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
Groveland Congregational Church
4 King Street, Groveland, MA
In lieu of flowers, please see below on how you can help honor Linda's memory and show appreciation to the staff that cared for her as if she was their own family member.
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 lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in Linda’s memory to be put toward two meaningful initiatives:
1. Broda Chair for the Barron Center: The Broda chair Linda used is in need of replacement. Donations will help fund a new chair, with a plaque that reads: “In Memory of Linda Aspinall, 2025 – from her family and friends.”
2. Affinity Hospice Team Appreciation: Donations will help refresh the nurse’s lounge with healthy treats and small comforts to support the hospice staff.
Donations can be sent via check (mailed or delivered to Amy Pelkey or Nancy Fitzgerald) or via Venmo @AmyPelkey. Amy will keep a running total of the donations (total amount raised, not individual amounts) below.
Donations can be sent via check (mailed or delivered to Amy Pelkey or Nancy Fitzgerald) or via Venmo @AmyPelkey. Amy will keep a running total of the donations (total amount raised, not individual amounts) on the website.
UPDATE 6/14/25: We didn't quite make it to $2800, but Mark Hannemann at CME has been wonderful and worked with me on the cost of this chair! The chair will be ordered on June 23. Amy will let you know when the chair is delivered to the Barron Center.
THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this happen!
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.
In appreciation of all the Barron Center and Affinity Hospice staff did for Linda, the family would like to do something special for them while honoring Linda's memory.
Broda chair Linda was using at the Barron Center was on its last leg. This chair allowed her to get out of bed, enjoy making friends with other residents, attend music performances, activities, etc.
This chair costs about $2800. It is the family's goal to raise this money, put a plaque on the back to honor Linda's memory, and gift it to the Barron Center for other residents to use in the future.
If we can not raise enough money to purchase this Broda chair, we will buy a bench for inside the building with a plaque honoring Linda's memory.
If you have any questions, contact Amy here.
Linda's guestbook and obituary can be found here.