Mildred Fournier

Mildred Fournier, 94, of Concord, passed away at The Canterbury Inn in St. Johnsbury on Sunday morning, July 26, 2015. She was born in Concord, Vermont on Sept. 19, 1920, the daughter of Reginald and Helen Aris (Bonnett) Reed. She married Charles Fournier on Dec. 31, 1938; he passed away Dec. 25, 1987. Milly attended Castle School on the South Kirby Road and graduated from Concord High School in 1938. She lived in Concord most her life except for the last two and a half years when she resided at The Canterbury Inn in St. Johnsbury. She and Charles had five children: Jean Sorrell and husband Philip of Concord, Jerry Fournier and wife Jean of Lyndonville, Patricia Reed and husband Richard of St. Johnsbury, Anne Cote, Brian Fournier and wife Cindy of Sutton; 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great-grandchildren. Milly also leaves a sister Joyce Caton of East Hartford, Connecticut; in-laws Donald Beattie, Helen Reed, Carol Fournier, and Wilma Fournier; nieces and nephews. While raising their family, the Fourniers also gave a home to Julian Fournier and James Reed. Besides her husband she was predeceased by son Brian's first wife, Cindy (Heath) Fournier, and by sisters Martha, Helen, and Louise, and a brother Willard. Milly was the Concord postmaster from 1973 until retiring in 1985. She had previously clerked at both the Scott's Grocery and Bouchard's Store. She later sold Avon products mostly in order to see the people and have good visits with them. Milly was a devout communicant at St. John the Evangelist Church. It seems she was always laughing and smiling, and everybody loved her. She loved puppies, babies, children, and especially teenagers. She liked to skidoo, would go to car races with her grandsons, and often transported her grandchildren to appointments or maybe home for a weekend from college. For many years she and Charlie hosted the Reed family reunion at their farm. Everyone loved her homemade baked beans, sugar-on-snow parties and raised donuts. She enjoyed attending numerous postal conventions throughout the United States with her good friend Carleta Legacy. As long as she was able, she looked forward to taking a daily ride somewhere around the area she had known all her life. Visiting hours will be held at the Sayles Funeral Home on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. and will conclude with an evening vigil service. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Church in St. Johnsbury this Friday, July 31 at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions, marked for 'Resident Activity Fund' and payable to 'Canterbury Inn', could be directed to Canterbury Inn, 46 Cherry St., St. Johnsbury VT 05819. Memories and condolences may be shared privately at www.saylesfh.com. The Sayles Funeral Home is located at 525 Summer St. in St. Johnsbury.