Arlene R. Flagg

1927 - 2014

Bernardston, Mass. - Arlene Rachel (Robtoy) (Tatro) Flagg, 86, of Turners Falls Road, Bernardston, went to meet her Lord peacefully on Saturday (8-16-2014) at the home of her daughter Cynthia Houle, surrounded by her large family.
She was born in Enosburg Falls, Vt., on October 17, 1927, the daughter of Elrick and Mary (Burnor) Robtoy Sr., one of ten children. She was raised on a farm in Vermont before moving to Athol, Mass., in 1952, then working as a laborer at N.D. Cass, Erving Paper Mills and as a waitress at the Warwick Inn, where she met her husband Douglas J. Flagg. She worked as a tax preparer for H&R Block in Athol for a few years, after which she opened Flaggs Tax Service in Bernardston and was in business for 18-plus years, retiring in 1992.
She was married to Douglas J. Flagg on December 27, 1974 and they would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in December. She loved old country and western music, dancing, yodeling, feeding and watching the birds, gardening, arts and crafts, seek a word/word find and puzzle building. She and Doug would decorate their home exterior extensively at Christmas as their gift to the community.
She was a former member of the Jumptown Twirlers Square Dance Club in Orange for many years. She also enjoyed attending church regularly prior to her illness and attending the GVNA Adult Day Health program in Greenfield.
She will be remembered as caring, kind, compassionate, forgiving and thoughtful. A-mazing R-espectful L-oving E-ntertaining N-ever-ending E-ternally grateful is what she was. She was a wonderful cook who shared her talent with her children and always had a house full for Sunday dinner. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who enjoyed and dearly loved her family. She also enjoyed her friends. She was a member of the United Church of Bernardston.
She leaves her husband, five daughters, Brenda and husband Earle Castine of Henderson, NV, Gloria King and Deborah Shufelt, both of Orange, MA, Belinda and husband Brian Desreuisseau, Cynthia and husband Eli Houle, both of Athol, MA. Two sons, Merton Tatro Jr. of Athol, MA and Michael Flagg and his wife Tina of Montague, MA., 19 Grandchildren, 33 Great-Grandchildren, and 5 Great-Great-Grandchildren and a sister Angeline (Nanny) Sciotto of MO and several brother and sister-in-laws.
She was predeceased by her parents, her first husband Merton Tatro Sr., a daughter Sheila Vescovi, a son, Dale Tatro; a granddaughter Wanda (Shufelt) Woodbury, a great-granddaughter, Brittany Bailey; brothers Felix, Winston, Elrick (Bug) Jr.; sisters Ronalda, Dorothy, Harriet, Barbara (Bobby) and Laura.
Special Thanks to the entire staff of Gardner Visiting Nurse Association Hospice and Adult Day Health program, and Dr. Jeffrey Palmer, and all her PCAs and Living Care Agency.
Funeral services will be Wednesday (8-20-2014) at the United Church of Bernardston, at 11 A.M. Burial will follow in Center Cemetery, Bernardston.
Calling hours will be Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 P.M. at the Kidder Funeral Home, 1 Parker Ave., Northfield, Mass.
Donations in her memory may be made to either: United Church of Bernardston, P.O. Box 503, Bernardston, MA 01337, or CVNA Healthcare Inc., 34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 01440, or the USO, P.O. Box 96860, Washington, D.C. 20077-7677.
To send condolences or for directions, please visit www.kidderfuneralhome.com.