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According to friends and co-workers, the University of Maine campus lost a “remarkable, compassionate and generous” woman this summer when University Bookstore Assistant Director Wendy Gavett’s six-year battle with ovarian cancer ended when she died August 16.
Despite years of chemotherapy and sickness, Gavett kept a positive spin on her life, according to friends and co-workers.
“Wendy could smile through anything,” said Kathy Brewer, Gavett’s lifelong friend, in a phone interview from Alabama yesterday.
“She took every day as it came. With cancer, you wake up every moment, and you’re thankful you’re seeing the blue sky and the white puffy sky. That’s how Wendy lived.”
Gavett, from Houlton, was a motherly woman who was very protective of her family and friends. She loved her son more than life itself, according to Brewer. Her son, Aaron Michael, will graduate from medical school this spring.
In addition to her family, Gavett expressed a great love for her job at the University Bookstore, a place she worked for 29 years, according to Brewer.
“It was relaxing having her around, especially when times got crazy in here [at the Bookstore],” said fourth-year chemistry student and University Bookstore worker, Jenn Quimby. “She had a quiet presence but she was genuine, and I think that’s why everybody liked her.”
Gavett’s calm, cool and collectedness was an unavoidable presence in the bookstore, especially during “book rush” at the beginning of each semester. Gavett seemed to simply help things run smoothly, according to Quimby.
Gavett particularly enjoyed working with students, said Betty Campbell, University Bookstore administrative assistant.
“She went [to school] here so she knew what it was like to be a student,” Campbell said. “She liked that kind of environment.”
Gavett’s love of books made her job that much easier to do. Even when her cancer treatments often made her sick she still reported to work, according to Campbell.
Co-workers recalled Gavett apologizing repeatedly for having to leave work for an hour’s time to undergo chemotherapy treatments. Gavett would return after treatments exhausted but still ready to work and with a smile on her face.
A display is currently in the University Bookstore that showcases Gavett’s favorite books, such as her all-time favorite “Black Beauty” by Anna Sewell, Harry Potter books and novels by Nora Roberts and James Patterson. An index card sits in front of the novel “The Wedding” by Nicholas Sparks and reads, “Wendy always said, ‘Read Nicholas Sparks with a box of tissues.’”
The display also includes a poster of notes from various people who knew Gavett. One note read, “Wendy was the kindest soul you’d ever meet. When I brought in my new house plans early this year I swear she was more excited than me. She always thought of other people’s feelings before her own. I miss her so much, but I feel absolutely privileged that I got to know her.”
A poem, “No More Cancer” written by Brewer, in part read, “Cancer has no victory/ As long as we can fight/ And Wendy was a warrior/ Who bravely fought for life/ Now she’s at peace in heaven/ Her sword is laid aside/ But we the strong can pick it up/ And wave the banner high/ We’ll fight ole demon cancer/ While we spit into its eye/ Our motto ‘No more cancer’/ Will be our battle cry.”
Brewer leads the fight against cancer with the nationally known “Relay for Life” program each year, as she is a cancer survivor herself. She has lit a candle in recognition of Gavett’s brave battle with cancer the past several years and intends to continue that this year, said Brewer.
“She wouldn’t want us to cry. She’d want us to go on and remember the happier times,” Brewer said. “She’d want us to remember her lovingly, kindly, not cry as we all are. Yet we can’t help to cry. She was so much a part of our lives. She was my sister.”
Brewer said she came to know Gavett well in the 53 years they were friends and that smiling at the good times is all her old friend would hope for her loved ones to do now.
Brewer retrieved the words her selfless friend provided her during a difficult time, “As each day passes may all of our treasured and happy memories replace the sadness in our hearts.”
A memorial service for Gavett will be held Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Orono.
Bangor Daily News