Gladys Rocheleau longtime BFA School nurse died May 2, 2024 at the age of 95

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Saint Albans - Gladys Martell Rocheleau died peacefully at home surrounded by her loving children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild on May 2, 2024. Gladys was born in Alburgh, Vermont on August 4, 1928, and was the last surviving child of Levi and Marie Martell’s six children.



Gladys was an independent spirit and graduated from Alburgh High School in 1944 at 16 years old. She attended UVM for one year to become a teacher but found her true passion was to become nurse. She enrolled in St. Albans Hospital Training School for Nurses where she excelled. In 1949, she was a member of the last graduating class of the St. Albans Nursing Program.



Gladys’ lifelong true happiness was in her role as a nurse. She was ready at a moment’s notice to help anyone, anytime; always only a call away for relatives and friends. Her experiences at the St. Albans Hospital included that as an IV Nurse, Obstetrics, Operating Room, and as School Nurse at BFA Fairfax. In 1981, she became a Nurse Practitioner, one of the first in the state of Vermont.



Gladys married Ulric (Rush) Rocheleau on October 14, 1950. They were very well suited for each other and led a very social life. They had many friends and parties at their house and camp. One of Gladys’ and Rush’s favorite places in the world was at their camp on Lake Champlain where they summered for more than 40 years.



She is survived by her son Karl and his wife Cheryl, her daughter Karyn, three grandchildren, Matt Rocheleau and wife Rebecca, Christopher Rocheleau and wife Kate Gardner, Jessica and husband Derek Miller, and four great grandchildren, Halle, Alexander, Otis and Cole. Gladys was predeceased by her husband Ulric (Rush) and her siblings Madeline Doyle, Carlton Martell, C. Allen Martell, Gloria Martell, and Lorraine Chevalier.



Gladys belonged to many organizations such as Board of Continuing Ed. for Nurses, Franklin County Mental Health, Retired Teachers Association, NMC Auxiliary, Warner Home Board, Franklin County Alcohol Council, American Heart Association, Ladies of St. Anne, Catholic Daughters, Autonoe Club, Elks Club, VFW Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary, St. Albans Duplicate Bridge Club and Green Mountain Doll Club.



Special thanks to Laurinda Poirer, Lynca Perkins, Trisha Woodward, Claire Deslauriers, Norm Choiniere and June Sweeny who helped take of Gladys in her final hours.



Gladys’ family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 South Main Street, St. Albans.



A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 2:00 PM at Immaculate Conception Parish, Holy Angels Church, 245 Lake Street. Prayers of committal and interment will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery.



In lieu of flowers, the family requests you donate to Kamp Ta Kum Ta, P.O. Box 459, South Hero, Vermont 05486 or the Gladys Rocheleau Scholarship for Nurses at BFA Fairfax, 75 Hunt Street, Fairfax, Vermont 05454.



Honored to be assisting the family of Gladys Rocheleau is Rett Heald of the Heald Funeral Home, where messages of condolence are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com.