Lenna Ranney

Lenna Rose Bliss Ranney, 89, of 148 Stetson Terrace, St. Johnsbury Center, VT died Monday, November 21, 2016, at The Pines Rehabilitation and Health Center in Lyndonville, VT.

She was born on June 10, 1927 in Addison, VT to John and Adeline (Winch) Bliss. When she was about two years old, her parents separated and Lenna was placed in an orphanage in Shelburne, VT.  She lived there until the age of 16 when the owners of Vermont Transit Company, Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Thompson, hired her to assist in the care of their two young children.  She lived with the family and graduated from Burlington High School.

Lenna married Theodore C. Ranney on October 22, 1950 at the Thompson home in Burlington.  They honeymooned at Niagara Falls and then made their home in St. Johnsbury.  In 1962 they moved to their new house on Stetson Terrace.  They had three daughters.  Lenna was a homemaker and delighted in her daughters.  They were very close all of their lives.  The family spent many weekends camping at locations around the state.  Lenna loved to knit, do cross-word puzzles, and had a life-long love of reading until her eyesight declined in 2016.  She was an avid card player and was always ready for a game of Spades or Canasta.  Lenna also enjoyed eating at restaurants with many of her friends and family.  She was a Boston Red Sox fan until the end and watched their games on TV.

Lenna and Ted were active CBers and charter members of Caledonia County REACT #2424 as Unit #1.  They served REACT for over 31 years with Lenna holding the position of secretary and treasurer for many years.  She was the glue that held the team together and helped organize and schedule team activities such as traffic control to assist local police departments at accident scenes and at parades until the team dissolved in 2004.

Ted predeceased her on March 29, 2007. Lenna never learned to drive so it was very difficult for her after his death, but she was a survivor.  She began using the RCT bus for trips to the mall.  Lenna volunteered for LifeLine and enjoyed contacting many of the local subscribers each week to check on them and make sure their LifeLine was working.

Lenna had a big heart that included many people from all walks of life.  She was always calling people to see how they were feeling or just to chat.  Her “sassy” attitude was always with a smile as she loved to tease and be teased.  When she moved to The Pines in April 2016, the staff learned to love her.  Many comments were made to the family about how her smile would make their day or she would have a story to tell that cheered them up.  Despite the hardness of her early life and the years after Ted’s death, she was always a positive person and tried to find the best in everyone.

Survivors include her three daughters, Donna (and Reed) Garfield, 97 Liberty Lane, Lyndonville, VT 05851; Linda (and Stephen) Burson, 349 N. 14th Street, Schoolcraft, MI 49087; and Bonnie (and George) Babcock, P.O. Box 1, Lyndon Center, VT  05850; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Lenna was predeceased by her sisters, Marjorie Howe in 1967 and Gertrude Hathaway Eckert in 2008, and her brother, Lawrence Bliss in 2015.  She is survived by her sisters-in-law, Christine Ranney of South Windsor, CT, and Dorothy Bliss of Essex, NY along with their families.

At Lenna’s request, there will be no visiting hours or memorial services.  Graveside services will be at the discretion of the family.

Memories and condolences may be shared privately on-line at www.saylesfh.com.

Sayles Funeral Home, St. Johnsbury, VT is assisting the family with arrangements.