Aaron Proia

Aaron Proia, 55, cherished son, brother, uncle, husband, and father—and the heart of every room he entered—passed away suddenly on June 13, 2025.

He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Gayle and Elliott Hurley; paternal grandparents, Julius and Ellena Proia; and his father, Henry Proia.

He is survived by his mother, Kathleen Proia; stepfather, Rick Mitchell; wife, Betsy Koppel; daughters, Emma Proia and Camryn Proia; stepson, Yitzac Perlmuter, his wife Maine, and their son Enzo; sister, Alexis Proia; and his niece, Jazmine Pott, along with aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends.

Aaron and his wife, Betsy, shared over 20 years of life together. Their history was filled with laughter, and the kind of connection that leaves a lasting imprint. Through life’s ups and downs, they raised a family and built a partnership grounded in deep care and understanding.

Aaron and Yitzac shared a special bond of humor—an easy, unspoken connection that could turn even the most ordinary moments into something joyful.

To his daughters, Aaron was the superhero without a cape, the spider slayer, the outside-the-box thinker, who never failed to bring a smile or laugh. Every year, at the Caledonian Fair, despite his fear of heights, he made sure their night ended with a ride on the Ferris wheel because it made them happy. Their happiness was everything to him.

Aaron had a lifelong love for wrestling. It wasn’t something he pushed on anyone; it was simply something he genuinely enjoyed. Emma picked up on that early, drawn not so much to the sport itself but to the happiness it brought him. Watching him light up during matches made her want to be part of it, too. When they finally went to an event together, it was nothing but tears of joy, a shared moment neither of them ever forgot.

Aaron shared an extraordinary bond with his niece, Jazmine, one that went beyond titles or explanation. She could talk to him about anything, in ways no one else ever quite understood. He wasn’t just her uncle, and she wasn’t just his niece; they shared something rare, unspoken, and deeply rooted in love and trust.

He talked often about going to Las Vegas, not for the casinos or entertainment, but just to sit quietly in a hotel room and take in the view. He found peace and stillness in the ordinary, and seeing things from above.

To his mom, he was, and will always be, her baby boy. They shared a deep love for music, often bonding over their similar taste. He used to make her mixtapes, and in later years, played his playlists just for her. She loved watching comedies by his side, not just for the show, but for the sound of his laugh—it could lift her whole day. He was her steady voice, her sense of calm, the one who always brought her back to center.

At any gathering, Aaron was the heartbeat of the room. He didn’t just show up—he lit it up. Whether it was a quick-witted one-liner, a goofy impression, or an unexpected story that had everyone doubled over, he knew how to turn ordinary moments into memories. He made things fun. He made people laugh. And he made sure everyone, from the oldest relative to the quietest newcomer, felt like they belonged.

Aaron didn’t just bring humor; he brought joy—the kind that lingers after the laughter fades. His absence leaves a space that’s hard to define, a silence where there was once warmth, a gap where the light used to shine. He gave so much of himself, so easily and so often, that without him, the world feels just a little dimmer.

Aaron’s legacy doesn’t live in headlines; it lives in the people who carry him forward. In the stories he told, the laughter he sparked, the joy he spread. He gave freely, loved deeply, and left the world better simply by being in it.

The world is quieter now. But oh, how brightly he lived.

A memorial gathering for Aaron will be held on June 19, 2025, beginning at 1pm at Sayles Funeral Home, 525 Summer Street, St. Johnsbury, VT. A memorial service will begin at 2pm at the same location.

To honor Aaron’s unforgettable sense of humor and the passions that brought him joy, guests are warmly invited to attend in anything that reflects his favorite things—WWE, the Boston Red Sox, the Denver Broncos, or even Taylor Swift. Come as you are and come ready to smile. That’s how he would’ve wanted it.

Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at caledonialifeservices.com.