MORRILL – Robin Leigh Vedder, 59, died Oct. 8, 2011, at the hospice unit of Waldo County General Hospital, Belfast. She was attended by her members of extended family. Robin was born Nov. 16, 1951, to June (Fail) and Robert J. Vedder.
The family traveled extensively to accommodate Mr. Vedder’s profession of racing jockey and professional horse trainer. Robin’s deep love of horses and devotion to the care of all animals was evident at an early age. In 1987, Robin settled in Maine with her life partner, Michael C. Lovely. She was an outstanding scholar, who maintained a 4.0 GPA while pursuing her undergraduate degree as a registered nurse and her graduate degree as a nurse practitioner. She was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. As a notable achievement, in 2006, her first year of graduate school, Robin authored an article that was published in the prestigious “American Journal of Nursing.” She worked as a nurse at Waldo County General Hospital and as a nurse practitioner at Penobscot County Community Health Services, Bangor. She was a gifted health care provider, devoted to her patients and a supportive friend to many in the health care community. She served as a director on the board of New England’s largest horse rescue facility. Robin’s many talents included gardening, sewing, cooking and equestrian pursuits. She was a caregiver to all.
Robin is survived by her life partner, Michael C. Lovely of Morrill; her daughter, Darlene Nichols and her husband, Richard, and their children, Hannah and Ben, of Searsmont; her aunt, Rosemary Libby of Barrington, Ill.; cousins and special friends, Maurice Pelletier of Morrill, Dr. Cynthia Reynolds and her husband, Elijah Moore, of Searsport, as well as Meris J. Bickford and her husband, William Anderson, of Morrill. She was predeceased by her parents; and her younger siblings, Susan and Bobby. Robin will be remembered the kindest of people.
In accordance with her wishes, there will be no services, however a life celebration will be held at a future date. At her request, remembrances in lieu of flowers may be sent to Waldo County General Hospital Hospice Unit, 118 Northport Ave., Belfast, ME 04915 or Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals, P.O. Box 10, South Windham, ME 04082-0010. Online condolences may be offered at
www.ripostafh.com.