stories about life during the depression and the experiences as a military wife during the blackouts of war time. Mary Louise and son Keith have many shared memories of life as military kids living on base. When Lloyd retired from the military, they returned for good to Lyndonville Vermont where they made their home and Lloyd became postmaster. Bernice was a member of the Eastern Star, American Legion and the United Methodist Church. She cooked many a pie and turkey in younger years for the United Methodist Church Fair Booth at the Caledonia County Fair. She had many hobbies and along with raising her family, was an accomplished gardener, wood craftsperson, quilter, and animal lover. She loved woodworking and could craft a design on paper and then make it come to reality with saw and nail. In later life she built many bird houses from scratch and kept up her love of painting by enhancing those designs. She was an avid sewer, made many of her children's clothes, designed and completed many quilts, and enjoyed making dolls with handmade wardrobes. She was the caregiver of many abandoned dogs and cats that seemed to be always showing up at the family doorstep, bred Boxer dogs in the 1950's with Lloyd and was a gifted bird breeder, including parakeets, canaries, and cockatiels. Her favorite animal was always cats and she shared her life with many over the years, including the one in this family favorite photo. She was predeceased in life by her husband Lloyd, her son Lloyd Jr. as an infant, her brothers Lawrence and George Moore, sisters Katherine (Andross); Irene(Player). Doris (Roy), Laura ( Hastie). She is survived by three children, Mary Louise Gallardo of Derby VT, Keith Goulding and spouse Jane of Lyndonville VT, Lynn Goulding of Lyndonville VT; grandchildren: Tamina Gallardo and friend Giles; Bernice Emmons and spouse Ben; Karl Goulding and spouse Norma, Kim Bouffard and spouse Ghislain, Karen Lantagne and spouse Mark; Shawn Bourbeau and spouse Eleanor. There are many nephews/nieces and great grandchildren. The family wants to extend a Very Special thank you to neighbor Ken Lafleur and his late wife Diane, for years of kindness, and support to both Bernice and the family. That additional support was key in allowing Bernice to remain in her home of 60 years. Also thank you to Love Is...LLC, for providing excellent in home care in the last few months of her life and Caledonia Home Heath and Hospice. Bernice's entire life was filled with a multitude of companion pets. In the last few years she shared her life with Mulder her dog and Scooter her cat. It is her wishes that there be no flowers and that instead donations and memorial contributions be made in her memory to: the Pets for Life Program at the Northeast Kingdom Council for Aging, (formerly the Area Agency on Aging for Northeastern VT), 481 Summer St., St. Johnsbury, VT 05819. The Pets for Life Program is an initiative to provide support for seniors and their companion pet so that the senior can continue to enjoy the wonderful joys of pet ownership. There will be a graveside service at Lyndon Center Cemetery on Saturday, August 1, 2015at 10:00am where she will be laid to rest beside her husband Lloyd and son Lloyd Jr. There will be no calling hours. The Reverend Ann Hockridge officiating. Arrangements are through Guibord Funeral Home Lyndonville Vermont.