PORTLAND – Vanessa Elizabeth Reese, 42, passed away after bravely and valiantly fighting a long illness, on April 18, 2024, at Maine Medical Center. Her loving family was by her side. She was born on Nov. 21, 1981, in Lewiston, a daughter of Harry and Rosemary (Beckstead) Reese.

Vanessa attended and graduated from Oxford Hills High School in South Paris in the year 2000. Her early, passionate love of reading and learning along with her natural gift for creative writing, ultimately led her to help her family establish their first bookstore in 2002; she continued on as a founding partner for over two decades, eventually establishing and managing a new branch of the business in 2016, Food For Thought in Norway, selling vintage books and records. With her keen eye for detail and flair for style and decorating, Food For Thought reflected her passion and her love of life. She genuinely greeted all her customers with her winning smile and warm welcoming way and was always eager to share her broad knowledge and expertise of collectible editions and her hand-picked vintage items. Vanessa was extremely appreciative of all the customers who came through the door; especially the many of whom she considered good friends and kindred spirits.

She took great joy and pleasure in the simple, seemingly small things; always being appreciative, thankful and grateful for the things and the many friends that were so dear to her heart.

Vanessa was truly a bright light shining; she wrapped us all in her loving arms and touched us all with her caring, compassionate heart and soul. Her home and family meant everything to her and she taught us all so much.

Vanessa loved to be outside and her love of nature was apparent all through her life; whether it be hiking in the mountains of Western Maine and the New Hampshire White Mountains (where she summited many peaks over the years, including some of the Presidential Mountains; and she proudly included her hike of the legendary and treacherous “Knife’s Edge” on the “Great Mountain”, Katahdin, in Maine, as a badge of honor), gem-hunting (she possessed an uncanny knack for finding precious gemstones in the local mines she loved to frequent), reading or meditating; she had a deep reverence and love for the solitude and peace that nature and the natural world gave her; she reveled in the sounds of silence.

Vanessa also loved working and planting in the gardens outside and especially loved her dozens of houseplants inside; her ‘babies’, who flourished and thrived under the care of her green thumb.

Her interests were many and varied; she was a very talented photographer and writer; she was especially gifted as an interior decorator, curating fine collectibles throughout her life; her great passion and love of books was closely matched by her unfettered appreciation and love of music; she absolutely loved to go to concerts and live theater productions and loved to collect and listen to records; one of her favorite things to do was to search for vintage treasures at used bargain sales that she could turn into decorating gems for her home and shop.

While Vanessa was a deep, thoughtful woman, she had a great sense of humor and sense of the absurd and loved to laugh and laugh out loud; she had a wonderful and beautiful smile; she was a beautiful soul.

Vanessa was a free spirit who always danced through life to the beat of her own drum; she was very creative and intelligent and expressed her creativity and unique insight by joining Art Moves Dance Company at a young age; an experience that brought her great joy and greatly inspired her creative growth.

She was warm, funny, kind and caring and so loved animals; she naturally bonded with all creatures great and small and was a devoted ‘Mother’ to her beloved adopted rescue dogs, Stella and Josie, cat Gracie, and numerous other animal friends.

After all this, in the quiet, private way that was Vanessa, her exceptional and undeniable display of courage and bravery, her sheer will and determination to fight her sickness with all her might, was truly remarkable, overwhelming and awe-inspiring to all around her; it was impossible not to notice and admire.

As we cope with the unbearable heaviness of grief, our bright light that was Vanessa Elizabeth Reese, will always shine for us; a bright light in the lives of all she touched.

Vanessa is survived by her loving parents, Harry and Rosemary Reese, her loving sister Joanna Reese and her partner, Thomas Obear; and her loving grandmother “Nan” (Marie R.); her cherished Aunt Mal ( Marilyn Woodside); special Uncle Tim (Timothy Reese and his partner Lori Ventresca) and treasured cousins T.J. (Timothy J. Reese and his wife, Michelle), Rob (Robert Reese), Ash (Ashley Beckstead) and Mikey (Michael Beckstead); her steadfast friend, ‘Pauls’ (Paula Turcotte; and good friend and cribbage-mate, John (John Crocker).

Vanessa was predeceased by her revered grandfather, Grandpa “Grampy” R.; beloved Grandpa and Grandma B.; and her loving Aunt Elaine and thoughtful Uncle Mike.

In keeping with Vanessa’s wishes, a graveside service will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 17, 2024 at the Elmwood Cemetery on Rayville Road in Otisfield.

Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 45 Main St., South Paris Maine. To make an online condolence please visit http://www.chandlerfunerals.com.

In lieu of flowers those wishing may make a donation in Vanessa’s name to Responsible Pet Care in South Paris, Maine.

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