Rachel Joan Pinard

Ludlow-Rachel Joan Petraglia Pinard passed away on December 16, 2013 at the age of ninety-four in her home in Ludlow, VT.

She was the daughter of Leopoldo and Angelina Petraglia of Ludlow.

Rachel graduated from Black River Academy in Ludlow in 1937 and attended Rutland Business College.

Following school, she worked tirelessly until she retired at age seventy-one. During her working wears, she held office positions at Howe Scale in Rutland, VT, Kenwood Mills in Cavendish, VT, Parks and Woolson Machine Company in Springfield, VT, and the for sixteen years at Bryant Grinder Corp. in Springfield, VT. Her last job was for the US Postal Service where she worked for nineteen years as a post clerk and officer in charge of the post office is both Plymouth Union, VT and Ascutney, VT.

Most recently she could be seen riding next to Bernie in his convertible. With her big sunglasses and fancy hat, she looked like a movie star. Rachel loved to knit and sew and made many sweaters and children’s attire for her family. She enjoyed collecting and refinishing antique furniture and going to auctions. Rachel was also a former member of the Ludlow Grange. She loved to cook and loved watching the Food and Cooking Channel intensely.

She was especially close to her sister, Ida, and they went everywhere together including Saturday shopping trips to Rutland and Claremont.

Rachel’s son, Bernie, took on the responsibility of caring for his mother on a twenty-four hour basis for the last several years of her illness.

In her application for employment for the US Postal Service, Rachel wrote, “My strongest asset is determination and belief that no task is impossible”.

She is survived by her son, Bernie William Pinard of Woodstock, VT; two grandchildren: Courtney Pinard of Rockville, MD and Brigette Pinard Cook of Fletcher, NC; two great-grandsons: Tyler Alexander Cook and Spencer William Cook of Fletcher, NC. She is also survived by Nieces Andrea Lehtonen of Greenvill, NH, Lynne Leonard of North Springfield, VT, Mary Maher of Hyannis, MA, Barbara MacDonald of Spartonburg, SC, Gail Weiss of Summerville, SC and nephews Loran Greenslet of Ludlow, VT and Vaughn Petraglia of Manchester, NH and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her older brother, Andrew Petraglia of North Springfield, VT and her older sisters Carmella Petraglia Greenslet and Ida Petraglia Lehtonen, both of Ludlow, VT and Fortura Petraglia Danien of Hyannis, MA, formerly of Windsor, VT. She was also predeceased by her former husband, Robert William Pinard.

Services will be on Friday, December 20th, 2013 at the Church of the Annunciation in Ludlow at 11:00 a.m. Friends may call on the family one hour before the Mass at the church.

Adams Funeral Homes & Cremation Service has been entrusted with the arrang