Viola Prentice

Viola (Crouch) Prentice, 93, formerly of West Street, died Friday, July 25, 2008 in Holden Nursing Home, after a long illness.

She leaves her husband of 69 years, Vernon E. Prentice; two daughters, Gail Ann P. Belanger and her husband Charles F., Jr. of Holden and Marilou P. Barratt and her husband Thomas R. of Myersville, MD; four grandchildren, Michelle B. Shea and her husband Michael of Vienna, VA, Russell E. Barratt and his wife Anna M. of Myersville, Christopher C. Belanger and his wife Christina E. Gessler of Summerland, CA, Joy E. Maidrand and her husband Craig D. of Dover, NH; three great-grandchildren, Megan and Kaitlyn Barratt and Zachary C. Maidrand; and two nephews, Larry C. Spongberg of Paxton and Gary R. Spongberg and his wife, Lucy C. of Niscayuna, NY. A sister, Lilla C. Spongberg, died in 1999. She was born in Paxton, daughter of Albert A. and Hattie E. (Eames) Crouch, and lived in Paxton until moving to Holden in 2002.

Mrs. Prentice was a graduate of Classical High School and the Mass College of Art in Boston. She worked as a Librarian for the Town of Paxton at Richards Memorial Library, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette library and established the library at the Paxton Center School. She also worked as a graphic artist at the former Howard Wesson Co. in Worcester. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Paxton and its evening circle, Paxton Woman's Club and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star , she was also former Brownie leader.

The funeral service for Mrs. Prentice will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 2nd, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. Burial will follow in Mooreland Cemetery, Paxton. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Montachusett Girl Scout Council, Inc., 81 Gold Star Blvd., Worcester, MA 01606; or Friends of Richards Memorial Library, 44 Richards Ave., Paxton, MA 01612; or the First Congregational Church of Paxton, 1 Church St., Paxton, MA 01612.

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