BURLINGTON, VT, AND CARIBOU, Maine – Linda Lee Devoe died peacefully at the University of Vermont Medical Center, in Burlington, VT, on August 5, 2017 at the age of 76. She was born on July 14, 1941 in Caribou, the daughter of the late Leo Joseph and Catherine Lena (Williams) Devoe.
Linda was social through grace and possessed a kind of innate likability. She was short in stature – adult height of four feet, ten-and-a-half inches – but tall in presence. In any room, she easily became the sun around which all present orbited. People gravitated to the small woman without any seeming effort on her part, other than flowing friendliness and generosity. Her buoyant, positive spirit, supported by unstoppable, advocating determination, made Linda the person others wanted to be with – and to be like. She was authentic. Genuine. Linda was not one to give up but definitely she was the one who gave out something that empowered others – hence the sun is more than metaphor. Like the star warming the Earth, she was easily taken for granted. She was always present. Always reliable. Always shining. Now her incredible brilliance is extinguished. Scientists raise alarm bells about climate change, but Linda brought the kind of global warming we all need – and of which there is too little: Undaunted optimism and an extended hand.
Linda dedicated her life to taking care of others. She was a life-long volunteer; giving of her time to help at local events, chairing committees, rocking babies in the local hospital’s nursery and advocating for those in need. She was an avid reader, loved music and sang with the voice of an angel. She will be missed by all those who have had the honor of knowing her.
Linda leaves behind her youngest brother, Arnie Devoe and his wife Brenda of Washburn; her children, Joseph Wilcox and wife, Anne, of San Diego, CA; Nanette Atherton and husband, Howard, of South Hero, VT, and Laurette Bellerive of Putnam. Linda’s lasting legacy are nine grandchildren: Ben, Brian, David, Elisa, Lisa, Lynnae, Mark, Molly, and Nicole, ten great-grandchildren: Aiden, Akhyla, Ayden, Brice, Brielle, Cerridwen, Charlotte, Jacob, Reiley, and Tucker, nieces and nephews; Chris, Janet, Kim, Leslie and Susan, and several great-nieces and great-nephews. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Jacqueline “Jackie” Devoe. Her constant companions were two cats – Precious, the angry one, and Angel. She was predeceased by her eldest daughter, Annette Boucher, who passed away in May of 2016 and a brother, Edward “Eddie” Devoe.
A graveside service will be held August 25, 2017 at 10 a.m. in the New Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery, Caribou. Local arrangements are by Mockler Funeral Home. www.mocklerfuneralhome.com
