Kathryn Cutler

Kathryn (Pollack) Cutler residing in Candler, died on August 14, 2010 at Memorial Campus, Mission Hospitals, after a short illness. She was born in Los Angeles, CA, on January 28, 1927, the daughter of Abraham and Marion (Etta Belle Land) Pollack. She grew up in Phoenix, AZ, and graduated from high school there. She attended the University of Kentucky and graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Indiana University. After graduation from college, she was employed at the Newington Children's Hospital, Newington, CT. She enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1949 and became a commissioned officer in the Army Signal Corps in 1950. During her military career, she served in France at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. She was married to James Mackin Cutler at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, on April 12, 1956. She left her career in the active army after marrying, and they settled in Essex Junction, VT, where she was a homemaker who, in addition to bringing up her seven children, was a foster mother to children under the care of the Vermont Department of Social Services. Her homemaking talents included, among many others, making pickles and annually canning dozens of quarts of fresh-picked tomatoes, as well as picking and preserving apples, blueberries and other fresh produce. Her jam and jelly making skills were, at one point, used to co-found a successful, but short-lived jam and jelly making business. Kathryn was an accomplished quilter and many benefited from her quilting skills. In addition to being an accomplished homemaker and cook, Kathryn's greatest skills lay in her ability to bring joy and peace to the household through every phase of her children's childhood. Her calming voice and demeanor could diffuse any crisis. The sparkle of her eyes and her contagious laughter made each and every opportunity to visit or speak with her a joy to all those who were fortunate enough to know her. She loved to sing and shared this love with her many children and grandchildren during each evening's bedtime ritual. She strived each and every day of her life to treat others with respect and compassion and was never one to turn anyone away from her home during their time of need. Her welcoming personality made her home a favorite stop for many of her children's friends and it was not uncommon for those friends to pause and converse with her at great length during each visit as she was a great communicator with all ages. She is survived by her husband James of Asheville; her children, James R. (Kathleen) Cutler of Steubenville, OH, Thomas M. (Carin) Cutler of Santa Rosa, CA, Carol (Cutler) White (Chris) of Cary, NC, John J. (Silvia) Cutler of Girona, Spain, David A. (Karen) Cutler of Apex, NC, Peter M. (Jackie) Cutler of Candler, NC, Timothy E. (Cindy) Cutler of South Burlington, VT; a foster daughter, Tracy Forant Cutler of South Burlington, VT; and 16 grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Robert Pollack of Glendale, AZ; her sister, Patricia Kelly of Dimondale, MI; and her sister-in-law, Katherine Pollack of Elk Grove Village, IL. She was predeceased by her parents; her brother, David Pollack; and a sister, Shirley Pollack who died young. Visiting hours were held on August 17, at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 17, at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, in Essex Jct. Burial will follow at the Vermont Veterans Cemetery in Randolph, VT. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Kathryn's beloved charity Meals on Wheels, 3 Cathedral Square #106, Burlington, VT, 05401, or in Asheville at 146 Victoria Rd., Asheville, NC 28801, or to the Vermont Foodbank, attn: Annual Fund Manager, P.O. Box 254, South Barre, VT 05670.