Megan Angelina Webbley, 31, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, September 29. Specifically, she died of an overdose, finally losing her battle with addiction. She was in Manchester, N.H., seeking treatment for her addiction. We have no clear picture of what went wrong. Megan leaves behind her mother, Dorothy Provenzano, of Boca Raton, Fla.; her father, Edwin Webbley, of Middlebury, Vt.; and her brother, Michael Henderson, of Los Angeles, Calif.; as well as many loving cousins, aunts and uncles. She also left behind four beautiful children who were collectively the light of her dark life.
Though shadowed by opiate addiction, Megan enjoyed a big smile and an infectious laugh. She loved all kinds of music, dancing and doing her makeup. Empathetic in the extreme, she was the underdog’s biggest advocate. And against all circumstances, when she could be, she was a loving, gentle and doting mother. Just last year, she spent a few hours in the pool with all four kids (the youngest has since been adopted by a loving family), and it was a rollicking, madcap outing featuring a waterslide and peals of laughter. It was at that point when she was the happiest we had seen her in years.
Megan grew up in St. Albans and Georgia, Vt., participating in dance and swimming. She proved to be an adventuresome reader and a fearless jumper off cliffs. But on July 1, 2005, she was once again at a cliff on Eagle Bay in Burlington. I was sitting at my desk on the first day of a new job, and a Vermont State Policeman called to tell me to drive to the emergency room at the University of Vermont Medical Center. I was told that she had been pushed off the cliffs and hit the rocks below … with her face. Having been rescued by a man in a kayak and EMTs, she was being stitched up, and her jaw was wired shut. They suspected a TBI, but when they prescribed her liberal doses of opiates, she lost control of her life. She would be in and out of rehab — and jail — for the next 14 years.
To editorialize, I am hoping that the Department for Children and Families rethinks its mission to be the punisher of addicted mothers, the separator of families and the arbiter of children’s futures, and instead embrace a mission of enhanced rehabilitation. We, as a state, are overwhelmed by addiction. We have almost nowhere to turn. I encourage enhanced funding for treatment in general and using DCF as a gateway for mothers with addiction to get help. Because, as one would guess, once the mother is separated from her children, desperation sets in, even with the brightest and most determined of mothers — and Megan Angelina Webbley was that bright and determined mother … with a fatal disease and a dearth of treatment options.
—Submitted by Megan’s father
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This article appears in Oct 2-8, 2019.
My PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU FROM ONE MOTHER OF AN ADDICT TO ANOTHER and where CPS got involved! My adult daughter at the time age 23 became pregnant didn’t get into treatment so I did what I thought was right to protect the unborn and called CPS in hopes they would intervene and help me get her court ordered to jail or rehab until the baby was born safely! Much to my surprise cps told me nothing they could do! Then nine months later my Grandson is BORN ADDICTED…. then guess what CPS GETS INVOLVED they deny me placement seek no relative placement which is the law by the way to place with BIO FAMILY well sadly they got away with it I Pray you have your Grand children if not APPEAL AND FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And for anyone here talking about cps don’t speak on a topic you are not informed about and get informed they are a RICO CORRUPT AGENCY…
You are brave and strong. I mourn your loss. I am so sorry. Bless you and yours. I will work to help those in your shoes.
Megan was such an amazingly kind caring and beautiful woman! She was a great mother and she always cared more about the person left behind. She always wanted to be inclusive of everyone and she was extremely selfless at times! I will never forget how she carried me through some pretty dark times with just her positive vibes and her laugh! Her laugh and smile was as bright as the sun itself! Thank you Megan for being strong enough for the both of us at times when I needed it! Your friendship could never be replaced!
My condolences to the family and prayers for the little ones!
Thank you so much for posting this, and Im so sorry for the death of your beautiful daughter. Meghan sounds like she was an amazing person. I am 34 years old and struggle with addiction, and Im reading this in tears. It scares me that one day this will be me and my family will be the ones writing this, and I just appreciate so much that you are sharing your pain as well as the times Meghan had her joy because us as addicts can relate as well and it hits home and just makes me want to try that much harder. God bless you, and may she Rest In Peace.
I’m so sorry for loss and what a honest and caring obituary well written . I have a daughter in recovery and using her experience to help others as a adolescent counselor . I as her Mother suffered when she was abusing pain meds and anti- anxiety meds also. What a nightmare for all who suffers..eventually I lost a sister and sister in law to over dose on heroin. I also lost a nephew to suicide due to drug addiction and depression. I suffered so much loss and never did I have addiction to drugs but I lived with and loved dearly those that had used . I would never wish any of this on anybody …ever …prayers to all
That was a beautiful and honest obituary. I myself am a recovering opiate addict. I began my addiction through pain medication as well. I began to develope severe rheumatoid arthritis in mid twenties, and at that time I had 2 young sons,my husband,work,and was going to college,so the pills made my life seem so much more manageable. Although it took over a decade for me to begin abusing my meds, once I did, I quickly was introduced to heroin. After a few yrs of that terrible lifestyle,my boyfriend overdosed with my children at home. Luckily we had narcan, two of us worked on him while my youngest son (15 at the time) called 911. I knew from that night on things had to change. I got rid of the boyfriend soon after,and am now happy to say I have 2 yrs and 4 months clean. Although my boys are now young adults (18 and 21) our relationships are stronger than ever. If I hadn’t made the changes needed this could have very well been my own fate. Rest Easy beautiful young lady.
This was the most poignantly and beautifully written obit I have ever read. I did not know Megan but you made me feel like I did. My heart is heavy for her family, her friends and most of all her children. I am so very sorry for your loss. It is time we got serious about treating this as a disease and offering people the assistance they need.
To say her life “veered off the tracks” is to put the blame on her for taking pain killers, addictive or not, for the unbearable pain she must have suffered at that cruel act – being pushed off a cliff onto rocks! No one can really help anyone with injuries and an outcome like that. People abandon and scorn others with “problems.” God bless her soul and her dear childrens’ souls.
I am incredibly sorry for the loss of your beautiful daughter. My family has not struggled with addiction but I do know the pain of being involved with DCF.My daughter lost her parental rights due to having a lower than average IQ score and DCF placed my only granddaughter with strangers while many fit and willing family members fought for placement. I grieve the loss of my granddaughter every day and I cannot even imagine having to bare this pain while also fighting addiction. God bless you and your family.
Dorothy, first please accept my sincere condolences for the loss of your beautiful daughter. Second, thank you so much for your honest, and beautifully written obituary. My family has endured the suffering and trauma of battling addiction for many years. We know too many parents who’ve lost their children to this dreadful disease. Like you we hope government and the population in general can address this deadly epidemic head on with every available resource. May you always be comforted with your fondest memories of your beautiful Megan. Godspeed…