Thelma J. Coley

Thelma J. Coley, 83, a resident of Sunderland Hill Road passed away peacefully on Saturday March 19, 2016 in Bennington following a brief illness. Thelma was born in Pownal, VT on August 7, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth and Marion (Towslee) Jolivette. Growing up in the area, she attended local schools, graduating from Bennington High School. She then attended the University of Vermont graduating with her Bachelors Degree in English, she obtained her Masters in Education at the University of West Virginia. Thelma married Henry W. "Hank" Coley III in Bennington on August 2, 1974, they had made their home in East Arlington and Sunderland for many years, Hank passed away on December 4, 2012. Thelma enjoyed a lifelong career in education as an English teacher in high schools in Woodstock and Stowe and as an administrator for eight years at Mt. Anthony Union High School in Bennington.Thelma thoroughly enjoyed her family, playing Bridge, gardening, reading and their English Setter dogs.She leaves her step son John Coley of Cambridge, NY, step daughter Ann Coley Pickrell and husband Doug Reed of Chesterfield, MA, grandchildren Britney and Mariah Coley, brother Richard Jolivette of Portsmouth, NH, sisters in law Sylvia Jolivette of Manchester, Nancie Coonz and Thayer Jolivette both of Bennington, nieces Betsey Walton and Sarah Lewis both of Bennington, as well as other nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by a step daughter Jill Coley in 1987, brothers Kenneth Jr., Donald and Eugene Jolivette. As Thelma's request her services will be held privately for family members , she will be laid to rest next to Hank in the Evergreen Cemetery in Arlington. Memorial gifts may be made to the charity of one's choice in care of the Hanson Walbridge & Shea Arlington Chapel, P.O. Box 528, Arlington, VT 05250. As Thelma's request her services will be held privately for family members , she will be laid to rest next to Hank in the Evergreen Cemetery in Arlington