Cat rescue community mourns loss of fire victim

BY SHAUN ROBINSON VTDigger

She met Sarah Berger in, perhaps, the most fitting way possible: while rescuing a cat.

The small, gray shorthair was stuck up in a tree at Berger’s house in Winooski. Berger called a local animal rescue and advocacy organization, where Kathee Ludwig had just started volunteering. Ludwig borrowed a ladder from a neighbor to reach the cat, and “we were friends from that moment on,” she recalled in an interview last week.

In countless other cases, though, it was Berger rescuing the cats herself. She didn’t do it for a living — there was no money in it, anyway — but saving cats was, in many ways, her life’s work, Ludwig and other friends said. Berger later moved north to Richford and would go on to care for as many as hundreds of farm cats throughout Franklin County.

Berger, 68, died earlier this month in a fire that razed her home and likely killed the 10 cats that lived with her. Her death has left others who look after farm cats in the region wondering what they’ll do without her.

“Just the thought of her being gone is really tragic for Franklin County, because I would get calls all the time for her,” Ludwig said. “She was just so active in the community.”

Monica Rondeau

On a windy cold day on March 7, 2023, Monica Rondeau reached to the endless sky and gathered her golden wings while surrounded by her loving family at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester.

The bubbly spirit, Monica was born on March 18, 1947 to Fay and Vera Bruce. She spent her childhood on their family farm in Williston and attained many of her skills in gardening, canning, sewing and baking during her youth.

After graduating from C.V.U High School, Monica chose to work in the health care field and became a phlebotomist and lab technician at the U.V.M Medical Center for 45 years. In addition to her years of service Monica was always busy gardening, canning, quilting, embroidering or cooking up some of the

And according to friends and coworkers, Berger’s organizational skills shined in her day job as bookkeeper for the CCTV Center for Media & Democracy, the Burlington-based television station. Berger started there in 1995. Meghan O’Rourke, CCTV’s projects director, attributes much of the organization’s financial stability to Berger’s diligence.

March 10 at 1:09 a.m. — Following a traffic stop, a male, age 33, was issued a citation to appear in court for suspicion of DUI.

March 10 at 10:23 a.m. — A female texted 911 looking for help. Upon arrival, it was discovered that a male, age 27, had an active arrest warrant. He was issued a citation to appear in court.

March 11 at 9:25 p.m. — Following a traffic stop, a male, age 38, was issued a citation to appear in court for driving with a criminally suspended license.

March 12 at 1:16 a.m. — Report of a suspicious male on Shunpike Road. A male, age 42, was issued a citation to appear in court for violating conditions of release.

Berger would drive miles and miles a day to make sure several feral cat colonies in the region had food and warm shelter, friends said. She also worked closely with rescue organizations to bring feral cats to local veterinarians, where they could be spayed and neutered, and then released back outside — a process known as “trap-neuter-return.”

When Berger came across friendly strays, she often helped them find homes.

“Especially in the Richford area, she was the eyes and ears to help keep the population under control,” said Charlotte Benedict, who lives in nearby Swanton. “We’re all just scrambling at this point to make sure that everything she was feeding stays fed.”

Berger’s friends remember her as a straight shooter with a big heart. She did not carry a cellphone, according to Benedict, but kept scrupulous paper records documenting her work with the cats — most, if not all of which, were lost in the house fire on March 8.

Obituaries

Berger graduated from Richford High School in 1972 and then attended cosmetology school in Burlington, according to an obituary published in the Saint Albans Messenger. She worked as a hairdresser for 15 years before getting her job at the TV station.

Berger also loved outdoor activities, including hiking, swimming and riding horses, according to the obituary. She is survived by her sister and her son, who could not be reached for comment for this story.

Benedict and others plan to host a free spay and neuter clinic for stray and feral cats in the Richford area both to honor Berger’s work and help address some of the need she is no longer filling. They plan to publish more details about the clinic soon.

“It’s a tremendous loss to a lot of people,” said Annie Malloy, co-founder of the organization Cat Crusaders of Franklin County. “She left a huge gap — not to mention being missed, personally, by us humans.” of Colchester her beloved grandson Wyatt Rondeau. Her siblings, Dianna and Joe Dufresne, Lydia Blackburn, Fay Clarke Bruce Jr (Joe) and Sharon Bruce, Shirley and Roger King, Michael Bruce, Kathie Bruce and Noreen and David Rivers. Her In-laws, Sylvia Arnold, Ronald and Jane Rondeau, Helene Rondeau, Louise Curtis and Laurie Curtis. tastiest dishes in her kitchen, which of course she shared with everyone, especially her family. Monica married her life long partner, David Rondeau, on Dec. 22, 1979. They resided in Hinesburg for many years until her death.

March 10 at 12:36 p.m. — Report of a male passed out in front of Best Buy. The male, age 30, had an active arrest warrant. He was transported to court for arraignment and then transported to the correctional facility.

March 10 at 4:49 p.m. — Report of a vehicle driving erratically. A female, age 43, was issued a citation to appear in court for driving with a criminally suspended license.

March 11 at 2:51 a.m. — Officer attempted a traffic stop and a short pursuit took place. A male, age 32, was issued a citation to appear in court for eluding a police officer and suspicion of DUI.

March 11 at 6:07 p.m. — Retail theft at Wal-Mart. A male, age 32, had an active arrest warrant. He was issued a citation to appear in court.

March 11 at 8:51 p.m. — Retail theft at Old Navy. A male, age 60, had an active arrest warrant. He was transported to the correctional facility. He was also issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

March 12 at 2:25 p.m. — Report of a wallet that was stolen at Monkey Do. A female, age 24, and a male, age 32, both received citations to appear in court for petit larceny.

March 14 at 4:04 p.m. — Retail theft reported at Best Buy. Case is still under investigation.

March 15 at 3:48 a.m. — Burglary reported at Taft Corners Mobil. Case is still under investigation.

March 15 at 2:32 p.m. — Philadelphia Police Department requested officers check a residence on Casey Lane for a stolen vehicle. Vehicle was located along with a stolen motorcycle. Case is still under investigation.

March 16 at 1:09 a.m. — Suspicious vehicle in the Wal-Mart parking lot. A male, age 52, and a female, age 41, both had active arrest warrants. Both were transported to the correctional facility.

March 16 at 12:17 p.m. — Retail theft at Home Depot. A male, age 38, was issued a citation to appear in court for retail theft.

Monica is survived by her husband of 43 years, David Rondeau, her son Joshua and Beth Rondeau

Monica was preceded in death by her parents Fay and Vera Bruce, and siblings Jean Marie Bruce and David Bruce and in-laws Simone Curtis, Claude Rondeau, Gary Blackburn and Lawrence Rondeau.

The family of Monica Rondeau wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the wonderful caregivers at the McClure Miller Respite House.

The funeral service was March 15, in South Burlington at St John Vianney Church. Burial will follow at a later date.