Henrietta P. Hoaxie

SHAFTSBURY -- Henrietta Pittman Hoxie died peacefully at the home of her caregiver on Saturday, March 27,2004. She was born in Springfield, Mass. on June 14, 1914, she was the daughter of Joseph Livingston and Ritta (Murphy) Pittman. She attended schools in Springfield and graduated from McDuffee’s, a private school. She then went on to graduate from Goddard School of Business, also in Springfield.

Henrietta took a civil service course and worked in the armory in Springfield early on. In 1936, she went to Washington, D.C. and worked as a secretary there for a short period of time. Then, for 40 years, she worked as a secretary for Chapen, Neal and Demsey, a patent firm in Springfield. After her retirement she moved to Vermont and enjoyed country living at her home in Shaftsbury Hollow.

Henrietta was an active, longtime member of the North Bennington Congregational Church. She served as church clerk for 14 years, and also served on several other committees over the years.

She also served as a church representative at United Church of Christ Conference and association meetings and events. Her devotion to church work and doing many tasks and services behind the scenes was exceptional. Her church family was a very important part of her life, and everyone in the church family loved being a part of her life. Henrietta was also active in Church Women United of the Bennington area and served as their secretary for 10 years.

She enjoyed sewing, reading, bird watching and visiting friends. She especially loved her wonderful canine companion, Raschel.

Henrietta leaves a niece, Cynthia Coolidge and her family, Robert and Lori Ann of Bolton, Mass. and Thomas Hallgren of Worcester, Mass.; and two cousins, Bradford Ray Murphy of Basking Brook, N.J., and Martha Pittman Howland, and her family of Riverside, Conn. She leaves many, many friends including her longtime best friend Leah Comstock of Springfield, Mass.

She was predeceased by her husband David Hoxie.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 31 at 11 a.m. at the North Bennington Congregational Church with the Rev. Penny Rich Smith, pastor, officiating.

Burial will take place in the family lot in Springfield Cemetery at a later date. There are no calling hours.

Memorial gifts may be made in Henrietta’s memory to the North Bennington Congregational Church in care of the Hanson-Walbridge Funeral Home, 213 West Main St., Bennington, VT 05201.