June 18, 1950 - April 5, 2025
Linda Aspinall
Linda Aspinall
June 18, 1950 - April 5, 2025
Celebration of Life
Service, Gathering, & Lunch
Held on Saturday, May 17, 2025
Groveland Congregational Church
4 King Street, Groveland, MA
Watch on YouTube
In lieu of flowers, family and friends generously donated to purchase a Broda chair for the Barron Center in Linda's memory and refresh the staff lounge at Affinity Care of Maine (hospice).
Read about it here.
In Loving Memory of
Linda (Dodge) Aspinall was a devoted nurse, a beloved mother and grandmother, a loyal sister and aunt, and a woman who loved deeply and gave quietly. She passed away peacefully on April 5, 2025, at the age of 74, holding her daughter’s hand after a long and courageous journey with Alzheimer’s disease.
Born in Woburn, Massachusetts, Linda was the eldest daughter of Edna and Robert Dodge. She pursued a career in nursing and graduated from the New England Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Boston. Linda dedicated 40 years of her life as a nurse primarily in Maine, where she was known for her intelligence, professionalism, and empathy. She mentored countless nurses and was always thoughtful in anticipating her patients’ needs—even as Alzheimer’s slowly stole pieces of her memory, her instinct to care remained unwavering.
Linda shared 19 years of marriage with her first husband, Joe Bettencourt, with whom she built a large community of friends and family. Together they raised their daughter, Amy, whom Linda loved dearly. Linda and her second husband, Lloyd Aspinall, took trips in their RV, vacationed in Bowling Green, Florida during winters, enjoyed summers on Raymond Pond, yet Linda’s roots and many treasured memories remained in New England with her family and cherished traditions.
Never missing an opportunity for adventure, she camped in Maine and New Hampshire both as a young adult and mother, swimming in lakes, biking, and always enjoying cultural experiences such as theater or window shopping for jewelry. She prioritized birthdays and holiday gatherings with her close-knit extended family, and found delight in simple pleasures—gardening, baking, picking berries, walks with her dogs, reading, and volunteering at church and with the Portland Symphony Orchestra.
Linda’s talents extended well beyond the hospital. She was a skilled seamstress who made beautiful clothes for herself, her daughter Amy, and even her dolls. In high school, she won the “Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow” award, an early testament to her warmth and creativity. Her kitchen was always filled with the scent of something sweet: homemade blueberry muffins with handpicked wild berries, apple crisp in the fall, and grasshopper pie—Amy’s favorite. Her tin of homemade cookies or brownies was never far from reach.
Linda (Dodge) Aspinall
June 18, 1950 - April 5, 2025
Linda is survived by her daughter, Amy Pelkey (Brian); her grandson, Tyson; her brothers, Doug (Janice) Dodge and Larry (Mary) Dodge; her sister, Nancy (Rick) Fitzgerald; and her sole remaining aunt, Marion Maxwell, along with an extensive network of nieces, nephews, cousins, and cherished friends. She is also survived by her husband, Lloyd Aspinall; his two children, Aaron (Erin) and Christina; and their children, Hera, Otto, Leah, and Jack.
In honoring Linda’s memory, the family extends heartfelt appreciation to the outstanding teams at the Barron Center and Affinity Hospice. These dedicated professionals worked tirelessly to uphold Linda’s end-of-life wishes—ensuring her safety, maintaining her comfort, and allowing her to pass with dignity, much as she had lovingly cared for her own mother during her Alzheimer’s journey.
A woman of quiet faith, Linda served in her church through music and hospitality and valued a life centered on love, family, and service. Her integrity, kindness, and practicality left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.
In 2012, Linda was forced to take early retirement due to cognitive decline—a heartbreaking transition for someone whose identity was so intertwined with nursing. Even as the disease progressed, she remained gentle and loving.
True to Linda’s love of family gatherings, her family held a Celebration of Life on May 17 at 11:00 a.m., with a luncheon that followed, at Groveland Congregational Church (4 King Street, Groveland, MA 08134) to honor her memory. Family and friends traveled from as far away as Colorado, Georgie, Florida, New Jersey, and Maine, as well as Vancouver and Pennsylvania via Zoom.
