Patricia Leach

Patricia Center Leach, of Barton, passed away Monday morning April 6, 2015 in Lyndonville, VT at the age of 88. She was born on March 17, 1927 in Rutland, VT the daughter of Walter F. and Aleathea (DeRosia) Center. Her father passed away prior to her birth. At the age of 5, her mother remarried Robert DeForge and 5 children were born and raised in Montpelier. She spent her childhood summers in Danby, VT with her grandfather and Aunt Bertha Risdon. In 1945 she graduated at the top of her class from Montpelier HS where she was an avid basketball and baseball player. She was in all of the school plays and loved dancing. In the fall of 1945 she entered UVM and graduated in 1948 with a BS in nursing. While in her last years of school at UVM she affiliated at Heaton Hospital in Montpelier, Brooklyn State Hospital in NY City and Children's Memorial Hospital in Montreal. After receiving her RN, Pat went to Chicago for 3 years of college to obtain her degree in anesthesia at Norwegian American Hospital. In 1951 Pat became one of the first certified registered nurse anesthetists in the country. She practiced anesthesia at hospitals in Randolph, Brattleboro and Burlington.
In 1952, Pat married Martin E. Leach of Waterville, VT and they had 3 children. At the time Martin was a Sargent for the VT State Police, graduating from the VT State Police Academy in 1947. Pat and Martin moved to Barton, VT in 1955 where she lived until her passing. Pat was very active with Barton Academy while her children attended. Pat worked as an RN at Newport Hospital from 1960 to 1974. After Martin passed in 1969 Pat returned to UVM to further her education in Coronary Care and received her CCN in 1970. From 1976 -1977 she was in charge of the coronary care unit at Hillside Hospital in San Diego, CA and then at NVRH upon her return to Vermont. She continued with college courses at UVM and Univ. of Minnesota through 1982.
Pat was active with the Republican Party for years and served as a delegate in Washington DC.
Pat or "Peppermint Patty" as her sisters called her loved to dance and had great memories of going to see the big bands with her husband in the 50's and 60's. Her favorite place was the Brown Derby in Montpelier where her husband proposed! She was an avid Red Sox fan and March Madness was her all- time favorite sports event of the year. She always miraculously picked the winner of the Kentucky Derby! She was always positive and derived a great deal of pleasure watching her children and grandchildren grow up and play sports.
She is survived by her children Glenn Leach and wife Cheryl of Gilmanton, NH, Gary and Melissa Leach of Lyndonville and Jill Leach of Barton; her grandchildren, Zach and Breanna Leach of California, Beth and husband Chris Hibshman and children Barrett and Brooklyn of Burke, Dallas and Lilly Leach of Lyndon, Erika Leach of Washington, DC, Amanda Leach Brocksmith and husband Richard and son Chase of Gaithersburg, MD, Rachel Schuster and husband Nathan and children Gavin and Bennet of So. Portland, ME, and Jessica and Colin Trahan and son Toby of Los Angeles, CA. She is also survived by her two brothers, Robert and wife Maggie DeForge of Clinton, MA and Jerome DeForge of Virginia; two sisters, Georgia Buck and husband Jim of Leominster, MA and Daphne Marhefka and husband Joe of Clinton, MA; a sister in-law, Marilyn Center of Clinton, MA; many nieces and nephews; and several good friends.
She was predeceased by her father, her mother, her husband, a sister, Norma Hancock and a brother, George Center.
A Memorial service will be held in Lyndonville on Sunday, April 19th at 2:00pm at the Guibord Funeral Home with Mr. John Sleeper officiating. Friends may meet with the family one hour prior to the start of the service beginning at 1:00pm.
Donations made in her memory may be directed to Caledonia Home Health Care, marked for Hospice, 161 Sherman Drive, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819, or to the Orleans Essex Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice, 46 Lakemont Road, Newport, VT 05855.
Memories and condolences may be shared privately with the family at www.guibordfh.com. Guibord Funeral Home is located on the corner of Main and Center Streets, Lyndonville.