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.