Martha Burroughs

Martha Burroughs of Williston, VT passed away on 11/24/2023 after more than 40 years of extremely difficult health issues. She never let these issues slow her down.
Martha "MABBY" was the daughter of the late Chester C. Eaton, Jr. and Elizabeth Tracy Eaton and was born on July 10, 1958 in Charleston, WV.
She was married to the love of her life Glen Allen Burroughs on February 11, 1978 at the First Congregational Church in Burlington, VT where they met.
She always said her greatest accomplishments were the birth of her children, daughter Nikole Burroughs and her son Joshua Glen Burroughs and followed by 6 beautiful grandchildren whom she loved with all her heart. She was absolutely adored and loved by her grandchildren. She truly believed that it was the love of her husband, daughter, son and her grandchildren and many family members and friends that gave her the strength and courage to endure her health issues and keep fighting her battles.
Martha was known for saying when she gets to heaven she was going to jump up on God's lap and have a conversation with him and ask him why.
Martha is survived by her husband Glen, her daughter Nikole (partner/boyfriend Anthony) of Bethesda, MD (Nikki to us Vermonters) as well as her son Joshua and his wife of Colchester, VT and by her 6 grandchildren Ali, Luke and Catie from Bethesda, MD and Anya, Mason and Aubri of Colchester. Martha is also survived by her brother Robert T. Eaton and his wife Ann Eaton and her nephews Duncan and Jeremiah and her dear NH cousins David and Donald Eaton, Buffie Parisi, Judy Jarnutowski, Carol Raffle and their spouses and families. Her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Stuart and Jeneva Burroughs of Williston, VT and their children Jeneva Stone, Jeffrey Burroughs, Peter Burroughs and Sarah Joly and their spouses and families. Also, her bother-in-law and sister-in-law John and Susan Burroughs of Essex Jct., VT and their children Kadi Luchsinger and Heather Burroughs and their spouses and children and her great nieces and nephews and also her Tracy cousins Emily, Mary Jo, Ruth Rebecca and Jeannie and their families.
She was predeceased by her father and mother Chester and Elizabeth Eaton, her paternal grandparents Chester C. Eaton Sr. (Ba) and Marjorie T. Eaton (Grammie). Her very special Aunt Shirley H. Eaton (her God Mother) and her uncle Robert I. Eaton, her maternal grandparents Gordon S. Tracy and Muriel R. Tracy, her uncles Richard and John Tracy (her God Father).
Martha enjoyed summers on Lake Winnipesauke in Moultonborough, NH at Far Echo and Long Island with her Aunt Shirley, Uncle Bob, Ba, Grammie and her five Eaton cousins. Her fondest memories include when Ba would load the family on his 40' Cabin Cruiser and they would cruise the lake for hours then anchor the boat to swim and eat. Everyone at Far Echo would come running down to the beach when Ba blew his horn. Martha loved spending her summers sleeping on the boat with her cousins swimming and boating. Easter Dinners with egg hunts and early Christmas celebrations. She also felt she was blessed to have her Aunt Shirley Eaton whom she adored and treasured in her life. They would spend weekends at the lake with all the kids once they became adults. They just sat and watched the boats speed by and just talked, and then one by one her cousins would stop by for a visit or take them out for boat rides. Shirley was Martha's confidant, never yelling or telling her she was wrong. They decided they were solving the world's problems.
Martha was well known for continuing the family traditions she grew up with. Many parties, especially her 4th of July parties, like at Far Echo and she established the Burroughs Family Reunion on the 3rd of July. The effort she made to be there for all eight of the Reunions was nothing short of miraculous.
She was a room mother to her children's classes, PTA President, Fun Festival Coordinator as well as a member of the PTA. She was also softball coach at Williston Central to "The Golden Girls" for 4 years with help from so many parents. She loved all her girls and while her batting line up may have shaken a few heads, every girl got to try each position. "How do you know what position you like until you've tried them all?" They had lots of singing, lollipops and fun and 4 very successful years. She was on the Williston Recreation Board and helped develop the Summer Camp for children at the Williston Central School.
She was known as the chocolate chip mom. Every week for all the sports her children played, for the teams throughout junior high and high school she made the cookies for the A and B teams (over 200 a week) because she truly believed everybody who played a sport deserved a treat. She also cut up oranges. She co-ran the concession stand at the high school basketball games at CVU.
Gardening was at one time her favorite past time, as well as refinishing furniture, until she was no longer able to.
She loved her job as a "Work Hardening Specialist" at Injury and Health Management Solutions, Inc. (IHMS) but mostly all her co-workers with whom she thought of as family, and watching them get married and have children.
The family would like to thank Dr. Marie B. Sandoval of UVM Medical Center in South Burlington who has been her physician for over 35 years. Her compassion and care was unwavering. We would also like to thank her cardiologist Dr. Robert Battle of Charlottesville, VA. Thank you to all of the Hospice care workers too numerous to name. All of the incredible workers at the Infusion Center at UVM/MC and of course Dr. Mildred Reardon retired.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the charity of their choice in her honor.
A celebration of life will be held at the Williston Federated Church in Williston on July 3rd at 1pm and followed by a gathering at her home out back by the pool she loved on July 3rd, 2024 from 3-5pm. There will be no visiting hours. The family invites you to share your memories and condolences by visiting http://awrfh.com/. Inurnment will be at the convenience of her family.