Elaine Salsbury

Elaine Austin White Salsbury passed away on October 18, 2024. Death came gently like a welcomed friend.

Elaine was born on January 3, 1935 in Williston, VT. She was a native Vermonter, the daughter of Earl and Lasine (Williamson) Austin.

She attended Jericho schools and graduated from Burlington High School in 1953. She married her school sweetheart, John White, and became a farm wife in Jericho where they raised their two children.

For ten years Elaine was the local 4-H Organizational Leader. She valued the friendships she made with the girls. Until her death she got together with four of the Junior Leaders several times a year, usually doing projects which connected them to their 4-H times in Jericho.

In 1979 she married Bob Salsbury and they moved to a cottage which they remodeled on Lake Champlain. Elaine started Decorative Energy Concepts which specialized in insulated window treatments. She operated and enjoyed her shop-at-home business for twenty years. After she retired, she presented programs about Snowflake Bentley for the Jericho Historical Society around the state for eight years. Other volunteer activities included the Folsom School Library, C.I.D.E.R., her Church, and Hospice.

She enjoyed traveling around the world with family and friends to places such as Hawaii, Arizona, and Barbados. She loved landscape gardening for many hours every day from early spring through late fall. For over ten winters she spent thousands of hours working on “Elaine’s Journey”, a very detailed history of her life.

Elaine was a member of the Congregational Church of South Hero, UCC for 45 years. 

She is survived by her children Debbie (and Ron) Thompson and their daughters Laura (and Nick) LeClair, and Kelly Thompson. Bob (and Joan) White and their children Chris (and Lindsay) White, and Sarah (and Mark) St. Amour. Stepchildren Karen Salsbury Hunsinger, Kent (and Kathy) Salsbury, Robert (and Jacqueline) Salsbury Jr., and Linda Jacobs. Two great-grandchildren Peyton and Kennedy LeClair, and many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. Also surviving her are her nieces, nephews, cousins, and many special friends.

Elaine was predeceased by her husband Bob, her parents, sister, brother-in-law, and first husband John White.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, November 3rd at 2:00 p.m. at the Congregational Church of South Hero, UCC, 24 South Street, South Hero, VT with a reception following in the Fellowship Hall.

If you wish to remember Elaine, she requested that you take flowers to someone who needs a hug or do a good deed for someone less fortunate.