Newburyport, MA- After a stellar four years at Rutgers, Wendla (Wendy) unzipped her backpack and explored the Greek islands, Afghanistan, India, and elsewhere. In more recent times, she volunteered at the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury, where she devoted loving hours to the barn cats. Whatever the challenge, Wendy met it head on.
When Dad left us each a small inheritance, Wendy bought and beautified a Plum Island cottage, where she spent several happy years. She impressed many with her gardening talent (including coaxing a garden to flourish in the heart of Boston) which truly blossomed on the island.
The occasional mouse that shared her Plum Island kitchen was taken, in a Havahart trap, to a local cemetery and released. When not working at Spaulding Rehab or filling the birdbath, Wendy graciously shared her perennial beds with neighbors, tourists, and Sparhawk students from Amesbury.
No doubt her keen intellect and radiant smile attracted her companion Ken, with whom she shared sunlit retirement days.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew her — plants, animals, and humans — including twin sister Elin (Lin) Faye of Newburyport; brother Peter Robbins of Sedgwick, Maine; sister-in-law Bonnie Robbins of Falmouth, Massachusetts; a host of nieces, nephews, and grandchildren; Paul Doolittle of Derry, New Hampshire; author Ezra Bayda of California; and her amazing partner Ken Herman of Newburyport, to whom Wendy’s family is extremely grateful.
Donations in Wendy’s name may be made to Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society in Salisbury, Massachusetts; or the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm in Newbury, Massachusetts.
Debra Kondracki says
So sorry to see that Wendy has passed away…we live across the street at #4 51st Street. She was always so friendly and loved to share her passion for gardening with us.. Your family is in our thoughts..
Dave Kallgren says
I am so sorry to hear this. Our old crowd from summers at the beach is really thinning out. Wendy and Lynn were older than we young rowdies; they were interested in things like dating while we were building bonfires and releasing fish in the bathtub. I remember her as patient, tolerant and witty.
Someone wrote a very nice obituary. I was interested to see her connection to Ezra Bayda. Leslie also studied with Ezra when he was at the Zen Center of San Diego and it gives me a sense of Wendy’s journey.
I am far away from the New England, as usual, in a beautiful bay in Mexico with no phone service, but I am thinking of dear friends and family and wishing I could give someone a hug. Love to all,