LYLE EDMUND PARAH, SR.

Lyle Edmund Parah, Sr., 73, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 25, 2010, at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born July 13, 1936, to Charles and Doris Parah in Fairfax. On Aug. 20, 1960, he married the former Donna Jean Coburn of Highgate Center. They would have celebrated 50 years of marriage this August.
Lyle served in the Vermont Army National Guard for many years.
Lyle was an avid hunter, fisherman, wine maker, bon fire expert and storyteller. He always had a smile on his face and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. One of Lyle’s greatest past times was camping at Mill Pond Campground in Franklin, owned by his daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Doug Capsey. He had several friends there and he enjoyed taking 1st place in their first annual Horseshoe Tournament in 2006. He also enjoyed playing Santa Claus in July and sharing his homemade wine with all his fellow campers there. They will all miss his laughter, practical jokes, stories and his generosity.
Lyle worked for many years at Champlain Container in Winooski, Fonda Container in St. Albans and retired from IBM in Essex Junction in 1997. After retirement, Lyle was a volunteer driver for GMTA, which he enjoyed immensely because he was helping those in need.
Lyle is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Donna Parah of Highgate Center; his daughter, Deborah Mulheron and her husband, Steven, of Highgate Center; his daughter, Laura Capsey and her husband, Doug, of Franklin; his daughter, Dianne Day and her husband, John, of Swanton; and his son, Lyle Parah, Jr. and his wife, Katie, of Highgate Center; his grandchildren: Heidi Danforth of Franklin, Melissa Danforth of Highgate Center, Kristofer Mulheron of Highgate Center, Alex Flanders of Burlington, Hailey Parah of Highgate Center, and his unborn granddaughter, Madison Lee Parah, due in October 2010. He is also survived by his brothers, Charles Parah and his wife, Margaret, of Port Henry, N.Y., Wayne Parah and his wife, Norma, of St. Albans, Maurice Parah and his wife, Judy, of Highgate Center, and Armand Parah and his wife, Linda, of Radford, Va.; his sisters, Betty Fickert and her husband, Don, of Glen Burnie, Md., and Nancy Green and her husband, Rick, of Alburgh. He is also survived by his many sisters-in-law and their families; and many nieces and nephews. Lyle is also survived by many, many close friends.
He was predeceased by his father, Charles, in 1957; and his mother, Doris, in 1987. He was also predeceased by his mother-in-law, Dora Coburn in 1983; and his father-in-law, Delmar “Red” Coburn in 1996.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 29, 2010, at St. Louis Catholic Church in Highgate Center at 11 a.m. with burial immediately following in St. Louis Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held today (Monday), June 28, 2010, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at The Kidder Memorial Home, 89 Grand Ave., Swanton (868-3331).
For those who wish, memorial contributions in Lyle’s memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Kimball Ave., Burlington, Vt. 05401; or to Missisquoi Valley Rescue, P.O. Box 22, Swanton, Vt. 05488.
To offer private online condolences please visit: www.kiddermemorialhome.com.