Charles E. (Charlie) Fredette, 60, of White River Junction, VT died Monday, August 13, 2012 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, NH, with his wife, Pam, by his side, following a prolonged illness.
Charlie was born in Nashua, NH on February 10, 1952 to James and Hilda (Green) Fredette. Charlie had two older brothers, Thomas and James, and one younger brother, Ronald. James and Hilda also had a son who was stillborn, named David. Charlie grew up in Brandon, VT, where he attended Brandon Elementary School, and spent his rough-and-tumble boyhood fishing, exploring and getting into mischief. As a teenager, Charlie attended Otter Valley Union High School, in Brandon VT, and loved to "drive fast and take chances" (as he was known to say). After high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and spent a tour and a half of duty in Vietnam during the war, where he received two Purple Hearts. Upon his return to the United States, he attended Castleton State College, and became a Special Officer for the town of Brandon' s police force. During that time, he met and fell in love with Francine Paula Jodoin, whom he married in 1973. The couple had two daughters, Carlie Michelle and Carin Lynne, and resided in the Brandon area until 1977, when Paula died after a brief illness.
During his adulthood, Charlie worked primarily as a salesman, a field in which he was successful because of his personability, charm, and incredible sense of humor. He also drove a truck cross-country for a number of years, and owned several different small businesses. In the 1980s, Charlie met and married Constance Baker Kish (Jones), and became step-father to her son, Jason Nicholas. Charlie and Connie had a beloved son, Charles Robert, in 1984. The family lived in Forest Dale until the early 1990s, when Charlie and Connie parted ways. After the separation, Charlie eventually moved to White River Junction, where he met his soul mate Pamela Libbey. They were married on September 19, 2007.
Charlie enjoyed working with computers, deer hunting, watching car races and going fishing. He also loved to spend time with his family and his buddies, some of whom he had known since childhood. He especially treasured his friendships with Chuck Mulcahy, Peter and Ronnie Preseau, Steve Lancour and his Alabama friends- Mickey, Dave and Sonny. He was an extremely intelligent and well-read man, and was looked upon as a resource for information on just about any subject by his family. He was known to use his intelligence and his quick wit to his advantage on many occasions, and this trait made for a lot of interesting and highly-entertaining stories, which he readily shared with family and friends. He was not above doling out some good-natured ribbing when the opportunity arose, and delighted in doing so.
In recent years, Charlie was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2571, and the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 3, both located in White River Junction, VT. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 22 out of Lebanon, NH, and was a former member of the American Legion Post 55 in Brandon, VT. He enjoyed spending time with his friends there and the camaraderie they shared.
Charlie is survived by his loving wife, Pamela Libbey, of White River Junction, his daughter Carlie Felion and her husband Kevin, of Peru VT, and grandchildren Hunter, Ethan and Lauren; his daughter, Carin Fredette and her significant other, Thomas Clements of South Starksboro, VT and grandchildren Fisher, Finn and Baxter; a son, Charles Fredette, of Phoenix, AZ and his significant other, Heather Clifford; his step-daughter, Raquel Bertha and her husband Thomas of Chester, VA, and grandchildren Demetrus, Tyana, Sanaa and Nathaniel; his brother, Ronald Fredette of Pownal, VT; his brothers-in-law Donald Libbey of White River Junction and Bill Romano of South Stratford, VT; his sisters-in-law Laura Fredette of Pownal, VT, Patricia Fredette of Brandon, VT and Deborah Brown of White River Junction, VT . Charlie also had several nieces, nephews and great-neices and nephews whom he loved a great deal.
Charlie was predeceased by his father, James Fredette, his beloved mother, Hilda H. Green Fredette Brink, his brothers Thomas Fredette and James Fredette, and his mother-in-law, Verlie Romano Burns.
Family and friends are invited to gather for a visitation on Saturday, August 18, 2012 from 9:00-10:00 AM at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction, VT with a Memorial Service held immediately after the visitation. A burial ceremony will be held later that day at the Pine Hill Cemetery in Brandon, VT at 2:00 PM .
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In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 3, PO BOX 663, White River Junction, VT, 05001.