Person Page - 1344

Valeda Bezanson, 95, Fort Myers, Fla.

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Valeda D. (Yoder) Bezanson, 95, of Fort Myers, Fla., formerly of Orrville, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at Healthpark Medical Center in Fort Myers, after a brief illness.

Valeda was born on March 10, 1919, in Orrville, to the late Harvey and Edna (Hofstetter) Badertscher and graduated from Orrville High School, class of 1937. She had attended Wooster Business College for one year and worked as a bookkeeper for Orrville Municipal Utilities for many years.

She eloped to marry Paul M. Yoder on Oct. 20, 1940, in Greenup, Ky. Paul died on Oct. 16, 1994. She later married William H. Bezanson on April 4, 1999, in Lynnfield, Mass. William died on June 22, 2009.

Valeda was a faithful member of Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, where she was formerly active with the Alliance Women. She enjoyed knitting, needlepoint, and was a wonderful cook and homemaker. She was actively involved in several ministries and a cherished member of her community. She was loved by everyone who knew her.

Surviving are stepchildren, Paul "Bill" (Kathy) Bezanson of Illinois, Carol (the Rev. Tom) Erickson of Washington, Chuck (Lenore) Bezanson of New Hampshire, Jane (Jim) Peluso of Massachusetts, and the Rev. Dave (Ann) Bezanson of New Hampshire; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by a sister, Eleanor Maiwurm; a brother, Wilford Badertscher.

Services will be Friday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. at Auble Funeral Home, 512 E. Oak St., Orrville, with the Rev. Dave Bezanson officiating. Burial will be Saturday, Jan. 24 at 9 a.m. in Crown Hill Cemetery, Orrville

Friends may call Friday from 5-7 p.m. prior to the services at the funeral home.¹

Marion R. (Lilly) Bezanson of Melrose, an Avon sales representative, died Friday at Indian River Memorial Hospital in Vero Beach, Fla. She was 98.

Born in Wakefield, Mrs. Bezanson was raised and educated there. She had lived in Vero Beach, Fla., for the past five years.

Mrs. Bezanson was employed as a sales representative for Avon cosmetics for 67 years.

Wife of the late Raymond C., Mrs.

Bezanson is survived by a daughter, Claire E. Pond-Hewitt of Vero Beach, Fla; a son, Raymond C. Jr. of Silverthorne, Colo; two sisters, Charlotte Giovanni of Melrose and Violet Tempesta of Revere; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held today at 10 a.m. at Robinson Funeral Home, Melrose.

Burial will be in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose.

Arrangements by Robinson Funeral Home, Melrose.¹

HEWITT, CLAIRE E. (POND) 87, of Providence died Wednesday, June 5 at Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a long illness. Wife of the late Stanley R. Hewitt and wife of the late Sumner F. Pond, she was born in Stoneham, MA August 29, 1925, daughter of the late Raymond C. Bezanson and the late Marion L Bezanson of Melrose, MA.

She graduated from Stratford College. An educator of pre-school children, Claire taught kindergarten in Cumberland, was the Director of Education for the Blackstone Valley Community Action Program Head Start, the Assistant Director of the Woonsocket Social Progress Action Corporation Head Start Program and the Executive Director of the Mount Hope Day Care Center in Providence. She served on the RI Governors Commission on Women and the National Association and the RI Association for the Education of Young Children. She was an active member of the Arnold Mills Methodist Church.

Claire left RI after 28 years in 1976 and moved to Vero Beach, FL. After the sudden death of her first husband, Sumner Pond, she later married Stanley Hewitt who died in 1999. She continued to live in Florida until she was diagnosed with dementia in 2003 and moved back to RI.

She is survived by two sons, Gary F. Pond of Burlington, MA and Richard M. Pond of Warwick, RI and grandchildren, Brian Pond of Burrillville, RI and Jason Pond of Providence, RI and brother Raymond "Buzy" C. Bezanson of Freehold, NJ.

She was pre-deceased by her son, Steven K. Pond in 2009.

The Family would like to thank the countless caregivers and the staffs of The Seasons in East Greenwich, Scandinavian Home in Cranston, Steere House in Providence and Home and Hospice Care of RI for their love and nurturing care during Claire's "Long Goodbye". Her funeral and burial will be private.⁵

Bezanson Margaret Dyar, age 84, of White Bear Lake, passed away Wednesday, May 21, 2003.

She was born April 11, 1919 in DeSmet, South Dakota.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Clyde; daughter, Mary Elizabeth; grandchildren, Asha Joy and Rani Margaret; son, Ralph; daughter-in-law, Suzanna; sister, Mary Leslie; other relatives and friends. Margaret enjoyed a long career of teaching at community colleges throughout Minnesota, including what is now Century College. She was dearly loved by her family and many friends. No services planned.¹