SHELBURNE, Vt. – Priscilla Jackson, 85, died peacefully on Nov. 23, 2022 at Wake Robin in Shelburne, Vt. with her family holding her close.

Priscilla was born in Beverly, Mass. on May 5, 1937 to parents Barbara Sinclair and E. Randall Jackson. She grew up in Danvers, Mass. and graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy.

She married David Glendinning and raised three children in Southwest Harbor and Waterville. In 1987 she married her second husband, Ralph Atwood, and they enjoyed 10 full and happy years together in Oakland before his death. After more than 50 years in Maine, Priscilla moved to Vermont in 2013 to be closer to her family.

Priscilla taught those she knew how to be kind and curious. Right up to her final days, she was an exceptional listener who could engage just about anyone in interesting conversation, just by asking a question and truly listening to the response. She took tremendous joy in appreciating and supporting the endeavors of her children and grandchildren, and was immensely proud of all of them. Priscilla was their biggest fan.

Priscilla was strong and fiercely independent. As a single woman, she was proud to successfully start and run her own physical therapy business treating children with disabilities, and to purchase her own house at a time in her life that required strength and courage. She amazed friends and family with her adventurous travel all over the world. Priscilla rode elephants and trekked in Nepal, hiked and camped in the Grand Canyon, and admired the art and architecture in St. Petersburg, Russia. More locally, Priscilla loved exploring the Maine outdoors. She spent many happy days camping with her family in Baxter State Park, skiing at Saddleback Mountain, and kayaking and canoeing around the Belgrade lakes.

Priscilla was a lifelong lover and supporter of the arts. She took numerous Art History courses at Colby College as an adult and volunteered as a docent at the Colby Museum of Art. She enjoyed any museum or gallery and would never pass up the opportunity to attend a concert, opera or eccentric foreign film (the more eccentric, the better).

She was a vibrant and active member of the Wake Robin Retirement community in Shelburne, Vt. She met some of the “best friends of her life” at Wake Robin, where she could be found sharing a glass of wine and laughing with friends, discussing books, films, politics and current events. She also loved spending time with family, walking everywhere, swimming, playing tennis and participating in as many events as possible including being an indispensable member of the Vermont Artists Project.

Priscilla was predeceased by her sister, Ann Jackson; and by her husband, Ralph Atwood.

She leaves behind her daughters Jennifer “Jeffy” Usher and husband Jim of Essex, Vt., Deb Light and husband John of Burlington, Vt., son, Matt Glendinning and wife Katherine of New Haven, Conn.; as well as grandchildren Nicole Egan and husband Gerard, Colby Hamilton, Hannah Light and Maddie Light. She was delighted to be able to meet and hold her great-grandson, Desmond Egan before she died. Priscilla is also survived by her sister, Susan Karp and husband Steven of Bainbridge Island, Wash.; niece, Sarah Karp and husband Noah Pearce and their children Norah and Otto; and also stepdaughter, Karen Cook and husband Mike, stepson, Rusty Atwood and wife Sue and step-grandchildren Brittany, Sam, Chrissie and Tim.

The family would like to thank the staff at Wake Robin for their unwavering support and care, and the compassionate team at UVM Home Health and Hospice for helping her through her final days.

A memorial gathering is planned for the spring.

Donations in Priscilla’s honor can be made to the Hospice and Palliative Care Program at UVM Home Health and Hospice.

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