A Celebration of Life for Henry
Sunday, May 31 | 11:00 a.m. &ndash; 2:00 p.m.
130 Gateway Farm Lane, Brattleboro, Vermont&nbsp;
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We invite you to gather with us in remembrance of Henry, in a spirit of openness, reflection, and quiet presence.
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Our time together will include a Quaker-based memorial, focused on silent reflection, community, and sharing memories. Participants are welcome to share spoken tributes, prayers, poems or songs as they feel moved by the Spirit.&nbsp;
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An informal, &agrave; la carte brunch will be served midday.
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As our time together draws to a close, the final hour will be held open for quiet wandering&mdash;time to walk the land, sit in stillness, meditate, or simply be with nature, honoring the way Henry lived and listened to the world.
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Accommodations in Brattleboro
For friends and family traveling from afar &mdash; or for those who would like to make a weekend of it &mdash; Brattleboro and the surrounding area offer several lovely places to stay. All are within 10&ndash;15 minutes of the Homestead.
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We can&rsquo;t wait to gather everyone together. Please keep an eye on this page, as we will continue to add options and updates.
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Latchis Hotel
Art Deco hotel, right downtown at 50 Main Street, 10 minutes to the HomesteadRoom rates: $170&ndash;$270, Plenty of rooms available May 29&ndash;June 1(Group rate TBD) <a href="https://www.latchishotel.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.latchishotel.com/</a>
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The One Cat Bed and Breakfast
43 Clark Street, 15 minutes to the Homestead<a href="https://theonecatvermont.com" rel="nofollow">https://theonecatvermont.com</a>
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Friday, May 29: $450 per night (2 rooms; taxes + breakfast included)
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Saturday, May 30: $225 per night (1 room available)
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Sunday, May 31: $400 per night (2 rooms; taxes + breakfast included)
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Inn on Putney Road
192 Putney Road, 10 minutes to the Homestead<a href="https://vermontbandbinn.com" rel="nofollow">https://vermontbandbinn.com</a>
5 rooms available Saturday, May 30&ndash;Sunday, May 31Rates: $247 (standard) &ndash; $307 (suite)Includes tax and breakfast
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Chesterfield Inn
15 minutes to the Homestead<a href="https://www.chesterfieldinn.com/" rel="nofollow">https://www.chesterfieldinn.com/</a>
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5 rooms available Friday, May 29 & Saturday, May 30
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13 rooms available Sunday, May 31Rates: $194 (standard) &ndash; $344 (suites)Breakfast included (tax not included)
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You may also explore additional home rentals here:
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Airbnb List: <a href="https://www.airbnb.ca/wishlists/invite/67118869-407f-4370-a875-ee65aab89d4e?s=67&unique_share_id=fef780ac-1d20-4da7-ae18-294e14132aa9" rel="nofollow">https://www.airbnb.ca/wishlists/invite/67118869-407f-4370-a875-ee65aab89d4e?s=67&unique_share_id=fef780ac-1d20-4da7-ae18-294e14132aa9</a>
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Celebration of Life Address:
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130 Gateway Farm Lane, Brattleboro, Vermont
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Traveling to Brattleboro from Major Airports
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Bradley International Airport (Hartford) &ndash; Approximately 1.5-hour drive to the Homestead
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Logan International Airport (Boston) &ndash; Approximately 2.5-hour drive to the Homestead
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</ul>
Train
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Amtrak offers a daily train from New York City
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11:00 a.m. departure from NYC
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5:00 p.m. arrival in downtown Brattleboro
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Transportation Options While in Brattleboro:
You will need a car to explore the beautiful countryside and to make the most of all there is to enjoy in and around Brattleboro, and to get to the Celebration of Life Service. Unforunately there aren't ride share services or reliable taxis in Brattleboro.
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Car Rentals
Enterprise Rent-A-Car &ndash; Brattleboro Location(802) 257-4700
Private Car Service
Brattleboro Rides
Taxi (must book ahead)
Royal Transport: 802-275-2335
Please note: Uber is not reliable in the area.
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We so look forward to welcoming you to Brattleboro. It means more than we can say to gather in this place that holds so much heart.

Celebration of Life - Henry Alderfer

Daya Alderfer

Henry Alderfer

Sarah Thessing

W. Henry Alderfer passed away peacefully at home in Brattleboro, Vermont, held in loving prayer and surrounded by family. He was born on September 4, 1946, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and lived a life guided by service, spiritual devotion, adventure, and a deep, abiding reverence for the natural world.

Henry’s bond with Brattleboro reached back generations. His grandmother, an artist who kept a summer cottage here, first introduced him to this land. He knew Route 30 when it was still a dirt road and spent summers swimming in the West River, forming a lifelong connection to Vermont’s natural rhythms.

After more than 40 years living and working outside the USA, he returned with his wife, Lauren, and built a fully off-grid straw bale home—an expression of his commitment to simplicity, sustainability, and living in harmony with the earth.

Henry dedicated his professional life to humanitarian service. A conscientious objector guided by principle, he worked with organizations including CARE, USAID, and numerous USAID implementers, serving communities across Latin America and South Asia.

A defining chapter of Henry’s work unfolded in India, where he lived for more than a decade and served as Country Director for Project Concern International. There, he helped build community-led programs addressing public health, women’s and children’s rights, disaster recovery, and poverty alleviation. He also lived and worked in Bangladesh, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Afghanistan. He earned a doctorate in International Development and Leadership, as well as a master’s degree from the London School of Economics.

At the heart of Henry’s life was his spiritual practice. A devoted meditator and lifelong student of Paramahansa Yogananda, his spiritual life served as his guiding inner compass. He passed as he lived, in prayerful stillness, mala beads in hand.

Henry is survived by his wife and spiritual companion of 45 years, Lauren Alderfer, whom he met in Cuenca, Ecuador; his daughters, Daya and Sarah Alderfer; sons-in-law Ray Newal and Markus Thessing; his beloved grandchildren Sanai, Remi, Ariya, Layla, and Nico; his sister Hannah Alderfer; and his brother Jonathan Alderfer.

Those who feel moved are invited to make a donation in Henry’s memory to the Retreat Farm in Brattleboro. Its walking trails, open land, and commitment to deep connection with the natural world reflect the values Henry lived by—where stillness, attentiveness, and care for the earth nourish both body and spirit. Donations may be made at: https://donorbox.org/retreat-farm

Henry’s life was a quiet offering—of service, reverence, and love. In ways both seen and unseen, his presence touched countless lives across the world. He will be remembered for the gentleness with which he moved through life, the devotion with which he honored the earth, and the peace he carried within him.

We will gather for a Celebration of Life in Brattleboro, Vermont, on Sunday, May 31st, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., on Henry’s beloved Vermont homestead. Additional details will be shared on this page.

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