Allan B. Mattson

BERLIN - Allan B. "Al" Mattson, 63, of Cedar Drive, died peacefully Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014, at his home, surrounded by his family, after a two-year battle with cancer.

Born on June 26, 1950, in Barre, he was the son of John and Marjorie (Eastman) Mattson. He attended Barre City and Barre Town schools and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1968. In earlier years, he attended the East Barre Congregational Church.

In 1968, Allan married Joyce B. Martin. They made their home in East Barre where they raised their three children. In 1996, they moved to Berlin.

Allan loved to work with his hands. At a young age, he developed a love for woodworking. Following his graduation from high school, he worked in the construction business and eventually started his own construction company.

From 1977 to 1990, he was a volunteer firefighter and officer for the Barre Town Fire Department and the East Barre Hose Company. During this time, he was the fire warden for the county. He also ran a program teaching fire safety to children at area schools. His own children were proud to have "Captain No Burn" as their father.

Allan worked for the Granite Cutters Credit Union, and he became the president. The credit union grew from a small office on the second floor of a Barre Main Street building down onto the Main Street level and became the United Workers Credit Union.

He was an active participant in the Barre Vocational Stone Trades Program, helping students learn by hands-on working in the granite industry. In the mid '70s, Allan went to work in the family business of granite manufacturing, the Chioldi Granite Co. in Barre. He started as a salesman, learning every aspect of the business, and eventually ran the business. Since 1995, the business has continued as Northern Mausoleum Services. He had an outstanding ability to absorb information and use it to do whatever he decided to tackle.

Allan's passion in life was helping others and spending time with his family. In recent years, he enjoyed camping with his wife, woodworking, swimming and barbecuing. He was a spectacular father, grandfather and husband.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce Mattson, of Berlin; a son, Mark Mattson, and his wife, Paula, of Barre Town; two daughters, Lori Hanchett and her husband, Thomas, and their children, Bryton and Kirsten, of Williamstown, and Karen Liimatainen and her daughter, Ashlyn, of East Montpelier; his father, John Mattson, of Berlin; two nephews, James Mattson and Brad Mattson; a niece, Jodie Rouleau; and several cousins.

His mother and a brother, Kenneth J. Mattson, predeceased him.

His funeral service will be on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014, at 11 a.m. in St. Monica Catholic Church in Barre. Family and friends may call at the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy St., Barre, on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641; or to the Berlin Fire Department, 338 Paine Turnpike, Berlin, VT 05602.