Linda’s legacy of caring, creativity, and quiet resilience will continue to inspire all who knew her. Her gentle spirit lives on in every loving act, every shared memory, and every sunrise that reminds us of the eternal light of her love.
In Appreciation of Linda's Care Teams
So much appreciation goes out to S. Bryant, J. Dodge, A. Thibeault, Spicer Family, P. Wilkins, M&T Howlett, K&D Rigby, Washington Pelkeys, P. Dodge & B. Yablonski, M. & J. Maxwell, J. Howlett & K. Drusky, A. & C. Bettencourt, J. Olson, A. Lohnes, Bilinisky Family, M. & C. Drezewski, Knight Family, J&D Dodge, J Strom, C. Daley, Lois Lombardo, DMD & staff, N & R Fitzgerald, L & M Dodge, D. Howlett, L. Dodge, J. Reen, S. Brennan, P. Cook, J & K Bettencourt, A & K Mercurio, A & C Kearns.
During Linda Aspinall’s final months, the teams at the Barron Center and Affinity Care of Maine (hospice) worked in concert to provide extraordinary care. They surrounded Linda and her family with compassion and respect, honoring her wishes and never losing sight of what mattered most—Linda herself.
Their partnership allowed Linda to experience dignity, comfort, and peace at the end of her life, while also giving her family the gift of precious one-on-one time with her.
In gratitude, Linda’s family and friends joined together to raise funds in her honor. These gifts recognize the dedicated caregivers who gave so much to Linda and to all who loved her.
In her final months, Linda relied on a Broda chair to spend time outside her room, visit with friends, enjoy music performances, and participate in community life. That chair offered her dignity, connection, and comfort—even as Alzheimer’s slowly took away her ability to move and communicate.
The chair Linda used was worn and near the end of its life. A new Broda chair was purchased for the Barron Center by Linda's family and friends. This gift will allow future residents to share in the same opportunities Linda had—reducing isolation, encouraging community, and creating moments of joy.
On September 20, 2025, Linda's sister, Nancy Fitzgerald, and daughter, Amy Pelkey, joined the Barron Center staff and residents to remember Linda, thank the staff for the consistent, gentle, thoughtful care they provided, and bring this chapter to a peaceful closure.
Amy also visited Affinity Care of Maine (hospice) to help refresh the staff lounge, express her appreciation, and bring everything full circle. This renewed space is intended to support the staff as they continue their tireless work with other families facing the loss of loved ones.
The work these remarkable providers do is often quiet, unseen, and underappreciated. Yet it is their presence, skill, and compassion that allow individuals to spend their final days with dignity, comfort, and peace—and that give families memories they will cherish for a lifetime.
THANK YOU FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO GENEROUSLY DONATED To make this happen!
You can read Amy's dedication here.
Thank you, Mark Hannemann at CME Corp and your team, for helping us purchase this chair.
Celebration of Life on YouTube
On May 17, 2025, family and friends gathered at Groveland Congregational Church (Groveland, MA) to celebrate the life of Linda Aspinall (1949–2025) — a devoted nurse, mother, wife, sister, and friend.
This video includes the eulogy delivered by her daughter, Amy Pelkey, a poem read by Nancy Fitzgerald, and a slideshow of photos honoring Linda’s life and kindness.
A few lines from Amy’s tribute:
“A couple of weeks ago I called my friend Daryl Lavway looking for guidance on what to say today… Daryl said, ‘Your Mom’s mind became the enemy of her body.’ I’ve sat with those words, and they ring true. Alzheimer’s invaded my mother quietly but relentlessly. It stole her memory, her spark, her voice—but not her spirit, and not her strength. Her body remained strong and active, which made the disease feel even more cruel.”
Today we gather not only in grief, but in gratitude—for the beautiful memories Linda gave us, for the lives she touched, and for the love that endures. May we each take a walk with our dog, bake a tin of cookies to share, or pick some berries this summer—in honor of Linda: sister, mother, grandmother, cousin, aunt, wife, mentor, colleague, neighbor, and friend.
Linda's guestbook and obituary can be found here.