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Obituary: Michael Edward Hebert

Michael Edward Hebert of Jericho, VT and Venice, FL died at 7:30 Sunday evening, August 18, 2013, in Fletcher Allen Health Care following a succession of illnesses.  He was 69.

Mike was born in Hartford, CT on September 9, 1943 to Wilfred Emil and Felicia Hebert, the first of their five children.  He grew up in Newington, CT and was an avid hunter and fisherman as a youth.  He also started his work career, sharing a paper route with his brother Bill.  He worked for a landscaping business and a dress factory, maintaining sewing machines, and then started full time employment at Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks, CT.  He worked there from December, 1961 until February, 1969, inclusive of four years of naval service.

Mike graduated from A.I.Prince Technical School in Hartford.  After service in the U.S. Navy (September, 1962 through August, 1966), he attended Ward Technical Institute in Hartford where he had been awarded a full tuition scholarship.  He graduated in January, 1969, earning an associates degree in Industrial Electronic Technology.

He was hired as a Senior Equipment Technician at IBM in Essex Junction, VT and moved to Vermont with his first wife, Margaret, and their two young children.  He worked at IBM for eight years before leaving to seek other challenges and growing out his hair.



In the twenty plus years prior to his retirement in 2004, he was partner/owner of Harbor Vintage Motor Company.  He applied his hunting skills to procuring parts for use in the restoration of antique American motorcycles in the shop and for sale to antique bike enthusiasts.  He was an early, unsung American Picker.  He restored several bikes for his own use, including his 1949 Harley with side car.  He was a member of the Antique Motorcycle Association.  He had a personal collection of motorcycle literature which he considered his retirement fund.





Mike married the love of his life, Olga (Hodgetts) on June 29, 1994.  They shared many travel adventures with a month in New Zealand, a week long raft trip through the Grand Canyon, and winter vacations in Abaco, the Bahamas among them.  For the past eight years,  Mike and Olga spent winters in Venice Florida, where they purchased a home in 2011.  Mike was a well-known collector of sharks' teeth on Caspersen Beach in Venice.  He was also a prolific reader of nonfiction with a particular interest in history.





Mike was predeceased by his parents Wilfred E. Hebert, Sr. and Felicia (D'Angelo) Hebert; also his brother Harvey Hebert; his brother Wilfred E. Hebert, Jr. (Bill); his sister-in-law and Bill's wife,  Elizabeth Hebert.

He leaves his wife Olga Hebert of Jericho and Venice.  He also leaves his daughter Renee Myers and her husband Charles of North Augusta, SC; his son Ken and his wife Maureen of Watsonville, CA; and his grandchildren: Elizabeth, Johnathan, Will, and Jackson Myers, Gianna and Angela Hebert.

Mike is also survived by his sister Jeannie Leonard and her husband Shawn of Simsbury, CT; his brother Tom and his wife Jean of Manchester, CT; nephews Greg Hebert and Kieran Leonard; nieces Emily Hebert, Margot Hebert, and Melissa Hebert.

It caused him great sadness to be predeceased by his hound dogs Charlie and Old Pete and his cranky cat Jaxson.  They reserve a special place for him in animal heaven.

He leaves Olga's siblings and their children, Olga's son Kevin and daughter Amy, and her two grand children Kristen and Dane, all of whom loved him as family; numerous cousins; a host of special friends; and grateful customers worldwide.  His wealth and depth of knowledge will be greatly missed in so many circles.

A celebration of Mike's life will be held at the convenience of the family later in September.  He died as he lived, on his own terms.

     "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."  Ralph Waldo Emerson


Comments

  1. Olga, this is a wonderful tribute to Mike. That is such a lovely photo of you and Mike, and your happiness just leaps from the picture. This is just heart breaking. I am so sorry for your loss. Please accept my deepest condolences and may God bless you in this very dark time.

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  2. What a wonderful tribute! It sounds like you had a wonderful life together! I'm glad you have beautiful memories to carry you this difficult time!

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  3. Just a lovely account Olga of the unique man Mike was and the full life you two have had. You can take comfort in knowing you and Mike did it your way-- not afraid to take the bold move. I know your heart is hurting, mine is hurting for you.

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  4. My heart breaks for you, Olga. He was much too young to leave you. You've written a beautiful, loving post for Mike. He lived a full and interesting life. I hope all the wonderful memories will sustain and comfort you in the difficult days of healing. You were beautiful together.

