MONTPELIER-Lucille Ellen (Parker) McGibney, 80, died Saturday, May 23, 2026 at McClure-Miller Respite House in Colchester. She was born April 20,1946 at the former Barre Hospital in Barre, VT, the daughter of Leon and Nellie (Barclay) Parker.

She was a student at the fabled Four Corners School, a one room schoolhouse in E. Montpelier, located a very short distance from her childhood home, and went on to graduate from Montpelier High School in 1964 and then from The O’Brien School of Cosmetology in Montpelier. She became engaged to James V. Martin of East Calais in 1964. He died tragically that same year. She later met Thomas S. McGibney and the couple married on her birthday in 1967 in the Old Brick Church in E. Montpelier. The couple first lived in Montpelier and then moved to Manchester Center, VT in 1970 where her husband became resident manager of Brewster Funeral Service. They returned to Montpelier in 1987. In addition to maintaining a loving home for her family, she assisted her husband in the funeral business and kept busy as a skilled hairdresser. During her life she was employed at O’Brien’s Beauty Studio in Montpelier, Gloria’s Beauty Studio in Manchester Center, The Regis Corporation in Berlin and was the resident hairdresser for the O.M. Fisher Home in Montpelier for more than 30 years. Even in retirement a host of family and friends came through her door for hair treatment. Her years in Manchester Center were marked by attending the First Baptist Church where she was active in the church choir and served as a Sunday school teacher. She also enjoyed sharing the activities of the Manchester Lions Club and the auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Manchester where she was a life member. She was also a life member of the American Legion Auxiliary. Over the years she has enjoyed many days of fun and leisure at the family camps at Woodbury Lake in Woodbury.

She enthusiastically followed all sporting activities of her children and grandchildren and had been introduced to ice hockey this past season following a goalie granddaughter. She also followed the Kansas City Chiefs proudly displaying a Chiefs lawn sign to the chagrin of more than one delivery person. In recent years she has attended most home games of the Montpelier Mountaineers baseball.

Lucille is survived by her husband, a daughter, Shannon McGibney Howlett and her husband David, Barre Town and Bennington, a son Kendall T. McGibney and his wife, Melissa, Montpelier, one brother, William A. Parker of E. Montpelier, three granddaughters, Dr. Morgan I. Howlett, Portland, ME and Molly and Maggie McGibney of Montpelier, a sister-in-law, Phyllis G. McGibney, Safford Springs, CT, a brother-in-law and his wife, Steven and Yucha McGibney, Woodridge, VA, a special niece, Karen Parker of Montpelier, other nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also survived by Timothy Harper of Poynton, England, who lived with the family for two years while attending school in Manchester and still refers to her as his “American Mum”. She was predeceased by her mother and father, two brothers, Robert L. Parker and infant Frank Parker, four sisters-in-law, Beverly M. Gaboriault, Lorraine A. Parker, Cooleen G. Parker and Louise A. McGibney, two brothers-in-law, Frederick R. McGibney and Peter C. McGibney.

A funeral service will be conducted in the Guare and Sons Funeral Home, 30 School St in Montpelier on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 12 noon. The Reverend Theresa Beers Taylor, pastor of The First Baptist Church in Manchester Center will officiate. There will be calling hours held for two hours prior to the funeral service. Burial will be private.

The First Baptist Church in Manchester Center is a historic, quaint and struggling church in the heart of town that is in need of foundation and roof repairs. Accordingly, we suggest any memorial contributions be made to the Renovation Fund of the church at P.O. Box 1049, Manchester Center, VT 05255

Arrangements are in the care of Guare & Sons Funeral Home, 30 School Street in Montpelier.

Those wishing to express online condolences may do so at: www.guareandsons.com