Cheryl Malkin, born in Montréal in 1951, daughter of Lionel and Adele Malkin, passed away on June 28, 2025. Her sisters, Marilynne and Helen; brothers-in-law Miki and Mario; nieces Emma and Aubrey; nephew Michael; and many relatives and close friends in Montréal, St. Albans and all over the world are deeply saddened by her loss.
Her life in St. Albans was blessed by her relationship with her one true love, Leon Boudreau, and was enriched by her relationship with Jared and Eli and all of the Boudreau family — Norman and Lauri Boudreau; Andre and his partner, Janet Larose; Carol and Richard Parks; Luke and Tina Boudreau; and Alisa and Craig Aylward. Cheryl was predeceased by her in-laws, Jack and Madeleine Boudreau; her brother-in-law Allen Boudreau; and numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
Cheryl lived in Montréal, but she spent her summers at a family camp in St. Albans Bay from the time she was 6. She loved swimming and taught many of the children in the area to swim and love the joy of being in the lake. While in Montréal, she was the manager of the Seville, a famous repertory theater that was a Montréal landmark for many years. Upon moving permanently to Vermont, she continued teaching but now mathematics and English in the local community college system.
A devoted real estate agent, advocate and friend, Cheryl passed away leaving behind a legacy of compassion, connection and quiet strength. While she never measured success by the number of houses she sold, she built a remarkable 30-year career helping people find not just a house but a true home. Many of her clients became lifelong friends, a testament to the deep trust and care she fostered in every relationship.
Throughout her career, she received numerous awards and accolades, particularly for her outstanding commitment to customer satisfaction. But her impact went far beyond professional recognition. Though she never formally volunteered through organizations, Cheryl was a fierce and tireless supporter of women facing life’s many challenges. She had a unique gift for helping others navigate difficult times, connecting them with resources, offering a listening ear, and always showing up with compassion and purpose.
She was passionate about many things — learning, reading, movies, painting, cooking, Scrabble and dogs — but above all, she was passionate about people. Her love crossed generations, and those who knew her were touched by her warmth, her empathy, and her ability to make everyone feel truly seen and cared for.
She had a gentle spirit that inspired those around her and a quiet fierceness when it came to causes close to her heart. In recent years, she became actively involved with Third Act Vermont, a movement committed to engaging elders in action on climate change and democracy. Cheryl was deeply moved by the mission to harness the wisdom and power of older generations to build a better world. She was also involved in a recovery community and worked to expand its efforts to become both more inclusive and secular.
The life Cheryl created was filled with purpose, kindness and an ever-welcoming energy. She offered light in dark places, and her presence made the world feel more like home. She will be deeply missed by her partner, Leon, and by members of both the Malkin and Boudreau families, as well as by the countless people whose lives she touched, and she will be remembered always for the love, inspiration and hope she so freely gave. A celebration of life will be held at a date, time and location to be determined.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.
To offer a message of condolence, kindly go to healdfuneralhome.com.
This article appears in Jul 2-8, 2025.