Carole Ann Cecchini

BARRE - Carole Ann (Marsha) Cecchini, a longtime resident of Barre, died peacefully on Thursday, November 12, 2015, at her home. She was 77 years old.
Carole was born December 28, 1937 in Barre to Leroy and Flora (Owen) Marsha. She grew up in East Barre where her parents shared a home with her grandfather, Elmer Owen. Carole graduated from Spaulding High School in 1955. She was a member of the East Barre Congregational Church where she taught Sunday school when she was young.
On Valentine’s Day 1954, Carole met the love of her life, Richard Cecchini who introduced himself by hitting her with a snowball. They were married on July 9, 1960 at the East Barre Congregational Church. In April of 1961, their daughter Wanda was born.
Immediately after high school, Carole started her long career with Adams Granite Company and she and Richard purchased the house directly across the street from where she would work. Carole was the “Mary Tyler Moore” of the granite industry. She worked for 3 generations of owners while at Adams Granite and not only loved her job, but considered it a true privilege to work. Her first boss was Irene Podskalny who taught her what it was to be a successful businesswoman. She then worked for Irene’s nephew, Elgio Zorzi who nicknamed Carole “Harriet” and made her vice-president of the company. Finally, Elgio’s son, Kerry Zorzi took over the business and Carole learned how to change with the times and work with computers. Although she retired once, she continued to work part-time for Adams Granite for a total of 57 years where she made many lifelong friends from all over the country.
When she was not working, she was still constantly on the move. She loved to work in her flower gardens and took great pride in her home. In her younger days, she was an avid deer hunter and fisherman. Always supportive of her family, she jumped right in when Richard decided to raise beagles for rabbit dogs and they joined the Northfield Beagle Club where they both helped cook breakfasts for the beagle trials. Always willing to learn new things, Carole took many classes over the years and in 1982, completed the Dale Carnegie course, which was always something she was very proud of. She and Wanda took decorative painting classes together for many years and Carole became an excellent artist and she also enjoyed line dancing together. Just like many girls, Carole loved horses when she was young but in later years, Wanda introduced her parents to vintage Ford Mustangs and thus began Carole’s love for a different kind of “horse”. She and Richard owned many beautiful Mustangs over the years, which they drove to car shows, and she even drove one of them home from Texas.
She loved planning and taking family vacations. Her favorite places to visit were York, ME, Old Quebec, and Florida.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Richard; her daughter, Wanda and her husband, Mark Knapp of Orange; her uncle, Leon Marsha of Williamstown; her special cousin, Sandra Crowningshield; lifelong friends, Anetia and Peter Nay, Ronnie Williamson, and Margaret Blackston; many cousins; and her special nieces and nephews from the Smedy and Therrien families; and a long list of friends.
Carole was predeceased by her parents Leroy and Flora Marsha and sisters and brothers-in-law, Pauline and Donald Smedy and Priscilla and Red Therrien.
Richard and Wanda would like to extend special thanks to the Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice nurses (especially Mary).
A graveside service will be held at the Cecchini family lot in Hope Cemetery in Barre on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. There will be no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641.