1926
Louise
2021
Louise Harris Gauthier (Harris)
March 21, 1926 — March 28, 2021
Born March 21, 1926 to Smith T. and Exelia (Boutin) Harris, Louise was a lifelong resident of Shaftsbury. After graduating from North Bennington High School in 1943, she obtained a degree from St Joseph's Business School and was employed at Union Carbide for 22 years. She married the late Paul Gauthier of Bennington in 1966 and soon after left office work to devote her life to church, family and her calling and passion in life, music.
A natural talent, she excelled at piano and after teaching herself pipe organ at 15, she became organist and choir director at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. She continued in that music ministry until retirement in 2013. Remembered for the thousands of weddings, funeral services and masses to which she gave her personal touch, she was a versatile musician in high demand for local community events as well.
She enjoyed sharing her gift, performing classical as well as popular, jazz and ragtime music.
She worked in small combos, orchestras, and accompanied soloists in concert. Louise could transpose the key of well-known songs on the fly, adapting the written sheet music to a vocalist's range. She rehearsed with students at local schools, Lion's club performers, and local chorale societies for their seasonal events. Over the decades, hundreds of piano students received lessons out of her home. As a teen Louise taught herself to play accordion and would tote the instrument to events with no keyboard on site, so that those assembled could enjoy live music.
Louise continued to challenge herself musically well into her 70s. She attended the week-long Sonata programs for adults at the Summer Sonatina International Piano School in Old Bennington and engaged in organ lessons with Edwin Lawrence. Perhaps her proudest moment was a performance in recital of the Mozart Concerto accompanied by Rein van der Linde, her mentor and piano instructor. Her years of organ instruction culminated in a Jubilee concert in year 2000 comprised of many difficult organ compositions.
For nearly her entire adult life Louise was a member of the Catholic Daughters, Court St. Andrew and later Court St. Margaret Mary. She held membership in National Music Teachers, Vermont Music Teachers Association and the American Guild of Organists.
Louise is survived by a son, John Gauthier of Shaftsbury, his wife Katelyn, and their children, Ollie, Leah, and Evelyn; a sister Madeline (Harris) Wansbury of Winter Springs, Florida and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by Paul Gauthier, her husband of nearly 50 years and two brothers, Paul Harris of Shaftsbury and John Harris of Daytona, Florida.
The funeral will be held from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in North Bennington on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. where the Liturgy of Christian Burial will be offered.
Burial will take place in the family lot in St. Johns Cemetery.
Should friends desire memorial contributions in Louise Gauthier's memory may be made to the St. Johns Food Shelf through the office of the Mahar & Son Funeral Home, 628 Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201.
Guestbook condolences may be made at www.maharandsonfuneralhome.net.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Louise Harris Gauthier (Harris), please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Funeral Mass
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Starts at 1:00 pm (Eastern time)
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
Interment
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
St. John's Cemetery
Photo Gallery
Guestbook
Visits: 2
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors