This
wonderful woman who was Maria Elizabeth Bryant died peacefully on
Saturday, April 28, 2024, at the Converse Home in Burlington,
surrounded by people who loved her. The daughter of Ernesto and
Teresa Hoffmann, she was born on June 9, 1940, in Borburata,
Venezuela.
Elizabeth
taught herself English and secretarial skills and was working at a
local paper mill when she met her husband and love of her life,
Robert “Bobby” Bryant. Together they traveled the world and
shared many adventures with their children, Karola and Andres. They
settled in Augusta, Maine, in the early ’70s, where they enjoyed
Maine’s beauty and developed lifelong friends. Elizabeth proudly
returned to the workplace and continued to enjoy her life with Bobby
until his passing in 2015.
Elizabeth
soon moved to Burlington, Vt., to be near family and was lovingly
cared for at the Converse Home.
Elizabeth
is survived by her children, Karola and Andres and his wife, Robyn;
grandchildren, Robert, Rebecca, Statia, Myrtle, Bourcard and
Vincenta; and great-grandchildren, Leta, Adrianna, Rowan, Ryker,
Lilo, Nora and Genevieve. There were many, many other friends from
all over the world, neighbors, and people she loved and who loved
her. We are grateful to all.
Elizabeth’s
final wish was to thank the staff at the Converse Home for their
loving care and support.
A
private service will be held in spring 2025 for Elizabeth’s immediate
family.
The
family prefers no flowers. If you wish to make a donation in
Elizabeth’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the family
would be very grateful.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 2, 2024.