Born 12/17/1957
Burlington, Vermont
Died 1/31/2023
South Burlington, Vermont
Details of services
Candis’ memorial service will take place at St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Shelburne on February 11th at 11 am. Lunch and remembrances to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society’s Chittenden County Relay for Life.
Candis Ann Perrault of South Burlington and formerly of Charlotte Vermont lived a remarkable life through her positive attitude, enthusiasm, faith, fearlessness, and courage. Candis died with her heart full of joy and peace on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
Candis was born prematurely on December 17, 1957, and placed in an incubator until adopted a month later as the daughter of Frank and Jan Perrault. She grew up in South Burlington, Vermont, and graduated from South Burlington High School with the Class of 1975. After high school, she pursued a double major in social work and psychology at the University of Vermont where she graduated Dean’s List and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities in 1979. She received service and spirit awards in high school and college. Her passion for her community and pride in her school’s never faltered. She could often be found attending UVM soccer and basketball games whenever they played at home.
Candis decided at the age of sixteen after a summer exchange program to Hamelin Germany that she wanted to create an international life for herself. So, upon the successful completion of her undergraduate studies, Candis immersed herself in Up With People, a six-month performing arts/community service program where she lived, worked and became friends with people of diverse backgrounds from many countries while traveling throughout Mexico. This experience fueled her confidence in her abilities to be self-reliant, create meaningful relationships, and empower others.
Candis trail-blazed her way from Vermont to Fairfield County, Connecticut in 1981. In 1982 she founded an executive search business. Through her force of will and illimitable intuition, she developed clients in management consulting, financial services, and consumer packaged goods.
Candis moved back to Shelburne in 1992 with a desire to spend more time with her family and to give back to her community. She made several contributions to local organizations, joined a long-standing book group of friends, and served as a co-founder of the Relay for Life in Chittenden County. She continued to carry this volunteer effort forward for four years while serving as a board member of the American Cancer Society. The society created the Candis Perrault Research Grant in 1995 in honor of her leadership and spirit.
She married Don Kjelleren in 1997 and with whom she shared many outdoor interests and travel adventures to national parks in the USA and Latin America. They skied the Canadian, Craftsbury, and Stowe Nordic ski marathons. Both participated in cycling tours to Europe and Candis joined the Vermont Iowa Medalists for RAGBRAI, before the birth of their beloved son Hayden in 1998. Candis actively supported Hayden throughout his upbringing and he was her proudest accomplishment.
Music was the passion of a lifetime for Candis. She sang and performed with the Mystic Chorale of Boston, the Middlebury College Community Chorus, the Hinesburg Artist Series, the Lake Champlain Waldorf School Community Chorus, All Souls Interfaith Gathering Choir, St. Catherine’s Folk Group, the Emerging Universe Oratorio premier concert and with the Philadelphia main line orchestra and choir.
Candis believed that being diagnosed with an end-of-life illness in an area where one can find love and support with an extended community on a regular basis was a privilege. Gratitude was a best practice to her doctors, the nursing teams, and the administrative staff whom she praised over and over for their enormous dedication to serving humanity and saving lives. In particular, Dr. Carlos Marroquin, Dr. Joe Shields, Dr. Anat Bhave, Dr. Chris Anker, Dr. Debra Rubin, Dr. Patti Whitney, Dr. Stephen Ades, Dr. Farrah Khan, Dr. Jennifer Lisle, Dr. David Lundardini, Dr. James Slauterbeck, Dr. Matthew Perchlimedes, Dr. Mitch Moreau, Dr. David Krag, Jean Sturm Physical Therapist and many others who supported her in the U.V.M. Medical Center hallways.
In remembrance of Candis, a small stone memorial has been placed in the Shelburne Cemetery on which the words SPIRIT LIVES are inscribed. Her spirit continues to inspire all who knew her.
She is survived by her mother, Jan Perrault, son Hayden Kjelleren, husband Don Kjelleren, extended family members and many loving friends.