Velna M. Hammond

Mrs. Velna M. (Gilbert) Hammond, 75, of Carlton Hill Road, Colebrook, New Hampshire, passed away Wednesday, March 29, 2006, at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, following a brief illness. Mrs. Hammond was born August 15, 1930, in Beecher Falls, VT, daughter of the late Austin and Alice (Blodgett) Gilbert. Mrs. Hammond attended school in Beecher Falls. She worked as a waitress for a number of years for area restaurants such as The Spa, the Northland, Quimby’s and also Camp Otter. From 1960-62, she worked at the Milton Bradley toy factory in Connecticut and returned to New Hampshire in 1970. She married her husband, Burley J. Hammond, on November 20, 1976, and worked by his side building and improving two homes for over thirty years. Her interests included bowling, skating, skiing, sewing, crocheting, knitting and making ceramic crafts. She was a 50+ year member and Past President of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Northland American Legion, Post #47, of Canaan, VT; a member of the Mohawk Grange; a Christian Youth Councilor for the Independent Baptist Church in West Stewartstown, NH, when her children were younger; and she volunteered for Hospice of Vermont. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend and will be dearly missed. Mrs. Hammond is survived by her loving husband, Burley J. Hammond, of Colebrook, NH; a son, Milton Shatney of Colebrook, NH; two daughters, Nancy Blackburn and husband, Allen, of Georgia, and Rebecca Darger and husband, Bradley, of Sioux Falls, SD; a step-daughter, Linda Lee Sanders of Yarmouth, ME; two sisters, Doriene Mayhew of East Windsor, CT, and Pauline Gilbert of Colebrook, NH; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Mrs. Hammond is preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Roxanne Rouleau; two sisters, Carmen McKenna and Josie Gilbert; and four brothers, Milton Gilbert, Harold Gilbert, George Gilbert and Levi Gilbert. Calling hours will be held on Friday, March 31, 2006, from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook, NH. A private graveside service will be conducted in the spring at the Colebrook Village Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in Mrs. Hammond’s memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, NH Affiliate, 132 Middle Street, Manchester, NH 03101 or the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Office of Development, One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756.

Velna M. Hammond

August 15, 1930 - March 29, 2006