Rhea D. Rhodes

Brattleboro – Rhea Dennie Rhodes, 79, died peacefully late Tuesday night, January 7, 2025 at the Thompson House. A native of Brattleboro, she was a former resident of Red Clover Commons. Rhea was born in Brattleboro on August 8, 1945, the daughter of Reuben and Irene (Lambert) Wintel. She was raised and educated in Brattleboro, graduating from Brattleboro Union High School with the class of 1963. She went on to attend Community College of Vermont. She had been employed for many years at the former American Stratford where she was office manager. Rhea later worked as a legal secretary at Costello Law Office where she retired from following years of faithful service with the law firm. In her earlier years, she worked at the Holstein-Friesian Association in Brattleboro. Active civically, she was a board member at Members First Credit Union and was active with Habitat for Humanity where she served in the capacity of secretary. A woman of faith, Rhea was a longtime member of First Baptist Church. She enjoyed arts and crafts, trips to the beaches of Maine, square dancing and putting on parties and get-togethers with her family. She especially cherished time spent with her grandchildren. Rhea was first married to Gordon Aither, Jr. on October 12, 1963. He predeceased her in 1998. She later married Theodore "Ted" Rhodes who passed away December 22, 2008. Survivors include two daughters, Rhonda Aither of Winchester, NH and Jodi Hildreth and fiancé, Kenneth Girouard, of Hinsdale, NH; four step-sons, Sven Rhodes, Curtis Rhodes, Anstan Rhodes and Randon Rhodes, all of Brattleboro; two step-daughters, Cheryl Rhodes of Putney and Joan Cutting of Guilford; two brothers, Theodore Woods of Ludlow and RZ Woods of Guilford; two sisters, Kola Hardy of MA and Norma Woods of AZ; and three grandchildren, Amanda Woodward, Benjamin Aither and Zebulon Hildreth. Additionally, she leaves five great-grandchildren, numerous step-grandchildren and step-great-granchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Rhea was predeceased by a sister, Anna Hodgdon; a brother, Richard Wintel; a son-in-law, Dwayne Hildreth; and a step-daughter, Frances Bridges. A memorial service in celebration of her life will be conducted Thursday, January 30th at 7:00 p.m. at Grace Christian Fellowship, 81 Ashuelot St. in Winchester, NH with Pastor Matthew Worrall officiating. Light refreshments will be served following the service. Memorial contributions in Rhea's name may be made to Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 593, Brattleboro, VT 05302; or to Alzheimer's Association, VT Chapter, 75 Talcott Rd., Suite 40, Williston, VT 05495. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rhea, please visit our floral store.