Quechee, VT- Alethea "Lee" Fernandes, 76, passed away Thursday February 23 at Hanover Terrace Healthcare in Hanover, NH.

She was born January 4, 1936 in Hanover, NH, the daughter of Seth and Ida "Olmstead" Thomas. Alethea grew up in Quechee and graduated from Hartford High School, Class of '54. She was employed by J.J. Newberry's, The Leather Factory in Woodstock, Hartford Woolen Mill, Have A Pepper, and Profile "CB" Sports. She was also a homemaker and mother to her four children.

Alethea enjoyed knitting and her several family dogs Molly, Mahria, Dodge, Gus, Simone, Wyatt, Kasper, Timone, Blackie, Bogie, along with two cats Mercedes and Missy. She especially enjoyed spending time with her family and friends participating in activities as a member of the Red Hat Society at Hanover Terrace.

She was predeceased by her parents and two sisters, Lillian Manley and Doris Bellimer.

Alethea is survived by two daughters, Shawn Barbour and husband Richie of Hartland, VT, and Shelley Fernandes and her husband Dana Marcotte, of Quechee, VT; two sons Thomas Fernandes and wife JoAnne of Windsor, VT, and Timothy Fernandes and wife Carla of Canaan, NH; a sister, Merylene Morse Simonds; five grandchildren, Amanda and her husband Dan, Seth and his wife Heather, Ashley and her husband Erik, Corey and Sean; two great grandchildren, Isabelle and Massey; and several nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held Wednesday February 29, from 6-8 PM at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct., VT. Burial will be in the Hilltop Cemetery in Quechee, VT in the Spring.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association-VT Chapter, 300 Cornerstone Dr., Suite 128, Williston, VT 05495.