Lou Ann Reed
Lou Ann Reed, age 81, passed away July 29, 2024, at her Sheldon home with her loving family by her side.
Lou Ann was born in St. Albans, VT on June 25, 1943, the daughter of Gaston and Theresa (Gratton) Garceau. After high school, she married the love of her life, Roger, and they made their home in the town of Sheldon where her children and most of her grandchildren reside today. Lou Ann and Roger were married for over 58 years when he passed in 2022. During their marriage, they purchased two sugar bushes in Sheldon which they harvested together for many years. Today their sons and grandchildren proudly continue these sugaring operations with all the knowledge they gained from their parents.
Lou Ann worked at Wyeth in Georgia, retiring after 10 years. Anyone who stopped in to visit Lou Ann was always welcome with a huge smile and open arms. She would rarely miss a Bingo night with her friends and family, often having many cards to keep track of. She was definitely a pro. She also loved her trips to the casino and was known as lucky Lou Ann as she usually seemed to come home with more than she went with.
Always the caretaker, Lou Ann was often found caring for her grandchildren who each had a special relationship with her and loved their time spent together. She taught them each to be excellent card players although rarely let them win as she carefully kept score on a notepad. Many of these scorecards are cherished by her grandkids and kept in their wallets. There wasn’t a card game that passed that wasn’t filled with laughter, jokes, and maybe some cuss words. She always made sure you were fed but prefaced her servings with “No Guarantees!” even though every dish she made was delicious. Her recipe collection rivaled most as she saved notecards, handwritten recipes from family, and cut out magazine articles and she could always find just which one she needed. Her holiday meals were filled with recipes she perfected over the years, and everyone always looked forward to indulging in her feasts.
Her children all inherited her sharp wit and stubbornness but above all her love for family. She was a devout Catholic never wavering in her faith. She loved camping at the family lot on Fairfield Pond, quilting, card games with family, trips to Florida with her daughter Tammy, visiting her sons at their sugar houses while boiling, summertime visits from extended family in CT, the Bovats and her trips to tractor shows in NY or out west to Wyoming with Roger to visit the Whalens.
Lou Ann is survived by her brothers Roland Garceau and Greg Garceau (wife Julie), sister-in-law Sally Blair of CT, sister-in-law Doris Reed, sister-in-law Hazel Reed; her children Mark Reed (wife Gail), Tammy Torrey (husband James) and Randy Reed (wife JoLea), honorary son Jamie Temple; her grandchildren Aaron Reed, Holly Branon (husband Matt), Lacie Reed, Torrey Reed (wife Evelyn), Todd Reed, Jarrett Reed, and step-grandson Tyler Sheridan (wife Kelsey), great-grandchildren Gavin & Emery Reed, Lila & Tucker Reed, and Reed & Cade Branon, many nieces and nephews, and her extended family in CT, the Bovat’s.
In addition to her parents and in-laws, Lou Ann was predeceased by her husband Roger, brother-in-law David Reed, brother-in-law Gaylord “Pete” Reed, her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Joyce & Lyndon Corey, brother-in-law Merle Blair, brother and sister-in-law Henry & Marlene Garceau, brother and sister-in-law Rene & Betty Garceau, sister and brother-in-law Pauline & Ralph Austin, and sister-in-law Judy Garceau.
There will be no calling hours.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at 11 am at the Immaculate Conception Parish, Holy Angels Church, 245 Lake Street, St. Albans, with prayers of committal and interment following in Sheldon Village Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in Lou Ann’s memory can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, or online at donate.lovetotherescue.org.
The family would like to thank the many wonderful nurses who helped Lou Ann during her months of illness, especially Heather Hughes who went above and beyond to care for her. And finally, although he wasn’t technically a nurse her brother, Roland “Buggy” was also there without hesitation everyday which we know brought her a great sense of calm and comfort.
Assisting the family of Lou Ann is Rett Heald of the Heald Funeral Home, where messages of condolence are welcome at www.healdfuneralhome.com
