UNION — Vera Ann (Wentworth) Northrup, better known as Ve, died peacefully on Sunday, September 6, 2026, after a brief bout of pneumonia. She spent her final days in hospice, surrounded by the love of her family at the “farmhouse” in Rockport.

Vera was born August 23, 1931, in Union, Maine, to Harold Sanborn Wentworth and Sara Alice (Hilt) Wentworth. In 2006, she and her husband, Clay, came home to Maine after a twenty-one-year adventure in Memphis moving into the house on Payson Road in Union where she had been born—the house her father and grandfather built—and where she would spend the next twenty years.

Throughout her life, Vera collected nicknames almost as naturally as she collected friends and memories. She was “Ve” to nearly everyone, “VeVe” thanks to her Aunt Betts, and “Dub” to her husband, who in turn was “Dope” to her. Her brother-in-law Wayne gave her the name “Car 9” after watching her click her loafers across the big family room and kitchen at the Plummer House, moving so quickly that she reminded him of the stock car races. And, of course, she was “Grammie” to many and, perhaps most importantly, “MOM!”

Vera graduated from Union High School, where she took her studies very seriously and was valedictorian of the Class of 1949. After graduating from Gates Business College, one of her first jobs was at Sea and Shore Fisheries in Augusta. She enjoyed many years working at the Togus VA Center here in Maine and later worked for the National Labor Relations Board, retiring as a revered Administrative Assistant.

Vera made friends wherever life took her, forming lasting relationships through her work, her interests, and the different places she called home. Some of those friendships began in childhood and lasted a lifetime.

She loved bringing people together and had a gift for making a house feel like home. Vera and Clay hosted meetings about the town and school, welcomed friends and family for countless gatherings, and opened their home for hunters’ breakfasts, poker games for Clay and his friends, birthdays, homecomings, racing celebrations, and just about any other occasion that gave people a reason to be together.

All of our friends became Mom’s friends, too, not to mention her beloved church family. Anyone who met her quickly discovered her tendency to “adopt” children and grandchildren. She was known as “Grammie” to many, and whether you were young or old, you knew you had a great confidante in her. She was loving, kind, accepting, and remarkably nonjudgmental—a quality that echoed her beloved mother, Sara Alice, who had also been an angel to so many.

Vera was always active. Anyone remembering her at play might picture her skiing, bowling, attending horse shows, cheering at her grandchildren’s baseball games and dance recitals, going to stock car races, or settling in with a good book. She also loved Masterpiece Theatre on public television, Hallmark movies, and never seemed to tire of a good Perry Mason mystery.

But inevitably, they would think of her dancing.

Mom and Dad met at the Clary Lake Dance Hall in Jefferson and danced every dance together for the rest of that night. Their life together was challenging at times, and yet they danced on and remained close until Clay’s death in 2014.

Even during her final twenty years back in her hometown of Union, Vera kept very busy. She attended church both in person and on Zoom and enjoyed numerous social activities with family and friends. Her lifelong love of reading led to one of her most treasured pastimes, the Union Library Book Club, which she thoroughly enjoyed each month for many years—not only for the books, but for the companionship and friendships that came with them.

Beyond her family, Vera was blessed with an enormous circle of friends. She and Clay shared many dear couple friends, including Leon and Ruth Johnston and John and Ethel Campbell, who held a special place in their hearts. One of Vera’s closest friendships in more recent years, though it spanned many years, was with Ty Cummings, who sadly passed away last year. Wherever Vera went, friendship followed.

Vera’s greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her daughters, Rhonda “Rhondie” Marie Gillis of Jefferson and Wendy Rae Northrup of Portland; her former son-in-law, Daniel “Danny” Gillis of Bermuda Dunes, California; and her son-in-law, Gerard “Gerry” Zarrilli of Portland.

She leaves her beloved grandchildren, Chelsea Rae Gillis of Los Angeles; Johnathan Clay Gillis of Westbrook and his partner, Mike Bernier; and Christopher Daniel Gillis and his wife, Brittany Napper Gillis, of Old Orchard Beach. She was a proud great-grandmother to Christopher and Brittany’s children, Eli and Ellie. Vera is also survived by her step-granddaughter, Amelia Violet Zarrilli of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and her step-great-grandchildren, Canio and Audrey Mosby.

Vera is survived by four siblings who surrounded her with love: Phyllis “Phid” Day of Virginia Beach; Sara “Sally” Moore and her husband, Joel, of Union; Harold “Brud” Wentworth Jr. and his wife, Jan, of Union; and Joel “Jody” Wentworth and his wife, Sybil, of Union.

She also leaves behind many members of Clay’s family, including her brothers-in-law, Wayne George Northrup and his wife, Wendy Prock Northrup, of Jefferson, and Dale Irving Northrup and his longtime partner, Charlotte Hall, of Dresden, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. Clay’s Canadian relatives took Vera as one of their own, and many continued to visit and maintain close relationships with her from Young’s Cove and Queen’s Cove, New Brunswick.

Vera was predeceased by her beloved husband, Clayborn “Clay” Edwin Northrup, originally of Jefferson; their infant daughter, Lorna Ann Northrup, who lived for one precious hour; her eldest sister, Beatrice “Betty” Byrd of Farmington, New Mexico; her parents, Sara Alice (Hilt) Wentworth and Harold Sanborn Wentworth of Union; her maternal grandparents, Alice Sprague Hilt and Wilbur Hilt of Union; and her paternal grandparents, Fannie Daniels Wentworth and Westbra Wentworth of Union. She was also predeceased by many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Vera lived a life defined not by judgment or expectation, but by love, acceptance, family, friendship, laughter, curiosity, and an open door. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed and cared for. She loved her family and friends dearly, supporting them in all their creativity and adventures.

 Whether she was known as Ve, VeVe, Dub, Car 9, Grammie, or Mom, Vera will be remembered as uniquely vibrant, loving, joyous, and fun, despite the many struggles life handed her. She kept loving, living, and learning to the very end, giving us the precious example of what it means to humbly live one’s fullest and most complete life.

A woman as deeply loved as Vera can never truly be gone. She lives on in the family she adored, the friendships she nurtured, the lives she touched, and the countless stories and memories she leaves behind.

We will miss you forever, Mom.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating in Vera’s name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=home-btn-donate-now

A memorial service will be held for Vera on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 1 p.m., at the People’s United Methodist Church, 21 Depot St., Union. A reception will follow at Sennebec Farm, 323 Sennebec Rd, Union.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hall Funeral Home in Waldoboro. Condolences and stories may be shared with the Northrup family through Vera’s Book of Memories.