Cecelia Johnson

A true Vermonter, Cecelia Katherine Bell was born on 22 March 1920 in her family's home on Dillingham Avenue in Manchester Village. Her mother, Rebecca Jane McBride, grew up in Dorset, VT; her family were Irish immigrants who worked hard in the marble quarries of the area. Cecelia's father, Chester Arthur Bell, grew up in Keeseville, New York near Lake Champlain. For decades, early Scots-Irish Bell ancestors originally from Massachusetts lived, worked, and farmed on both the Vermont and New York State side of Lake Champlain, a lake that always held deep appeal for Cecelia and where she loved to go for recreation and reflection. Recently, to her surprise, during genealogical research it was discovered that Cecelia's English ancestors on her father's side originally settled Essex. MA in the 1630s; they later fanned out through Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Cecelia's family's earliest Vermont roots go back to the early 1800s in the northwestern part of the state.Cecelia attended the former Village school near where her family later moved to their new house on Franklin Avenue. She graduated from Burr and Burton in 1938 and in 1940 married Bernard Tougas. Bernard was killed in action in Saipan in 1944. Her family had a long history of military life and sacrifice. Her great-great grandfather, Jonathan Dwinell, served in the Revolutionary War; her grandfather, Alonzo Bell in the Civil War, and her uncle, John McBride died in service during WWI.Cecelia believed strongly in supporting our US veterans.In 1949, Cecelia married Oscar Victor Johnson Jr. and together they turned an old barn into a sturdy red house on Sunny Lea Farm, River Road, Manchester where they raised three children. Cecelia and Oscar started Johnson's Fuel Service, a company supplying home heating oil and kerosene to homes and businesses in both Bennington and Windham counties as well as installing and servicing furnaces. Together they worked long hours, committed to providing the best in customer service, being fair and supportive employers for local workers, and striving to bring needed energy to their customers at decent prices. Oscar and Cecelia were well known in Manchester; they were married for fifty-three years, and he died in 2002.After retiring from Johnson's Fuel Service, Cecelia and her husband Oscar often traveled by car down the East Coast visiting friends and historic houses. They kept a houseboat on Lake Champlain where they retreated for quiet times. Cecelia served as a community volunteer at the Manchester Health Center and at Hildene where she was a Charter Member. She was one of the organizers of the first two cookbooks published through Hildene and worked in the gift shop there. Her passion for local history was great and she was always interested in the Manchester Historical Society.Cecelia was a member of the First Congregational Church, Manchester Village. In her early years, she was quite active in various church functions and committees; she taught Sunday School. Also when younger, Cecelia enjoyed hiking and boating on Lake George and Lake Champlain. She did hand sewing, gardening, studied birds, and loved reading - particularly Vermont history and philosophy - the latter hobby she pursued her entire life. She always said that what she enjoyed the most was her family, but she especially loved raising her children on Sunny Lea Farm where they had many cows, horses, dogs, and other animals. Cecelia said that Sunny Lea was the most beautiful spot on earth; she loved to watch the sunrise and the moon rise over East Mountain.In the past decade, Cecelia participated in the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program which she enjoyed very much. Her Neighbor-to-Neighbor buddy was Elizabeth Karat of East Dorset and together they went to concerts, plays, out to lunch, doctor's appointments, and had long conversations.Cecelia is survived by three daughters: Lynda Johnson Dailey of Manchester and her partner, Tim Beers; Lisa Johnson Schultheis of Manchester and San Diego, CA and her husband, David; Kyle Ingrid Johnson of Boston, MA as well as a grandson, Eric Johnson Comar of Manchester and his wife, Lindsey; a brother, Jack Bell and his wife Shalie of Manchester; nieces Jacqueline Bell Sargood, Melissa Bell-Johnson, and Melinda (Mimi) Bell Brown - all of Manchester; her nephew Joseph Schramm of Virginia Beach, VA; stepdaughter Patricia Johnson Knittel of South Portland, Maine; great-and-grand nieces and nephews, and her close friend and former son-in-law, George Williams of Manchester. For those who would like to remember Cecelia and commemorate her life, suggested donations would be welcome at the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program (PO Box 226, Manchester Center, VT 05255) or the Manchester Historical Society (PO Box 363, Manchester, VT 05254) Funeral Service - 11am Tuesday December 1, 2015 at the First Congregational Church in Manchester. Burial to follow in Dellwood Cemetery. There will be no calling hours.