Catherine Dutton Lussier Bontadelli
GOLD BEACH, OR/BERKSHIRE, VT: Catherine Dutton Lussier Bontadelli left our family on February 29, 2020, in Gold Beach, Oregon. Catherine was born on October 18, 1932, in Burlington, Vermont to Edward and Bernice (Sawyer) Dutton.
Catherine grew up in Crafstbury, Vermont and graduated from Craftsbury Academy in 1951. She married Bertrand Lussier in September 1951 and that marriage produced five children. Catherine was a stay-at-home mom for many years. She was a wonderful housekeeper, cook, gardener, and seamstress. There were always tasty meals, shelves stocked with home-canned goods and hand-sewn outfits for special holidays. In 1970, she and Bert built and operated The Pine Cone Snack Bar in East Berkshire, Vermont until it was sold in 1976.
Catherine, along with her youngest son Terry, moved to Oregon in 1981, first to Eugene, Oregon and then Brookings, Oregon. She became a master at quilting and her children and grandchildren were all recipients of one of her gorgeous handmade bed quilts. She became involved with Meals on Wheels for years delivering meals to shut-ins. In 2003, she made yet another move to Redmond, Oregon where she lived for 10 years before it became necessary to live in an assisted living facility. She decided she wanted to be near the ocean and moved in Seaview Assisted Living in Brookings, Oregon.
Catherine married Fred Bontadelli in 1987 and that marriage lasted for eight wonderful years until Fred’s death in 1995. They traveled extensively with friends in their RV finding every fishing hole in Oregon.
Catherine leaves her five children, Parma Jewett (Duane) of Montgomery, Vermont, Sandra Lussier (Bobbi) of Vancouver, Washington, Brent Lussier (Cindy) of Enosburg Falls, Suzette Draheim of Brookings Oregon, and Terry Lussier (Debbie) of Redmond, Oregon; her grandchildren, Torrey, Jill, Jamie, Jesse, Cayla and Haley, and seven great-grandchildren. She also leaves her stepchildren, Anita Zukas (Tom) and Peter Bontadelli and their children Shelly, Mark, James, and John.
Catherine is predeceased by her husband Fred, the father of her children Bertrand Lussier, son-in-law Lonny Draheim, infant granddaughter Julie Lussier, brother Mason Dutton and sister Nancy Dutton Lilley Morse.
Although her life had diminished in the past few years, she had lived her life to the fullest. She “leaped” peacefully on leap year night just before midnight. She is very much loved and will be greatly missed.
