Vicki R Winternitz

Vicki R. Winternitz, 71, of St. Albans, VT died on October 1, 2019. She was born in Burlington, VT on September 28, 1948, the daughter of James and Elaine (McCarty) O’Neal. She was predeceased by her parents, her best-friend and partner Harold Hoague, her granddaughter Selma, brother Kevin, nephew Jamie, great-niece Selena, and her beloved dog Nina.
Vicki was an eccentric, loving and sweet soul. In her life, she faced many difficulties, including suffering abuse as a child, which led to a severe mental illness as an adult; she spent most of her life searching for serenity. In addition to her mental ailments, she also faced physical ailments. However, despite her personal challenges, she never stopped trying to do her best and always made sure to tell her family she loved them. Her love for her family was a driving force throughout her life.
Vicki converted to Judaism when she married Irving, and it was her mission to raise her children in the Jewish tradition. She ensured the children had a Jewish education and a proper Bar / Bat Mitzvah. She was an amazing cook and learned many treasured recipes from Irving’s mother, Grandma Rose. When she was well, she loved to create sumptuous Sabbath and Holiday meals for her family with homemade challah, matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, lokshen kugel, spice cake and on and on. She was an accomplished seamstress as well and made her own wedding dress as well as many costumes and clothes for her children. One of the last items she sewed was the chuppah for Jennifer and Matthews wedding.
Vicki was a talented artist and writer. Though she never had anything published, she wrote daily. She was constantly looking for the beauty in life's little treasures. She had a love for art in any form and fostered a deep and spiritual connection with nature. Some of her happiest times were on her beloved land in Richford, VT which she lovingly coined “URDA.” She spent many wonderful and difficult years there in a tiny cabin with very few amenities and, for many years, no electricity or running water. She was very proud of her independence and resourcefulness while living at URDA, and loved having her family come visit her haven. She passed her knowledge and awe of nature and homesteading down to her children and grandchildren whenever given the opportunity. Our family has many fond memories playing and fishing in her brook, hiking in her woods, eating pea soup, and listening to VPR by candle light. Her enthusiasm for this life was contagious. May she dance in the meadows and feel the cool brook on her toes and hear the whispering of the trees forever more.
Her vivacious nature continues on through her children: David Winternitz and his wife Maureen, Solomon Winternitz, Sarah Winternitz and her husband James Taylor, Jennifer Shutts and her husband Matthew; her grandchildren: Steffani, Elizabeth, Matthew, Emily, Joel, Lucy, Chaya, and Josh; her siblings: Cathie and Millie Sutton, Edward O’Neal and his wife Karen; her nieces: Victoria, Christina, Barbie; and her nephews: David, Steven, Michael and Josh. She is also remembered by her stepfather Moe Parent her ex-husband Irving Winternitz, as well as, other extended family.
Services will be 10:00am on Friday, October 4, 2019, at Temple Beth Israel. Burial will follow in Beth Israel Cemetery with a condolence meal to follow at the temple. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Donate
or VPR https://donate.vpr.org/?utm_source=donate-button&utm_medium=website&utm_content=&utm_campaign=ongoing.