LINDA LEIGH ARSENAULT

Linda (Houghton) (Wessel) Arsenault died unexpectedly from complications of a stroke on October 13, 2018 in Fort Myers, FL at the age of 69. Born in Brattleboro, VT 22 August 1949 to John and Mildred (Mortimer) Houghton, she was the third of four siblings, including Ruth, George, and BettyAnn. She attended schools in Dummerston and Brattleboro, VT.
In 1966, Linda married her high school sweetheart, Bill Wessel. They had two children, and later divorced. While in New England, Linda worked many places, most memorable of which were The Vermonter Candy in Putney and Chittenden Trust Company in Bennington, VT. There she met her second husband, Larry Arsenault and married in 1979. Prior to moving to St. James City, FL, Linda also lived in Williamstown, MA and Stonington, CT.
In Florida, Linda worked for US Postal Service as a mail carrier since 2005, driving her signature purple mail Jeep. At Christmastime, she was often seen wearing a Mrs. Santa outfit at work! She was also well known to her friends, neighbors and postal patrons for her daily running, riding her purple bicycle, and kayaking. An active member of the American Legion Post #136 and the Ladies Auxiliary, Linda was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the VFW #4353 of Pine Island and the Women of the Moose, Pine Island Chapter #1843. An organ donor, Linda's corneas were able to be saved in the hopes of being matched to a needy candidate.
Linda is survived by her son, Eric Wessel of Walpole, NH, and daughter, Tami Wessel and husband Burr Sniffen of Amsterdam, NY; granddaughters Alicia and Trixie; and great-granddaughter Bexley. She is also survived by two sisters, BettyAnn and husband Robert Hayden of Westfield, MA and Ruth and husband Merrill Barton of Dummerston, VT; many nieces and nephews; and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.
She is predeceased by Larry Arsenault, both her parents, John and Mildred Houghton, her brother George Houghton and her sister-in-law Donna Houghton.
The celebration of Linda and all things purple will be held at the Dummerston Center Grange Hall on Sunday November 18, 2018 from 1 – 4pm. Family and friends are shocked, and greatly saddened by her untimely passing. She will be deeply missed. Linda would ask you to celebrate and remember all the laughs you had together.