Richard V. Cecchini

EAST BARRE - Richard V. Cecchini, 86, a former long-time Barre resident, passed away peacefully after a long illness on October 1, 2023, at the Central Vermont Medical Center with his family at his bedside.

Born on June 15, 1937, in Barre, he was the son of Victor and Alice (Friberg) Cecchini.  He grew up in the North end of Barre and East Barre.  His father and uncles were Italian immigrants who came to Barre for the granite industry.  Richard graduated from Spaulding High School in 1955 and served in the Army after graduation.

He met his future wife, Carole Marsha, on Valentine’s Day 1954 when he hit her with a snowball.  They were married on July 9, 1960, in the East Barre Congregational Church.   In 1961 their daughter Wanda was born.

In his younger years, Richard worked for farms and the railroad.  He worked for many years at Sprague Electric before working in the granite industry, first at Rock of Ages and then Adams Granite Company,

Richard was an avid hunter, especially rabbit hunting, and he loved to fish.  He raised beagles for many years for rabbit dogs and was a member of the Northfield Beagle Club.  After he gave up hunting, he and Carole became classic car enthusiasts and together they owned many vintage Mustangs and his favorite, a 1959 Mercury convertible.    He was an avid woodworker and went to the Dunbar Windsor Chair Institute in New Hampshire to learn how to make Windsor chairs, which he took great pride in.  He inherited his mother’s love of cooking and was a fantastic cook, especially rabbit or venison stew.  One of his favorite things to do was to forage for wild mushrooms.

He and Carole loved to go on vacations and some of their favorite places to visit were York, Maine, Old Quebec, and Florida.

After Carole passed away, Richard started his new life and moved to a smaller home in East Barre.  He met Xiu Zhen Bai (Lisa), and they became best friends.  When he was over 80, he travelled to China with Lisa for a one-of-a kind adventure.  Eventually, Lisa became his caregiver and they married.

Survivors include his daughter Wanda Knapp and her husband, Mark of Orange; his wife Xiu Zhen Bai (Lisa), his lifelong friends Anetia and Peter Nay and Ronnie Williamson as well as many cousins and his special nieces and nephews from the Smedy and Therrien families.

In addition to his parents, Richard was predeceased by his wife Carole, and his sisters and their spouses, Pauline (Don) Smedy, and Priscilla (Red) Therrien.  Last December, he lost his cousin and best friend, Ralph Habbep, whose companionship he missed terribly.

His family would like to extend special thanks to the ICU nurses and Dr. Murphy for their care and compassion during Richard’s stay at Central Vermont Medical Center.

Per Richard’s wishes, there will be no services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Central Vermont Humane Society, 1589 VT-14S, East Montpelier, VT  05651.