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  5. Such a beautiful tribute... I'm so sorry that you need to experience this pain. You continue to be in my prayers.

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    1. I am so sorry to hear of Mike's passing. What a wonderful obituary for him. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

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  6. Dear Olga, I was thinking of you and Mike as I exercised this morning, and decided I'd check in with you. Now this! I'm in shock. I knew he was having difficulty, but I never thought of death. I hope you are surrounded by the love and caring of family and friends. Sending you a big hug from CO. What a wonderful obituary - Mike did himself (and his family) proud.

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  7. Lovely tribute. Sounds like Mike had an interesting and varied life and lots of people who loved him.

    Thinking of you.

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  8. What a lovely tribute to Mike. In your words I feel as though I've come to know him.

    I hope you find comfort in the love you shared and the memories you created together.

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  9. Thank you for sharing this tribute. I am grateful to have learned more about Mike and especially your life together.

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  10. Well done, Olga. I can only imagine the sweet sorrow you must have experienced while writing this, and in dealing with the memories it evoked.
    Mike was way too young, and your lovely life together should have had more chapters. As you said, this was not in the plan. But plans change. It's a message to all of us to make the most of each day we have.
    I hope you have people around you to help with the pain of loss. I think of you daily with concern and caring.

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  11. You and your husband shared many wonderful times together. He will live on in your memories. This is a very beautiful tribute to him, and I am sure he is smiling in heaven. God bless!

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  12. So sorry to hear. My hopes and prayers po out to you and yours.

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  13. Such a great obituary. My husband and I would have loved you both.

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  14. He does sound like a wonderful man -- I am sorry you didn't have him longer. Sure wish I could say the right words to make the hurt go away.

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  15. What a wonderful tribute to a beautiful person. My thoughts are with you and your entire family during this difficult time. God bless.

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  16. Dear Olga, You have written such a beautiful tribute for Mike. He was such an interesting man. I can't imagine how your heart must be breaking. I'm so glad he found you, 'the love of his life,' and that the two of you had so many wonderful adventures together. You remain in my thoughts and in my prayers.

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  17. I just heard, Olga, and I'm so very sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

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  18. I am very sorry for your loss. The picture of the two of you clearly shows your love for each other.

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  19. You're still so often in my thoughts, Olga. I'm sure each day brings heartache, but I hope there are some smiles, too, remembering the good times you had with Mike.

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  20. Dearest Olga!
    This was definitely a lovely tribute to a partner that left you so suddenly and unexpectedly. My heart goes out to you. I pray the in the coming months you will find support from all those who love you , especially the kids and grandkids.
    I love the photos you chose for his tribute and all his accomplishments. It amazes me what each individual is able to find as an occupation and hobby. He sre had his uniqurness in that.
    I hope you will be continuing to stay in touch with us in time. You have much to share with us and we do care about you. So keep us in your thoughts as you try to move on into new and unfamiliar ways.

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  21. Dear Olga- my prayers as well as the prayers of your many friends online continue to be with you everyday.

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  22. Oh Olga, how could this have possibly happened? I am so sorry and am holding you close to my heart, albeit a bit late. I do have to say that they obituary you posted about your Mike was so beautifully written I will always remember it. My favorite sentence was "He worked at IBM for eight years before leaving to seek other challenges and growing out his hair." That, along with the photo, made me laugh through my tears. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.

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  23. Oh Sweetie. I am so sorry to hear of this. I know your world has been turned upside down. Remember the sweet music of your lives together. I will be thinking of you and your family.

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  24. I am so sorry to hear of your loss and the loss of so many friends and family members. This was a perfect obituary. It made me smile and tear up, too. Mike must have been a lovely man.

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  25. I read the obituary again and mentioned your name in my post today, Olga.

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  26. Oh Olga, I read Mikes obit, with tears in my eyes. I wish I were there to give your a great big hug. Please know you are in my thought, as you go through this difficult time in your life. May your cherished memories of Mike sustain you. Hugs to you my blogger friend!

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  27. Been reading all your posts since Mike's illness. I am so sorry I only caught up with you today, having missed the last three weeks. Everyone has said everything. It's never part of the plan. May your great memories forever comfort you. Keep blogging.

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  28. Dear Olga, please forgive me for taking so long to stop by and comment. I am so sorry for your loss! Honestly what does one say at a time like this, I wish you hope, and love, and mostly peace.

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