Elaine L. Hoadley

Elaine L. “Sis” Hoadley, 83, of Waterbury died in the comfort of her home and family on Friday evening, June 28, 2019.

She was born in Barre May 26, 1936, daughter of Ethelyn (Merrill) and Stanley Morse Sr.

Sis married Leonard C. Robtoy, who died July 28, 1973. She married Ernest “Joe” Hoadley on June 28, 1975, in Waterbury; he died Nov. 27, 2010, after 35 years of marriage.

Sis graduated in 1954 from Waterbury High School, and worked at the former Rialto Theater in Waterbury during her high school years.

At age 17, while babysitting for a family, Sis responded to a call for help from a 14-year-old girl swimming in the Little River. Diving in and swimming to the exhausted girl, Sis pulled her ashore and administered artificial respiration and saved the girl’s life. In honor of her heroics, the first-ever Baumann Public Service Award — named after the commissioner of public safety, William H. Baumann — was given to Sis on July 4, 1953.

After she married Leonard, Sis remained home as a homemaker and raised her growing family. She later was employed for many years as a ward aide at the Vermont State Hospital, retiring in 1991.

Sis was a volunteer with the Waterbury Ambulance Service as an emergency medical technician, drove clients to appointments through Green Mountain Transit Authority and was a member of Harry N. Cutting American Legion Auxiliary Unit 59.

In her leisure time, she enjoyed caring for her grandchildren, preparing meals for her family, fishing, following the triumphs and tragedies of the Boston Red Sox, loving her copious number of pets and listening to Vince Gill.

Survivors include her children, Bonnie Robtoy of Waterbury and Lincoln Robtoy of Norwich; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; two brothers, Leslie “Skip” Morse of Waterbury and Spencer Morse of Calais; and extended family.

A son, Larry Robtoy, died earlier.

A celebration of life was held at the Waterbury American Legion on Saturday, July 6, followed by a reception. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery, Waterbury.

Donations in memory of Sis would be appreciated to the North Country Animal League (ncal.com). Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences: perkinsparker.com or the funeral home’s Facebook page.