Philippa M. Merchand | Obituaries

Philippa M. Merchand RUTLAND – Ms. Philippa Barrett Merchand died in her home after a full life of 102 years early Tuesday morning, May 4, 2021, in the presence of her family and her caregiver. She was born on October 15, 1918 in Rutland to William and Valentine (Prevey) Barrett. She attended Mount St. Joseph Convent School from first grade and graduated from high school as a valedictorian and all-state in girls’ basketball in 1936. At the time of her death, she was the oldest living MSJ graduate. After graduation, Ms. Merchand worked briefly at Woolworth in Rutland, then as a telephone operator during World War II in Rutland and at Camp Miles Standish near Boston. After the war she returned to Rutland and continued working for the telephone company. She met and married Joe Merchand in 1947. She died in 2002. They settled on the corner of Meadow Street and River Street in 1952, where they raised their four children and lived until their deaths. In the early 1960s, Ms. Merchand decided to become a teacher in addition to raising her children. She graduated from Castleton State College in 1964 and taught classes 1 through 4 at the Tinmouth Two-Room School for several years. She then taught kindergarten at Brandon in the Town Hall basement, then at Forest Dale until she retired in 1983. Phil has enjoyed her extended family, work, friends, and church in St. Peter all of her life. She enjoyed doing sports, especially swimming in the camp on Lake Bomoseen in summer and ice skating in winter. She competed nationwide in the back of the Seniors Olympics in San Antonio and Disney World. Mrs. Merchand is survived by her sons Tony of Rutland, Joe of Rouses Point, New York. her daughters Philippa (Tom) Biggi from Littleton, Colorado, and Mary (Kelly) Oster from Vancouver, Washington; from their grandchildren Dan (Angie) Merchand of St. Albans, Leah (Patrick) Moakely of Virginia, Seth (Tammy) Biggi and Aaron Biggi of Colorado; from their great-grandchildren Aaron and Zachary Merchand, Sean and Lily Biggi, and Jack and Sam Moakely; and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces. She was died of her daughter-in-law, Monica Flanagan Merchand. A wake-up call will be held on Tuesday, May 11th, 2pm to 2pm at the Clifford Funeral Home on Washington Street in Rutland. The funeral will take place on Wednesday, May 12th at 11 a.m. in St. Peter’s Church in Rutland. The funeral and reception follow. COVID guidelines are followed. The family would like to thank Ms. Merchand’s doctors, VNA nurses, and her caregivers from At Home Senior Care for helping her mother over the past year and a half. Instead of flowers, contributions can be made to the Mount St. Joseph Academy or to the aforementioned supervisors.