MIDDLESEX; On a dismal day, December 24th, 2010, Patricia (Huse) McVeigh died (at Central Vermont Medical Center). With deep grief, sadness, and loss, we now pass this news along to her extended family, friends, colleagues, and community. What can we say when an old soul like Tricia McVeigh passes on. We call her an old soul decidedly, not in a religious sense but in the sense of the ancients; hers was an old soul steeped with wise counsel and goodwill and good humor. She spread goodwill wherever she went, giving much and requesting little in return, but expecting good effort and sincerity. Tricia was born on May 27, 1960, in Cleveland, Ohio, the fifth of six children. Her parents, both Nebraskans, steadily migrated East halting their eastward migration in Massachusetts. Tricia spent much of her early childhood (often accused of being born old - Tricia called it maturity - Tricia really did have a childhood) in West Newton. At an early age, she developed a keen and abiding interest in children which she pursued throughout her educational and working life. In Brighton, Massachusetts, she volunteered at the Parents Center devoting many hours to children in need while simultaneously meeting a man in need, Chris McVeigh. She developed and maintained lifelong relationships with individuals she first met as children at the Parents' Center. After high school, Tricia enrolled at Bowdoin College in Maine, persisting in her admission efforts by patiently, but firmly, explaining to Bowdoin why it mistakenly denial her application for early admission. She excelled at Bowdoin graduating in 1982 with a degree in psychology. After working at a home for teenage girls for a year, Tricia moved to Nebraska to start and complete her doctorate in psychology. Through some sort of magic she persuaded Chris, her newly minted husband, a man who made her laugh, that he wanted to be in Nebraska too. Eventually, Tricia moved to Middlesex, Vermont where she lived the balance of her years. And live she did. Tricia tapped a deep reservoir of energy balancing family, work, and community. Sometimes to their chagrin, not often, Tricia focused her laser attention on her children. Tricia dedicated herself to Brendan, Kieran, and Quinn, insightfully gauging the needs of each child, then working her best to provide it. She provided the tools for each to grow and develop into unique, responsible individuals. She always provided the opportunity to explore new experiences and even fail at them, then provided the listening time that parenting requires. In 1990, Tricia started a long, mutually beneficial relationship with the Barre City School District Serving in several capacities, but most importantly as a dedicated friend and colleague. Tricia valued her relationship with Barre where she practiced her expertise testing children, advising on interventional plans, and impacting the lives of many students, families, and staff members. She appreciated her environment and the depth it provided her life. Occasionally, political considerations challenged her position in Barre, but her working colleagues and administrators understood the benefit of her bargain, along with the depth and scope of her expertise, so that her position was preserved. She continued to provide dedicated service, and LaBrioche goodies, to her friends and colleagues until the last month of her life. The mutual admiration and respect between Tricia and her colleagues at the Barre Elementary and Middle School defies measure. Both treasured the other. Aside from her family and friends, Tricia's true passion blossomed in her flower garden. She transformed swaths of her Middlesex yard into a carefully staged blooming paradise of plants and flowers. She spent many hours recreating mere grassy patches into favored locations for the local honeybees and hummingbirds. She planted new varieties, traded clippings, donated plants and clippings to the annual Rumney plant sale. Tricia's work in the many summers in her garden will have long and lasting impact. In July 2005, Tricia was diagnosed with primary peritoneal cancer, treated as an ovarian cancer. While she gracefully endured several surgical procedures and rounds of chemotherapy, her treatments lost their effectiveness. At that point Tricia consciously and confidently chose to discontinue any further invasive treatments to savor her remaining time with as much quality of life to share with her family and friends. She approached her inevitable death with the resolute directness and humor which hallmarked her life, comforting us all with her graceful aplomb. Having laid down her earthly constraints, Tricia leaves many family and friends including her children Brendan, Kieran, and Quinn, her husband Chris, her mother Mary Huse, sisters Kathyrn Huse and Susan Huse; her brothers Thomas Huse, William Huse, and Joseph Huse, and their respective spouses, and many nieces and nephews; she also leaves her mother-in-law, Yvonne McVeigh, and her many, many sisters and brothers –in-law, and their spouses and children, too numerous to name. Her friends and colleagues at the Barre City Elementary and Middle School hold a special place in her heart as she shared many years of her life with them doing good work. Tricia also touched her friends and neighbors in Middlesex who poured out their support and love for her and her family over these many years. She hopes these friends and neighbors will still harvest clippings from her garden as they desire. For the many who transported Tricia to her appointments, or wished to, out heartfelt thanks. We will have calling hours at the Barber & Lanier Funeral Home, 139 Main Street Montpelier, Vermont, on Tuesday, December 28, 2010, from 5:30 -8:00. Burial will be a private, family affair but we will schedule a memorial for Tricia in the near future. Please, in lieu of flowers, contribute to the Tricia McVeigh Memorial Fund to be established at the Barre City Elementary and Middle School, 50 Parkside Terrace, Barre, Vermont, 05641 care of James Taffel or Michelle Cote, co-principals.