Judith R. Hoermann

BARRE – Judith R. Hoermann, 98, of Willow Drive passed away surrounded by her loving children on Sunday, November 18, 2018 at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin.

Born October 15, 1920, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of Arthur L. and Ruth (Sherrill) Reynolds of Richmond. Judith attended Richmond’s one-room Depot Elementary School and graduated from Pittsfield High School. She worked as a switchboard operator for the tiny Richmond Telephone Company, of which her grandfather was a founder.

On June 10, 1945, she married Francis J. Hoermann, a Colonel in the U.S. Army Air Corps. As a service couple, they moved frequently — their five children were each born in a different state from Annapolis, Maryland, in the east to Adak, Alaska, a tiny island in the Aleutian chain, and states in between. Judith volunteered as an adult leader in the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and 4-H Sewing Club and, while living in Virginia, volunteered at the then-emerging Project Head Start program. Following his retirement from the U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon, Judith and Francis moved to Barre, and Francis entered public service as the Commissioner of Budget and Management for the State of Vermont in both the Snelling and Kunin administrations, among other positions.

Judith enjoyed sewing, embroidery, gardening, birds, camping, and traveling to visit her children in Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, Switzerland, Colorado, and Idaho. She was a dedicated correspondent with the people in her life, writing letters and sending along newspaper clippings that she knew the recipients would find interesting or compelling. Judith loved life, always seeing beauty in the smallest of things and with her enthusiastic outlook and lively conversation, letters, and notes left an impression of grace and caring on everyone she met. She loved her family deeply and was supportive, enthralled, and entertained by the activities and adventures of her siblings, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Judith will always be remembered and cherished by her children Thomas Hoermann and his partner, Linda Ruonavaara of Royal Oak; MI; William Hoermann and wife, Elizabeth of Acton, MA; Christine Thompson of Plainfield, VT; Richard Hoermann and wife, Tammy of Middlesex, VT; and Elizabeth Hoermann of Barre, VT; eight grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; as well as her siblings David Reynolds and Nancy Benedict, both of Richmond, MA; and Linda Davis of Needham, MA; and her many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Judith was predeceased by her loving husband Francis in 2004 and by her brother Carlton “Bud” Reynolds in 2016.

A gathering to honor and celebrate Judith’s life will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2018, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy Street, Barre. For a memorial guestbook, visit www.hookerwhitcomb.com

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the East Barre Public Library, 135 Mill Street, East Barre, VT 05649 whose staff always took such great care picking out books for her or to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641 whose important mission Judith appreciated. Judith enjoyed many interesting and laughter-filled conversations with the wonderful members at both organizations.

Interment will take place in the Vermont Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in the Spring of 2019.