Merilyn F. Friberg

BARRE - Merilyn Virginia (Fayen) Friberg, 87, died on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, at Woodstock Terrace Assisted Living in Woodstock, Vt., where she had lived for the past four months, after 13 years of triumphs and struggles with vascular dementia caused by a massive stroke in December of 1999.  

She was born on Dec. 17, 1925, in New York City, the middle daughter of Lillian (Weber) and Cord Fayen. She grew up in New Rochelle, N.Y., where she attended grammar school and high school. She met her husband-to-be, Melvin Friberg, on the day she graduated from Skidmore College in 1947. He was the older brother of Loraine Friberg Granai, Merilyn's college classmate. Married in 1949, Merilyn and Mel raised their family in Barre where he owned and operated the Anderson-Friberg Co. with Merilyn's full support and devotion to him and their family. She was extremely proud of her husband and children, and she adored her six grandchildren.

Merilyn was a lovely woman with a beautiful smile, a hearty laugh and a flair for style. She was a staunch supporter of Planned Parenthood; a member of the Central Vermont Hospital Auxiliary and the Granite Center Garden Club; a Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice volunteer; and she worked as a substitute teacher in the Barre public schools. Merilyn was also a longtime member of the Barre Congregational Church. She was an avid golfer at the Barre Country Club and the Eastman Golf Club in Grantham, N.H., where she and her husband owned a second home for a short time.

Melvin's death in 2009 broke Merilyn's heart. She leaves behind her three children, their spouses and their children: Peter and Sally Friberg, of Cape Cod and Florida, and their children, Andrew and Lindsay; Nancy and Bob Pope, of Barre Town, and their three children, Elizabeth, Gregory and Michael; and Cary Friberg and Carl Yalicki, of Moretown, and their son, Joseph. Her sisters, Marjorie Boyd, of California, and Janice Burke, of Florida, also survive her, along with Janice's husband, Douglas. She leaves behind her sister and brother-in-law, Loraine and Kio Granai, of Northfield; Tish Rossi, of Barre, who was a dear friend; and Cynthia Gable, of Barre, who became a close friend late in Merilyn's life.  

Her brother-in-law Robert Boyd predeceased her, as did her sister and brother-in-law Sylvia and Robert Stewart, of Barre.

The family would like to thank Sheila Ruel, of Northfield, for her loving care for and loyalty to Merilyn for many years.

Merilyn's life will be honored and celebrated at noon on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, in the Barre Congregational Church. There will be a reception in the church dining room following the service.

There are no calling hours.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Book of Remembrance, Barre Congregational Church, 35 Church St., Barre, VT 05641.

The Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy St., is in charge of the arrangements.