Elsie P. Corse

Elsie Corse Obituary

Elsie P. Corse 1934 - 2008 WHITINGTHAM Elsie Purington Corse died Tuesday morning, July 29, 2008, at her home on Corse Road, following a long courageous battle with cancer. Born in Greenfield, Mass., on July 14, 1934, daughter of Arthur and Geneva "Susie" Call Purington of Colrain, Mass., she grew up in Colrain and was educated in Colrain Schools and at Arms Academy in Shelburne Falls. After her family moved to Halifax, Vt., in 1951, she met Lewis M. Corse at a square dance. They were married on Aug. 16, 1952, in Whitingham in front of the fireplace at the red house just down the road from the Corse Farm. She lived on the Corse Farm all her married life and was very active in the daily operation of the farm. In her earlier years, she worked in the hayfields and sugarlot alongside Lewis and her sons. She was also the farm groundskeeper and, with the help of her sickle and brush cutters, kept the farm looking neat. In her later years, she was the one responsible for delivery of Corse Farm maple syrup. In addition to her life on the farm, she was a longtime blood donor until cancer made her ineligible. She had donated more than 15 gallons of blood. In her later years she also was a regular volunteer at Red Cross blood drives in Brattleboro. For several years Elsie enjoyed playing her dulcimer for the residents of area retirement homes. She bowled in the Thursday night league at Northstar Bowl in Wilmington for more than 35 years and served as a Whitingham Ballot clerk for many years. She and Lewis were avid square dancers at local square dances and also enjoyed attending the Hunter Mountain music festival for many years. She enjoyed horseback riding, reading and time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren. Mr. Corse died Jan. 28, 2006. Elsie leaves three sons, Leon and his wife, Linda; Roy and his wife, Vanessa, and Wayne and his friend, Jennifer Herrick, all of Whitingham; her grandchildren, Abbie, Caleb, Henry and Molly Corse and Ben and Natalie Herrick; eight siblings, Marion Burnap of Mesa, Ariz., Edward (Bud) Purington and Ellen Miller of Colrain, Virginia Fellows of Warwick, Mass., Doris Johnson and Sam Purington of Buckland Mass., Agnes Steele of Southboro, Mass., and Roger Purington of Heath, Mass., and dozens of nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her brother, Nelson in 1952, and his infant twin brother in 1931. FUNERAL NOTICE: Services will be Saturday, Aug. 2, at 11 a.m. at the COVEY & ALLEN FUNERAL HOME in Wilmington. Fellowship and refreshment will follow at the Whitingham Municipal Center. Friends may call at the funeral home Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. when the family will be in attendance. Memorial contributions may be made to the Whitingham Ladies Benevolent Society or the Southwestern VT Regional Cancer Center, c/o Covey & Allen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 215, Wilmington VT 05363. To send personal e-mail condolences to the family of Elsie P. Corse please visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.

Published by The Berkshire Eagle on Jul. 30, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Elsie Corse

10 Entries

Jeff Stone

August 2, 2008

Its always sad to hear of the passing of such a revered member of the community, but in Whitingham, revered scarcely qualifies to describe the influence and mark that Mr. and Mrs. Corse left on several generations.

It has been a few years since I left Whitingham for New Hampshire, but fond memories of the Corse family are as vivid as ever.

Truly a wonderful lady, Mrs. Corse's indelible smile and ever pleasant demeanor were as lasting and constant as ever there could be. I can never remember a community event, or cause that she and Lewis were not a MAJOR part of. Good people like that, are once in a lifetime influences.

Condolences and Best Wishes to the entire Corse Family during this difficult time.

The Stone / Woidyla Family,
Jeff, Lenora, Daniel, Annika and Jake

Calvin Fellows

July 31, 2008

We're sorry we can not be with you but send our sincere sympathy on the death of your dear mother. We will always remember Elsie & Lewis' 50th anniversary and the doffing of their hats to each other as a mark of their love and respect for each other. They loved their home, their family, and their community. You are in our thoughts.

Sincerely,
Calvin & Freddie Fellows

Judy Carrier

July 31, 2008

I had the pleasure of working along side Elsie as a ballot clerk for many years. She always had a smile for all. She will be missed by many.

Edward Minchin

July 31, 2008

Lewis and Elsie were my second set of parents growing up working for them from the time I was about 12 years old haying, sugaring and working the lumber mill. Many of the down to earth, reasonable man approach to life traits that I take much pride in and have made me successful in my career as an Officer in the US Marine Corps can be directly attributed to how they mentored me and treated me through all those years. Their son Wayne is my longest lifetime friend and I have always looked up to him as the older brother I never had. Elsie and her awesome blueberry pancakes and constant smile and positive life attitude will be greatly missed. I am glad that she and Lewis are back together Square Dancing their way into eternity. I have many fond, and funny, memories of square dancing with them throughout the years. Thank you Elsie for all that you provided me growing up on the farm. I Love You. Dee Minchin

Liz Fournier

July 31, 2008

I had the pleasure of singing in the choir with Elsie. She called me her "helping hand" during Old Home Week for making sure she had all her music in order for the Talent Shows and Sunday morning service. She was a wonderful lady and enjoyed laughing, dancing and singing. I will always remember her smile.

Rev. Andrew Wilson

July 30, 2008

I'm so sorry to hear of this great loss. When you look up "salt of the earth" there's a picture of Lewis and Elsie. God bless all of you.

Ed and Parker Minchin

July 30, 2008

To the Corse family,
You all are in our thoughts and prayers in this sad time. Elsie and Lewis were two of the finest people God ever put on this earth, and will always be rembembered as such. There are so many fond memories of great times with the Minchin and Corse families.
God Speed Elsie.
Our love and sympathy to you all, Ed and Parker

Becky Green

July 30, 2008

To the Corse family,
Thinking of all of you and sending thoughts that memories will soon take the place of the hurt you now feel.

Brent Betit

July 30, 2008

I am very fortunate to have known Elsie and her family. Growing up in Whitingham leads to lots of family connections. Elsie's son Roy was a classmate through 12 years of school and we've been neighbors on Maple Drive for about 7 years. Leon's son Henry is my son Matt's classmate, and Wayne's daughter Molly is my son Nick's classmate. Matt has also worked on their farm for the past four years. So Elsie's family and mine are a lot like a very big family in many ways. That's one of the real benefits of living in a small town - and those connections are something we should all treasure.

Elsie was also a treasure - a great partner for Lewis and both of them an institution around town, with Lewis as moderator (now Leon holds up that tradition) selectman, fireman, and Elsie as a ballot clerk, volunteer, and serving a dozen other community-oriented activities, while also doing the very hard and long work associated with life on a Vermont farm.

In later years, I used to chat with her at the Elks Club in Brattleboro when I went to give blood.

That tradition of service seems to be associated with "the greatest generation" - which Elsie and her generation characterized - and something that we are in danger of losing.

We are all fortunate to have benefited from Elsie's long service, and her solid family is a testament to her long life and legacy that she leaves to all of us.

Mario and Flo Cristofolini

July 30, 2008

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.

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