Bridgewater, Vermont

Lillian (call me Sandy) Lynds,age 74 of Bridgewater, passed away on Saturday January 26, 2019 at the Jack Byrne Center for Palliative &  Hospice Care at Dartmouth-Hitchcock.

Sandy was born in Plymouth to the late Carol and Ella Hadley on December 18, 1944. She married John E. Lynds on February 28, 1964 and together they raised four sons (John Scott, Aaron, Peter & Tim) and were blessed with eight grandchildren.

Sandy attended Woodstock Union High graduating in the class of 1963. She was active in Scouting for many years as a Cub Scout leader and became one of the first women to complete Scouting's Wood Badge leadership training.

Sandy worked as a Title I coordinator for the Bridgewater Village school and in 1985 became a licensed nursing assistant working at the Mertens House and several other elder care facilities in the area. Her ability to share unlimited hugs and coax even the grumpiest old men to smile won her many friends and admirers over her 25+ year career.

Camping, hiking, whale watching and travel were Sandy's other passions. After instilling a love of the outdoors in her sons, she took to international travel with a vengeance visiting Canada, Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, England, Czech Republic, Japan and Italy. She even convinced her husband John to get a passport and together they took five trips to Italy to visit family and explore the sites.

Later in life Sandy enjoyed swimming at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center, researching the Hadley family genealogy and reconnecting with the congregation at the Bridgewater Congregational Church.

Sandy's husband John, her faithful dog Tilley, father, mother, four brothers (Paul, Dick, Edmund, Donald) and three sisters (Zelda, Patty, Bettie Lou) preceded her in death. She is survived by her sister June Waters, and brothers Robert (Jeannette) Sawyer & James (Bernice) Sawyer.

Arrangements will be made for a graveside service at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in the spring where family & friends are invited to celebrate Sandy's life.

The family wishes to thank the truly amazing Nurses, LNAs and staff at the Jack Byrne Center who cared for Sandy during her final days. Donations in Sandy's memory can be made online at DHMC's website (google : Jack Byrne Center donate)

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cabot Funeral Home in Woodstock, Vermont. An online guestbook can be found at cabotfh.com