HALLOWELL and HAMPDEN – Vivian Gove, 74, of Hampden, died peacefully Aug. 28, 2011, surrounded by her family at the Maine Veterans Home, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Vivian was born in 1937, in Hallowell, the daughter of the late Harry and Maude (Forester) Varney.
She was a graduate of Hallowell High School and attended Eastern Maine General Nursing School. She married the love of her life, Keith Gove, whom she was married to for 54 years. Together they had three children, Steven of Hermon, married to Jayne (Murphy) Gove, David of Cumberland, married to Lisa (Voelker) Gove, and Allen of Boston, married to Brad Blake. Vivian, or “Mrs. Gove” as the students at Hampden Academy referred to her, worked in the school’s guidance office for 25 years.
In retirement, she worked in Hampden’s town office as the voter registrar. She was also known as “Grammie in the Green House” to four grandchildren, Morgan, Casey, Benjamin and Christina Gove.
Vivian had a captivating smile and was a very caring and giving person. She enjoyed singing in the choir at Hampden Congregational Church and was an active member of the local chapter of Eastern Star. She also enjoyed travel, gardening, counted cross-stitch, knitting and spending time with “Lucky-the-cat.”
She was predeceased by her brother, Howard Varney; and her sister, Geraldine (Varney) McNaughton.
A memorial service will be held 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, at Hampden-Gilpatrick Funeral Home, 45 Western Ave., Hampden. The family has requested donations be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Main Chapter, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or Hampden Congregational Church, P.O. Box 9, Hampden, ME 04444. The family also wishes to express their appreciation to the staff at the Maine Veterans Home for the amazing care, love and support they provided.