WATCH HILL, R.I. - Charlotte Elizabeth (Sherman) Bora, a native Vermonter, 14-year resident of Rhode Island and matriarch of five generations, passed away peacefully Oct. 11, 2013, in Watch Hill, R.I., at the age of 96.
Born on June 21, 1917, in Sheldon, Vt., Charlotte grew up in Bakersfield, the daughter of Harold J. and Julia Ayers (Barlow) Sherman.
She was a proud graduate of Brigham Academy in Bakersfield, Class of 1935.
After graduation, Charlotte moved to Burlington where she worked as a housekeeper for several prominent Queen City families.
It was during this time that she met Leon Joseph Bora, a chauffeur, whom she later married in December 1943.
Together they ran a successful marina on a 200-acre farm on Lake Champlain, where they raised their three children in a lakeside New England farmhouse.
Known as Bay Haven, and later as Leon Bora Marine, the business was a vibrant marina, store and snack bar at the end of Sand Bar Bridge in South Hero.
Charlotte, with her signature apron, was a fixture in the snack bar, where Island regulars came for their morning coffee, a Burlington Free Press, and her tasty cheeseburgers and fries for lunch.
At the bustling marina, the Bora's sold Johnson motors, and Lyman and Boston Whaler boats. The Bora's ran the business until 1968, when they sold it and moved across the cove, known by her grandchildren as "Gram's Lake," to Mott Lane.
During this time, Charlotte was allegedly retired. Never satisfied to sit idle, she got hired as the orchard boss at Allenholm Farm.
Always a lover of Vermont crafts, Charlotte then took a job at a local gift shop, and volunteered at Granny's Attic.
Throughout her life, she was an accomplished cook who enjoyed preparing and hosting festive holiday celebrations, especially Christmas.
After these meals, she would retire to her chair, spending many hours sewing, knitting, crocheting and embroidering gifts for her family. She derived much joy from tending her flower and vegetable gardens, and feeding and watching the Vermont birds.
After Charlotte's husband died in June 1986, her fierce independent streak led her to get her driver's license at age 70.
Content to motor mostly around South Hero, Charlotte drove to senior luncheons, Mass at St. Rose of Lima, and to get her beloved cat to the vet.
A lifelong and devoted Catholic, Charlotte was a member of the St. Rose of Lima Parish and sang in the choir.
She served as the president of the South Hero PTA. She was a member of the Happy Islanders Homemakers Group and Home Dem.
In later years, she attended Mass at Immaculate Conception in Westerly, R.I., and made many dear friends through the Insight Support Group, which serves blind and visually impaired people, at the Westerly Senior Center.
Besides her husband, she was predeceased by brother, Walter Sherman; daughter Nancy's partner, John Adams; and granddaughter-in-law, Bobbi Donlan.
Arrangements by the Minor Funeral and Cremation Center in Milton.
Interment in Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington.
Born on June 21, 1917, in Sheldon, Vt., Charlotte grew up in Bakersfield, the daughter of Harold J. and Julia Ayers (Barlow) Sherman.
She was a proud graduate of Brigham Academy in Bakersfield, Class of 1935.
After graduation, Charlotte moved to Burlington where she worked as a housekeeper for several prominent Queen City families.
It was during this time that she met Leon Joseph Bora, a chauffeur, whom she later married in December 1943.
Together they ran a successful marina on a 200-acre farm on Lake Champlain, where they raised their three children in a lakeside New England farmhouse.
Known as Bay Haven, and later as Leon Bora Marine, the business was a vibrant marina, store and snack bar at the end of Sand Bar Bridge in South Hero.
Charlotte, with her signature apron, was a fixture in the snack bar, where Island regulars came for their morning coffee, a Burlington Free Press, and her tasty cheeseburgers and fries for lunch.
At the bustling marina, the Bora's sold Johnson motors, and Lyman and Boston Whaler boats. The Bora's ran the business until 1968, when they sold it and moved across the cove, known by her grandchildren as "Gram's Lake," to Mott Lane.
During this time, Charlotte was allegedly retired. Never satisfied to sit idle, she got hired as the orchard boss at Allenholm Farm.
Always a lover of Vermont crafts, Charlotte then took a job at a local gift shop, and volunteered at Granny's Attic.
Throughout her life, she was an accomplished cook who enjoyed preparing and hosting festive holiday celebrations, especially Christmas.
After these meals, she would retire to her chair, spending many hours sewing, knitting, crocheting and embroidering gifts for her family. She derived much joy from tending her flower and vegetable gardens, and feeding and watching the Vermont birds.
After Charlotte's husband died in June 1986, her fierce independent streak led her to get her driver's license at age 70.
Content to motor mostly around South Hero, Charlotte drove to senior luncheons, Mass at St. Rose of Lima, and to get her beloved cat to the vet.
A lifelong and devoted Catholic, Charlotte was a member of the St. Rose of Lima Parish and sang in the choir.
She served as the president of the South Hero PTA. She was a member of the Happy Islanders Homemakers Group and Home Dem.
In later years, she attended Mass at Immaculate Conception in Westerly, R.I., and made many dear friends through the Insight Support Group, which serves blind and visually impaired people, at the Westerly Senior Center.
Besides her husband, she was predeceased by brother, Walter Sherman; daughter Nancy's partner, John Adams; and granddaughter-in-law, Bobbi Donlan.
Arrangements by the Minor Funeral and Cremation Center in Milton.
Interment in Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington.
