Marion A. Snow, 97
MONROE, Mass. - Marion Adelaide Snow, 97, of Monroe died peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014, at Sweet Brook Care Centers in Williamstown. She served as tax collector for the town of Monroe for 25 years and was exceptionally proud of the year that she had no delinquent taxes. Born on the family farm in South Readsboro, Vt., on Feb. 4, 1917, the eldest child of Clifford Oakes Sr. and Adelaide Tower Oakes, she lived on the farm until 1961 when she moved to her home in Monroe. She graduated from South Readsboro School and tried to attend the Readsboro High School, but after six weeks of walking five miles in each direction between home and the high school, she had to end her high school career. She valued education highly and regretted that she had not been able to further hers.
Mrs. Snow spent many years of her life working and managing all the aspects of the family farm. She also drove the Monore school bus for many years and worked as a cook at the Whitcomb Summit in the town of Florida for many summers. She retired in 1985.
She was a member of the South Readsboro Community Club and the Monroe Historical Society. She could drive a horse and buggy just as easily as she could drive a car. She learned to cut hair by practicing on her grandfather as a young girl; in her adult years, she was the family barber and hairdresser. She learned to sew while very young and became an excellent seamstress and, at age 11, won first prize at the Wilmington Fair for her "Yo-Yo" pattern quilt, all of which was hand stitched. A fantastic cook, her pies, doughnuts, cakes, baked beans, oyster stew and minced meat were a few of the family favorites.
She loved her Boston terriers and she also loved telling anyone about her family's history.
Her husband, Ellsworth J. "Towser" Snow, whom she married on Oct. 22, 1948, died on Jan. 15, 1986.
She leaves her daughter, Carol Marchegiani and her husband, Carl, of Readsboro; her son, William Snow and his wife, Linda, of Pownal, Vt.; her brother, Douglas Oakes Sr. of Monroe; four grandchildren, Morgan Langlois and her husband, Michael, of Monroe, Kristiaan Angelo and his wife, Lisa, of Scarborough, Ontario, and Kathryn Cote and her husband, Leonard, Nathan Cardinal and Nicole Snow, all of Pownal; five stepgrandchildren, Lisa Demarsico and her husband, Michael, Laurie Douglas and her husband, Brian, James Babcock, Dominic Marchegiani and Sarah Marchegiani; great-grandsons, Ridge and Gavin, and stepgreat-grandchildren, Cheyenne, Christina, Aubrey, Kailey, Adam, Leigha, Brodey, Jordan, Reighan, Jessica and Belle; two sisters-in-laws, Carolyn Oakes and Nora Oakes, and countless nieces, nephews and cousins, all of whom she adored.
She was predeceased by her sister, Mildred Caprari, and her brothers Clifford Oakes Jr., Richard Oakes and Howard Oakes.
FUNERAL NOTICE - A funeral to celebrate the life of Mrs. Snow will be held on Friday, Oct. 31, at 11 a.m. at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, MA 01247, with the Rev. Roy. C. Burdick, officiating. Burial will follow at South Readsboro Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Thursday, Oct. 30, from 4 to 7 p.m.. Memorial donations may be made to the Monroe Historical Society and the First Baptist Church of Readsboro in her name.
Marion always believed that her greatest asset was her family. She knew she was well-loved in return. Rest well, you deserve it!