East Thetford, VT – Elizabeth Mary Severance passed away at age 75 at Hanover Terrace Healthcare in Hanover, NH on Wednesday evening, April 29, 2015 after a brief struggle with cancer.

Elizabeth was born to Clifford and Mary (Gingras) Jarvis on December 28, 1939 in Montpelier, Vermont. She was the eldest daughter among five siblings. She graduated from St. Michael's High School in Montpelier in 1957 and received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Trinity College in Burlington, Vermont in 1961. Thereafter, she taught business courses at South Royalton High School for several years. Then, she joined the Business Department at Hartford High School in White River Junction, Vermont and taught business education courses. In later years, she taught similar courses at the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center and retired from there in July of 2002.

On July 31, 1971 "Liz", as she was locally known, married fellow educator Cyrus William Severance in Barre, Vermont and they established their residence in East Thetford, Vermont. They had no children.

Beyond teaching, Liz's greatest enjoyment was flower and vegetable gardening in the company of her husband. Many of the fruits of her endeavors were either home-preserved or donated to local food shelves. With the quiet companionship of her husband, they both enjoyed reading fictional novels during evening hours in the cooler seasons. For several years and until her recent illness, Liz served as Treasurer for the Thetford Historical Society.

Elizabeth's survivors include her husband "Cy" as he is known to local residents ("Bill" to both sides of their families and earlier friends) of 44 years; her sisters Celia Wilkin and Jane Mitchell and her husband George all of Barre, Vermont; sisters-in-law Dolores Flack and her husband Robert of Green Valley, Arizona, Cheryl Foster and her husband Richard of Cavendish, Vermont and Lillian Jarvis of Montpelier, Vermont. Also surviving are her brother-in-of law Karl H. Severance of Sutton, Alaska and many nieces, nephews and grand-nieces/nephews.

Elizabeth was predeceased by both of her parents and by her two brothers Paul Jarvis and Thomas Jarvis.

A gathering of friends and family will be held Tuesday afternoon, May 5th from 1-2PM at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct., VT. A memorial service will follow at 2PM at the funeral home with Grace Dickerson officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery off US Route 5 in North Thetford, VT.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Upper Valley Haven, 745 Hartford Avenue, White River Jct., VT 05001 or to the Thetford Food Shelf, P.O. Box 126, Thetford Center, VT 05075 or to any other charity.

Condolences may be expressed to Liz's family in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.