WATCH HILL, R.I. - Charlotte Elizabeth (Sherman) Bora, a native Vermonter, 14-year resident of Rhode Island and matriarch of five generations, passed away peacefully Oct. 11, 2013, in Watch Hill, R.I., at the age of 96.
Born on June 21, 1917, in Sheldon, Vt., Charlotte grew up in Bakersfield, the daughter of Harold J. and Julia Ayers (Barlow) Sherman.
She was a proud graduate of Brigham Academy in Bakersfield, Class of 1935.
After graduation, Charlotte moved to Burlington where she worked as a housekeeper for several prominent Queen City families.
It was during this time that she met Leon Joseph Bora, a chauffeur, whom she later married in December 1943.
Together they ran a successful marina on a 200-acre farm on Lake Champlain, where they raised their three children in a lakeside New England farmhouse.
Known as Bay Haven, and later as Leon Bora Marine, the business was a vibrant marina, store and snack bar at the end of Sand Bar Bridge in South Hero.
Charlotte, with her signature apron, was a fixture in the snack bar, where Island regulars came for their morning coffee, a Burlington Free Press, and her tasty cheeseburgers and fries for lunch.
At the bustling marina, the Bora's sold Johnson motors, and Lyman and Boston Whaler boats. The Bora's ran the business until 1968, when they sold it and moved across the cove, known by her grandchildren as "Gram's Lake," to Mott Lane.
During this time, Charlotte was allegedly retired. Never satisfied to sit idle, she got hired as the orchard boss at Allenholm Farm.
Always a lover of Vermont crafts, Charlotte then took a job at a local gift shop, and volunteered at Granny's Attic.
Throughout her life, she was an accomplished cook who enjoyed preparing and hosting festive holiday celebrations, especially Christmas.
After these meals, she would retire to her chair, spending many hours sewing, knitting, crocheting and embroidering gifts for her family. She derived much joy from tending her flower and vegetable gardens, and feeding and watching the Vermont birds.
After Charlotte's husband died in June 1986, her fierce independent streak led her to get her driver's license at age 70.
Content to motor mostly around South Hero, Charlotte drove to senior luncheons, Mass at St. Rose of Lima, and to get her beloved cat to the vet.
A lifelong and devoted Catholic, Charlotte was a member of the St. Rose of Lima Parish and sang in the choir.
She served as the president of the South Hero PTA. She was a member of the Happy Islanders Homemakers Group and Home Dem.
In later years, she attended Mass at Immaculate Conception in Westerly, R.I., and made many dear friends through the Insight Support Group, which serves blind and visually impaired people, at the Westerly Senior Center.
Besides her husband, she was predeceased by brother, Walter Sherman; daughter Nancy's partner, John Adams; and granddaughter-in-law, Bobbi Donlan.
Arrangements by the Minor Funeral and Cremation Center in Milton.
Interment in Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington.
Born on June 21, 1917, in Sheldon, Vt., Charlotte grew up in Bakersfield, the daughter of Harold J. and Julia Ayers (Barlow) Sherman.
She was a proud graduate of Brigham Academy in Bakersfield, Class of 1935.
After graduation, Charlotte moved to Burlington where she worked as a housekeeper for several prominent Queen City families.
It was during this time that she met Leon Joseph Bora, a chauffeur, whom she later married in December 1943.
Together they ran a successful marina on a 200-acre farm on Lake Champlain, where they raised their three children in a lakeside New England farmhouse.
Known as Bay Haven, and later as Leon Bora Marine, the business was a vibrant marina, store and snack bar at the end of Sand Bar Bridge in South Hero.
Charlotte, with her signature apron, was a fixture in the snack bar, where Island regulars came for their morning coffee, a Burlington Free Press, and her tasty cheeseburgers and fries for lunch.
At the bustling marina, the Bora's sold Johnson motors, and Lyman and Boston Whaler boats. The Bora's ran the business until 1968, when they sold it and moved across the cove, known by her grandchildren as "Gram's Lake," to Mott Lane.
During this time, Charlotte was allegedly retired. Never satisfied to sit idle, she got hired as the orchard boss at Allenholm Farm.
Always a lover of Vermont crafts, Charlotte then took a job at a local gift shop, and volunteered at Granny's Attic.
Throughout her life, she was an accomplished cook who enjoyed preparing and hosting festive holiday celebrations, especially Christmas.
After these meals, she would retire to her chair, spending many hours sewing, knitting, crocheting and embroidering gifts for her family. She derived much joy from tending her flower and vegetable gardens, and feeding and watching the Vermont birds.
After Charlotte's husband died in June 1986, her fierce independent streak led her to get her driver's license at age 70.
Content to motor mostly around South Hero, Charlotte drove to senior luncheons, Mass at St. Rose of Lima, and to get her beloved cat to the vet.
A lifelong and devoted Catholic, Charlotte was a member of the St. Rose of Lima Parish and sang in the choir.
She served as the president of the South Hero PTA. She was a member of the Happy Islanders Homemakers Group and Home Dem.
In later years, she attended Mass at Immaculate Conception in Westerly, R.I., and made many dear friends through the Insight Support Group, which serves blind and visually impaired people, at the Westerly Senior Center.
Besides her husband, she was predeceased by brother, Walter Sherman; daughter Nancy's partner, John Adams; and granddaughter-in-law, Bobbi Donlan.
Arrangements by the Minor Funeral and Cremation Center in Milton.
Interment in Resurrection Park Cemetery in South Burlington.
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