Obituary for EDITH “DEEDEE” OSGOOD CEMEL
Deedee Cemel passed away gracefully on the morning of January 7 at the age of 92. She was ready to be with her beloved husband Walt. She was our adored wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt and friend. She was born in Claremont, NH on June 28, 1930, the daughter of Robert and Edith (Fitch) Osgood. She graduated from Stevens High School and then from Westbrook College, Portland, Maine, as a medical secretary, after which she worked at Central Dispensary and Emergency Hospital, Washington, DC and then Hitchcock Clinic in Hanover, NH.
On July 5, 1954, she married Walter Cemel, Jr. in Claremont. In 1957 they moved to Burlington where they raised their children Lynn, Joy and Rick. Deedee was employed at Hunt Middle School for 19 years, most of that time as secretary to the principal, and retired from there in 1990. She loved the people she worked with and remained lifelong friends with some. Prior to her retirement, they left Burlington and built a home in Essex. From 1992 to 2010 she was a volunteer in the gift shop at UVM Medical Center, four years of which she was chairperson of the gift shop and on the board of the Hospital Auxiliary. She was a lifetime member of the UVM Medical Center Auxiliary. She was a member of First United Methodist Church.
Everyone who knew Deedee knows that she was always so good natured and loved to laugh. Her youthful looks and young heart were remarkable. She had the best time doing anything social, whether it was a get-together, going out to lunch, or chatting with strangers. She treasured her family and many friendships. She took great pride in her spectacular flower gardens, where she spent many happy hours. She had such a green thumb! Deedee so loved sitting out on their back porch in the summers enjoying a glass of wine, listening to the birds and taking in the beautiful view, including her flowers. She was active in aerobics until she turned 80!
Our loving mother gave us wonderful childhoods. She made every birthday and holiday so special for us. We were always doing something crafty or creative. She had a talent for knitting and made us beautiful hats, scarves, mittens and sweaters. She was a talented seamstress and made lots of clothes for her girls. Our mother volunteered in our classrooms in elementary school and chaperoned many field trips. She encouraged us to get involved in activities like scouts, playing musical instruments and sports. Summers were endless fun! Every sunny day, she’d pack up a picnic for us and we’d go to the Malletts Bay Boat Club and enjoy a boat ride after. We also spent a lot of time at her parents’ cottage on Lake Sunapee, NH, where countless happy memories were made. She also enjoyed the coast of Maine, particularly York and Ogunquit.
Deedee was predeceased by her beloved husband Walt who passed away last June. She is survived by her cherished children Lynn Cemel of Georgia, Joy (and Rick) Donlan of Essex, Rick (and Sue) Cemel of Ft. Myers, FL and her special grandsons, Ryan and Kyle of Florida. She also leaves her sister-in-law Lois Osgood of Grantham, NH, many nieces and nephews and special friends Brian Bessette, Steve, Sandy, Emerson and Olivia Loisel. She was predeceased by brothers Robert and his wife Patricia, Arthur and his wife Deborah, Richard and his wife Mona, Harold (Chick), and sister Carolyn.
Our hearts will miss our treasured mother every single day but we know how happy our parents are to be together again! We take solace in knowing that she lived a long and happy life with exceptional good health. We’ll forever carry with us all the beautiful memories she created for us.
A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, July 8 at the Essex Resort in the Atrium Room, from 1-4:00 pm with the eulogy at 2:00.
“Grieve not nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as though I were beside you. I loved you so…’twas Heaven here with you.”
On July 5, 1954, she married Walter Cemel, Jr. in Claremont. In 1957 they moved to Burlington where they raised their children Lynn, Joy and Rick. Deedee was employed at Hunt Middle School for 19 years, most of that time as secretary to the principal, and retired from there in 1990. She loved the people she worked with and remained lifelong friends with some. Prior to her retirement, they left Burlington and built a home in Essex. From 1992 to 2010 she was a volunteer in the gift shop at UVM Medical Center, four years of which she was chairperson of the gift shop and on the board of the Hospital Auxiliary. She was a lifetime member of the UVM Medical Center Auxiliary. She was a member of First United Methodist Church.
Everyone who knew Deedee knows that she was always so good natured and loved to laugh. Her youthful looks and young heart were remarkable. She had the best time doing anything social, whether it was a get-together, going out to lunch, or chatting with strangers. She treasured her family and many friendships. She took great pride in her spectacular flower gardens, where she spent many happy hours. She had such a green thumb! Deedee so loved sitting out on their back porch in the summers enjoying a glass of wine, listening to the birds and taking in the beautiful view, including her flowers. She was active in aerobics until she turned 80!
Our loving mother gave us wonderful childhoods. She made every birthday and holiday so special for us. We were always doing something crafty or creative. She had a talent for knitting and made us beautiful hats, scarves, mittens and sweaters. She was a talented seamstress and made lots of clothes for her girls. Our mother volunteered in our classrooms in elementary school and chaperoned many field trips. She encouraged us to get involved in activities like scouts, playing musical instruments and sports. Summers were endless fun! Every sunny day, she’d pack up a picnic for us and we’d go to the Malletts Bay Boat Club and enjoy a boat ride after. We also spent a lot of time at her parents’ cottage on Lake Sunapee, NH, where countless happy memories were made. She also enjoyed the coast of Maine, particularly York and Ogunquit.
Deedee was predeceased by her beloved husband Walt who passed away last June. She is survived by her cherished children Lynn Cemel of Georgia, Joy (and Rick) Donlan of Essex, Rick (and Sue) Cemel of Ft. Myers, FL and her special grandsons, Ryan and Kyle of Florida. She also leaves her sister-in-law Lois Osgood of Grantham, NH, many nieces and nephews and special friends Brian Bessette, Steve, Sandy, Emerson and Olivia Loisel. She was predeceased by brothers Robert and his wife Patricia, Arthur and his wife Deborah, Richard and his wife Mona, Harold (Chick), and sister Carolyn.
Our hearts will miss our treasured mother every single day but we know how happy our parents are to be together again! We take solace in knowing that she lived a long and happy life with exceptional good health. We’ll forever carry with us all the beautiful memories she created for us.
A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, July 8 at the Essex Resort in the Atrium Room, from 1-4:00 pm with the eulogy at 2:00.
“Grieve not nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as though I were beside you. I loved you so…’twas Heaven here with you.”