Maggie Van Duyn
October 30th, 1979- October 21st, 2018
Richmond, Vermont
Maggie passed peacefully in her home, in the arms of family, after a three-year journey with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer. Loved ones surrounded her during her final days and nights, and she left this world enveloped in love, tears, laughter, and music– just as she wished.
Maggie is survived by her beloved husband, Jim Van Duyn and her adored children, Zoey and Emmet; mother, Deborah Malgeri and stepfather, Stephen Malgeri; stepmother, Mina Turner; father- and mother-in-law, Ennis and Carolanne Van Duyn; Granny, Juanita Lambert; sisters, Sarah Sophia Lidz (Jonathan), Rebecca Byrne (Nathan); sister-in-law, Susan Versen (Chris,); stepsisters, Megan Malgeri (Ben,) and Kristine Harootunian (Ted); stepbrothers, Matt Harootunian (Lauren,) and Jason Harootunian (Alexandra); nephews, Alexander Versen and Turner Lidz; nieces, Aurora Versen, Sylvia and Louisa Katz; and an exceptional list of loving aunts, uncles, cuzballs , and deeply loved friends. Maggie was predeceased by her loving father, Dick Turner.
To know Maggie was to love her. She had a huge heart, and a positive, resilient spirit. She loved children and children loved her. Her happy eyes and infectious laughter will be missed by us all. She is leaving behind a large, loving, close-knit family and community that held her in the highest esteem. She prioritized relationships. A devoted partner and mother, she loved her family more than anything in the world.
Maggie placed the well-being of the community on the highest pedestal. She was a badass advocate for vulnerable children and was a social worker for 16 years. She had a passion for writing that evolved into blogging. Her first blog, “Womb Womb Pow,” was a co-authored blog that chronicled her journey of becoming a gestational surrogate for a best friend. Maggie was also a community leader and a pillar of support for local women through her regular writing in several parenting blogs.
Maggie will always be remembered as the vibrant, loving, generous woman who, after her terminal cancer diagnosis, created Maggie’s Brightside to help others. She embraced the world by creating a non-profit that focuses on helping cancer patients afford treatments and services to make their lives easier. Her words and vitality inspired many to examine their own lives. Maggie was a bright and positive force who changed and will continue to change many lives.
A private celebration of her life will be held for family and friends at 2pm on October 28th at The Barn at Boyden Farm. Additional celebrations to follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to MaggiesBrightSide.com or Metavivor.org, a non-profit devoted to researching and improving the lives of those with Metastatic Breast Cancer.
RIP Maggie! Hugs and my deepest condolences to Maggie’s family. I am so grateful to have known Maggie and so amazed by the legacy that she leaves.
Thank you for inspiring me to be a better person, thank you for sharing your honesty, thank you for leaving your beautiful mark on this world. You will be dearly missed.
RIP beautiful ♥️
Stacey & The Urban Salon Team
Dance with the angels beautiful Maggie. Your light will forever shine bright. <3
Maggie, I only met you in person at your sister’s wedding. What a gift that was to you from Rebecca Turner Byrne and her husband Nathan. I sat by the evening campfire and listened to your story with loving light shining from your eyes describing how you wanted your family to remember you and how you wanted to live but knew you were dying. Proud to have had the chance to meet you and be inspired by you. As said by your mother yesterday “Peace, Peace, Peace.”
Hi, Maggie. It Is Me, I Wish It Didn’t have to end this way. I Have Known You Since The Day I Opened My Eyes. But I’m Glad That Before You Passed You Got To Do What You Loved
I Love You, Carver Van Kirk
Hi Maggie, It’s Me, Carver. I Wish It Didn’t Have To End This Way. I Have Known You Since I Opened My Eyes. You Helped My Mom Take Care Of Me But I’m Glad That Before You Passed, You Got To Do What You Loved With, Jim, Emmet, And Zoe. There Will Always Be A Place For You In My Heart.
Love, Carver Van Kirk